TOUGH AS NAILS BUT NOT PERFECT: Replacing the Check Spring in a Singer 15-30 Cleaning Up Hardware!!

[@PKEDRM]

THANK YOU! My husband gifted me a Decker treadle machine and we can't find any useful information for servicing it. My hubby is soft hearted so when the seller said it sewed well (she pumped the pedal a few times, no thread) he believed her. When I began cleaning it I found no bobbins, a filthy bobbin case, feed dog, old oil on every possible surface ... I think you see what I mean. I wanted a project machine and I got one! The closest I can come to documentation is a Singer 15 and your video on the tensioner looks almost identical to mine. I think someone attempted to "fix" the machine once but the check spring wasn't doing its job. I am about to reassemble everything and see if I made matters worse or fixed it! I love the cleaning/getting greasy part of working on these vintage and antique machines (I now have a total of 7, 8 if you count my Bernina 930) and working on these machines brings me a lot of satisfaction. The hard part is selling them. I feel like I am selling my child when I get done! Thanks again for your awesome videos and God bless you in your work.

[@lindasmith685]

Thank you, I am in the middle of trying to sort the tension unit on my Siinger 15 treadle machine, so very helpful.

[@VintageSewingMachineGarage]

You're welcome!

[@mammaubear8647]

Oh ! I commented on the bobbin video for a tension video. Thank you! Found it!! So helpful!!!

[@avelsgard78]

I have been learning so much from your channel! I am so thankful for your detailed and easy to understand teaching. Thank you SO MUCH!

[@VintageSewingMachineGarage]

Happy to help!

[@alisongrundy9977]

Fantastic video. I’ve just been given a 96K and so much of this is transferrable.

[@VintageSewingMachineGarage]

Glad it helped!

[@jenniewilliamsmural]

Fantastic - thank you thank you thank you! As I'm preparing to buy an antique Singer, I'm learning a lot from your videos. If I may be so bold, there are 3 improvements that I think you can make to your videos to make them even more useful. 1) Make sure that your work is always fully in the camera view 2) When making a point, don't use the hand holding the part to gesture. 3) Show and write each product that you use. For example - I believe you use 90% alcohol which you may have said verbally - but have not shown the bottle. Warmest regards and thank you for your wonderful work. Jennie

[@VintageSewingMachineGarage]

Great tips Jennie so thank you for the kind suggestions.

[@moeytoo]

awesome! thank you so much!

[@Coolingfin]

@ 5:30 in Exactly the situation w/ my 15 treadle (loop broken off of the check spring). Tried a couple of new springs. Found one close enough but needed a slight customization to it's base. Had to bend it at the base and works fine now. Now back to watching how you got along. PS your client has a beautiful machine! A little jealous here.

[@Coolingfin]

Thank you! Now I know that my side plate is original, the single set screw for the tension barrel made me wonder. The very same side plate assembly as my 1899. The tang at the base of the coil spring needs to be bent 90 so that it sandwiches between the shoulder on the center post and the barrel. I thought it might snap off but had no problem. No doubt you figured that out by now, Thanks again!

[@jodilord4201]

Hi, First off Thank you for all your videos !! I never thought I would ever in my lifetime tear down a sewing machine. I have cleaned 5 todate👍 I gave ran into a snag on assembling a 99k (1926) the tension spring, my plan was to replace it. I couldn’t get it apart. Send pics. Looks as spring is okay. So I thought Id just put it back together . It has no number dial and was wondering what side spring goes on? And Spring should it be behind disc? Or in front? Thank you kindly for any help.

[@1shirleynewman]

Thanks so much for sharing

[@VintageSewingMachineGarage]

You are so welcome

[@marilynbook4211]

I love your videos, they have been so helpful to me as I am refurbishing the first machine I learned on which according to the serial number was a 1913 and obviously a 15 because it looks like the one you are working on. The check spring seems fine but the housing for it looks really gungy, is it worth me taking the spring housing off to clean even if the spring is in good shape? Thanks.

[@VintageSewingMachineGarage]

Well it depends on what is actually 'gungy'. The most important parts of the tension assembly to keep clean are the tension disks where the thread slides through. Also, if your assembly pin that engages your presser foot lifter is dirty, it can interfere with the tension clamping of the discs. But if your tension assembly is working well, then you might not have to overhaul the whole thing.

[@sandrareynolds2381]

Great class! Where did you source your spring?

[@debbiepring2236]

Where can I get a check spring like this as i have 15 to fix?

[@jodilord4201]

Unable to send pic .

[@BeeBearButterflyOfLight99123]

Can i use 70% of alcohol?

[@Coolingfin]

Yes, just keep it away from any lacquer finish. Sewing machine oil is always the best but it is hard to have the patience for it when dealing with ancient oil turned to tar.