Thank you so much for doing these videos! I just picked up a Singer 66-16 this week that has been stored in a barn for who knows how long. We literally just ordered our rewiring parts 2 hours ago and now here you are showing us how to!
This is exactly what am having to replace on the same kind of SINGER sewing machine I have. The cords are so corroded. I was using it and sadly it just stopped. I'm a little nerves about doing it myself cuz never done this before. My brother in-law owns a sewing machine repair shop. And yet I want to challenge myself first. I also have a STANDARD, the one that you have to use your foot(feet) for. Been watching your video's and yet I forget to LIKE. Thank You
Thank you! I just rewired a bad cord for my Singer 15-91. Your directions are well explained and the details are perfect! I got it rewired and it was perfect!
Nicely done. I've done several of these, always the 3 wire version for my 201 and 15-91's. The 3 wire does require soldering, for reference, the Featherweight Shop has an excellent video of the procedure. If you choose to tie the Underwriters Knot for strain relief, prepare to lose your religion!
I’m almost afraid to ask for clarification! I just got a 1948 Singer 201 that has the 3 wire receptacle but the foot pedal is hardwired in along with the light, and has a missing wall plug that gets plugged into the socket.
Now that we have repaired the plug can you do a video about replacing the foot control? That button control was fine when the machine was mounted in a cabinet but it would be much more convenient with a modern, flat-type pedal.
Another comment if I may. I've tried redoing the old Kenmore 3 prong cords. What a nightmare. These Singer plugs are the best. I gave up on the Kenmore plug and bought a new one.
I am about to re-wire my 201-3 and need to order in everything I need. We are in lockdown here in Ontario, Canada so can’t go in to a store and talk to someone about the wire type. From what I seeing here is that I need 18-2 gauge SPT-1 wire. I assume I will also need to grab a light duty plug. Is there anything else that I would need? I have crimping/cutting tools. I really want to make sure I have everything before I start since I have to order for delivery.
I've been watching your videos for a couple of weeks. I'm working on a 1946 15-? It is belt driven. The motor is not potted. I don't think it or pedal are original. I was able to get my pedal adjusted because of your videos. However it does need to be rewired. I have the plugs that go to the double marked motor and light. All this thinking made me think more. Is it possible for me to splice the standard 2 wire cord on my serger foot pedal to make it longer? It is a 20 year old Simplicity. Thanks for sharing your knowledge.
I am doing the double in the plug- power plug and foot pedal. I’ve retired everything just fine, but can’t get the case to shut over bulky wires in the three prong plug that you said be patient with! Any suggestions?
I have just discovered your channel, and its so helpful. I just recently bought two singer 201 machines. I am inspired to undertake disassembly to clean them myself rather than take them to a shop. However one has a knee control and I'm not too keen on it. I'm thinking about trying to replace it with a new foot pedal like the one you showed in the previous cord video. what are your thoughts or advice on doing this, if you wouldn't mind sharing your wisdom ?
Hello. The simplest option is to order a new cord and foot pedal. Keep in mind that the vast majority of vintage Singer machines used a Foot Pedal not only for foot use, but they would have a bracket inside the table that would hold the foot pedal and a lever would be used to push against the pedal while it was installed in the table with one's knee for the knee control. The pedals can be taken out or placed into these brackets by hand with no specific tools required. This was unique since most other machine brands at the time would offer either foot or kneel control but the customer had to choose at the time of purchase. With Singer, you could either use the foot pedal on the floor or install into the bracket for knee control. Yours may be set up similarly. Keep in mind that not all of the knee control setups on the Singers had a cord long enough for the pedal to reach the ground as some owners had them shortened to avoid a long cord hanging down (for aesthetic purposes/standards of the time). The other thing to note is that some (though not all) of the Singer foot pedals installed in tables were wired into the Singer machine terminal. This is the 'outlet' where the cord gets plugged into. For machines that were set up for floor use, the most common arrangement was with a "Double Lead" cord where one end went into the wall and the other to the pedal. For those that were set up with the pedal wired into the machine terminal, they would often use a cord that was a "Single Lead" where there was just the connection between the plug into the machine and plug into the wall. If you prefer not to use your machine with the knee lever, then you can convert it or have it converted to using a pedal on the floor. You can purchase replacement cords and new pedals which is a great idea if your cords appear damaged or too old/brittle for use.
I recently purchased a 15-91 which is in need of a new power cord as well as a new motor controller cord. The machine is set up for a knee lever - so the pedal wire is connected at the terminal. Do I need to be concerned about identifying a hot and neutral wire when connecting the new pedal wire to the terminal at the machine? There’s no black and white color coding on the new wire. Also when attaching at the pedal. Is there a difference in the screw connectors? Hot vs Neutral?
What about the light? Does that just wire from the main cord but using a separate cord? My 128 has a light, which is great, but not sure how it connects…
Do you have refurbished machines for sale ? I found your blog-spot site, but it seems like it might be an older defunct site, because the “contact me” button doesn’t work... I also have a machine that might be worth refurbishing. What’s the best way to contact you ?
I've only seen colors on some of the original Japanese cords from the 50's. Another reason cords are not generally colors is because color is used in electrical standards to denote positive/negative/ground and so color 'might' confuse folks. Just a guess.
The knot inside the plug is called an underwriter’s knot and is specifically used for strain relief
Thank you so much for doing these videos! I just picked up a Singer 66-16 this week that has been stored in a barn for who knows how long. We literally just ordered our rewiring parts 2 hours ago and now here you are showing us how to!
That is awesome!
This is exactly what am having to replace on the same kind of SINGER sewing machine I have. The cords are so corroded. I was using it and sadly it just stopped. I'm a little nerves about doing it myself cuz never done this before. My brother in-law owns a sewing machine repair shop. And yet I want to challenge myself first. I also have a STANDARD, the one that you have to use your foot(feet) for. Been watching your video's and yet I forget to LIKE. Thank You
Thank you! I just rewired a bad cord for my Singer 15-91. Your directions are well explained and the details are perfect! I got it rewired and it was perfect!
Glad it helped!
Nicely done. I've done several of these, always the 3 wire version for my 201 and 15-91's. The 3 wire does require soldering, for reference, the Featherweight Shop has an excellent video of the procedure. If you choose to tie the Underwriters Knot for strain relief, prepare to lose your religion!
I’m almost afraid to ask for clarification! I just got a 1948 Singer 201 that has the 3 wire receptacle but the foot pedal is hardwired in along with the light, and has a missing wall plug that gets plugged into the socket.
Now that we have repaired the plug can you do a video about replacing the foot control? That button control was fine when the machine was mounted in a cabinet but it would be much more convenient with a modern, flat-type pedal.
Another comment if I may. I've tried redoing the old Kenmore 3 prong cords. What a nightmare. These Singer plugs are the best. I gave up on the Kenmore plug and bought a new one.
Thanks for sharing
You said "one is common and one is hot." Well, which was the common and which was the hot?"
Thanks for the great detail!
You bet!
I am about to re-wire my 201-3 and need to order in everything I need. We are in lockdown here in Ontario, Canada so can’t go in to a store and talk to someone about the wire type. From what I seeing here is that I need 18-2 gauge SPT-1 wire. I assume I will also need to grab a light duty plug. Is there anything else that I would need? I have crimping/cutting tools. I really want to make sure I have everything before I start since I have to order for delivery.
I've been watching your videos for a couple of weeks. I'm working on a 1946 15-? It is belt driven. The motor is not potted. I don't think it or pedal are original. I was able to get my pedal adjusted because of your videos. However it does need to be rewired. I have the plugs that go to the double marked motor and light. All this thinking made me think more. Is it possible for me to splice the standard 2 wire cord on my serger foot pedal to make it longer? It is a 20 year old Simplicity. Thanks for sharing your knowledge.
I am doing the double in the plug- power plug and foot pedal. I’ve retired everything just fine, but can’t get the case to shut over bulky wires in the three prong plug that you said be patient with! Any suggestions?
I have just discovered your channel, and its so helpful. I just recently bought two singer 201 machines. I am inspired to undertake disassembly to clean them myself rather than take them to a shop. However one has a knee control and I'm not too keen on it. I'm thinking about trying to replace it with a new foot pedal like the one you showed in the previous cord video. what are your thoughts or advice on doing this, if you wouldn't mind sharing your wisdom ?
Hello. The simplest option is to order a new cord and foot pedal. Keep in mind that the vast majority of vintage Singer machines used a Foot Pedal not only for foot use, but they would have a bracket inside the table that would hold the foot pedal and a lever would be used to push against the pedal while it was installed in the table with one's knee for the knee control. The pedals can be taken out or placed into these brackets by hand with no specific tools required. This was unique since most other machine brands at the time would offer either foot or kneel control but the customer had to choose at the time of purchase. With Singer, you could either use the foot pedal on the floor or install into the bracket for knee control. Yours may be set up similarly. Keep in mind that not all of the knee control setups on the Singers had a cord long enough for the pedal to reach the ground as some owners had them shortened to avoid a long cord hanging down (for aesthetic purposes/standards of the time). The other thing to note is that some (though not all) of the Singer foot pedals installed in tables were wired into the Singer machine terminal. This is the 'outlet' where the cord gets plugged into. For machines that were set up for floor use, the most common arrangement was with a "Double Lead" cord where one end went into the wall and the other to the pedal. For those that were set up with the pedal wired into the machine terminal, they would often use a cord that was a "Single Lead" where there was just the connection between the plug into the machine and plug into the wall. If you prefer not to use your machine with the knee lever, then you can convert it or have it converted to using a pedal on the floor. You can purchase replacement cords and new pedals which is a great idea if your cords appear damaged or too old/brittle for use.
can i jus swap the wires over from a eletric foot pedal so i can use the singer moter on an new modern foot pedal
I recently purchased a 15-91 which is in need of a new power cord as well as a new motor controller cord. The machine is set up for a knee lever - so the pedal wire is connected at the terminal. Do I need to be concerned about identifying a hot and neutral wire when connecting the new pedal wire to the terminal at the machine? There’s no black and white color coding on the new wire. Also when attaching at the pedal. Is there a difference in the screw connectors? Hot vs Neutral?
What about the light? Does that just wire from the main cord but using a separate cord? My 128 has a light, which is great, but not sure how it connects…
It's called an electricians knot.😀
Do you have refurbished machines for sale ? I found your blog-spot site, but it seems like it might be an older defunct site, because the “contact me” button doesn’t work... I also have a machine that might be worth refurbishing. What’s the best way to contact you ?
Hi, there are no colours, only black?
Brown or blue?
I've only seen colors on some of the original Japanese cords from the 50's. Another reason cords are not generally colors is because color is used in electrical standards to denote positive/negative/ground and so color 'might' confuse folks. Just a guess.