The gib hook hinge screw is definitely challenging to replace. The re-assembly is easier if the gib hook screw is replaced first, then swing the end of the gib hook hinge into its place and finally replace the gib hook hinge screw. That order of re-assembly helps align the holes for the gib hook hinge so the gib hook hinge screw is easier to replace.
Many thanks. You have the most detailed, informative videos I've seen.. the best part, is that you don't just replace parts, you work with what you have, and fix the problem You are the Bruce Pender of sewing machines (That is a compliment, Bruce works on small engines)
Nice explanation of cleaning and assembling and disassembling the rotary hook for the Singer 301A and the 221/222. This is very helpful to me. Thank you, Andy. Congratulations on making over 330+ videos for UA-cam. You’ve helped many of us with our machines. Wishing you continued improving health.
Thank you. After I finally figured out a damaged Thread Loop Guard was the problem, I wanted to make this video. Finally got it done and I'm glad you found it helpful.
I hope you get an alert that you have new comments posted on your videos & are reading this. ;-) Thank you for your thorough instructional videos! I found a 301a at a thrift shop for $20 in a Queen Ann style cabinet last summer. It was very dirty (Seriously - I realized this must have been in a home with heavy smokers and had never been cleaned since it was built in !) but it had the bobbin in tact! When I brought it home and plugged it in, it was stiff but working. I found your videos of Coco! This week, I've watched the bobbin videos and have cleaned out where I never thought I'd have the courage to touch. This morning I got my sandpaper out and removed a serious nick on the outer edge of the thread loop guard disc (9:18) and was amazed. I had good sandpaper for metal lying around and it only took a few swipes as you described to do. In a few days I hope to have my 301a (dubbed Nikki) up and running. Many thanks for sharing your passion/hobby on Andy Tube! We will miss you and I hope that you find comfort in this community of supporters and virtual friends. Take care.
I am so thankful and blessed for your videos! I don't have the money to shell out for a 301 in great condition so I bought a $75 fixer upper including the Singer cabinet, knee control, cradle, and the machine. I am fully restoring her and am now at the point where her frame is completely clean and I am cleaning all the parts and putting them back on. I named my machine Fannie Mae because that was the name of the lady that I bought her froms great grandmother that used this machine and loved it. The more I put together the more pride I have in her and I can't wait to sew with her. Thank you so much from the bottom of my heart!
well you sure made my evening Gina I'm really happy for you and excited about your new machine this is exactly why I make my videos and spend all the time with my UA-cam channel thank you for saving that machine and I know it's going to sew very beautifully for you thank you for your comment and take care
I got there link to this video from another of your videos,but it was supposed to slow the removal of the hook assembly from the machine. That's what I need.😢
OK. The video you're looking for is in a 17-video Playlist for working on model 301A: ua-cam.com/play/PLsCOZgzzaiKI_6fbu3itbd1v4z3uQvvkO.html The video for removing & replacing the hook is this particular one: -> -> -> ua-cam.com/video/OhBOhfKusHw/v-deo.html
You're welcome! This is one of the easier hooks to work on and it's smaller than many I have done. I enjoyed learning about it and it did improve the stitching quality. Thanks for the comment and good luck!
Thanks for your videos. I just got a 1951 301 in cradle and cabinet and I’m really struggling. It won’t form stitch; top thread breaks right away below needle area. I have a new bobbin case and needles ordered and hope this remedies the situation. Your video explaining the cradle helped me a lot.
Sorry to hear this. If you have the original bobbin case it usually works much better than a new, after-market case. Take a look at your threading, like remove it and run it back in. The needle is inserted with the flat side to the left. The needle is threaded from right to left. Be sure the needle is fully inserted. Be sure the bobbin is inserted in the correct direction into the bobbin case. Check the tension of the bobbin case and upper needle thread tension unit. These are the most common things I have found in this model to cause your problem. They are all easy to check/fix. After that, I'd check the timing. Did you get the manual with the machine? A free copy is available from Singer Support: www.singer.com/search/support?title=301
Thanks again, Andy! I got another 301 (without the a) yesterday and these two videos on the bobbin bits were extremely helpful. I’ve done a lot of the upper thread tensioners so wasn’t afraid of that - thanks to you! This machine is the 1952 301, called Grand Introduction - and parts of it are blackside. Pretty cool, looks nearly new! Hope you’re doing well.
Thank you Andy, you saved me again! I was at a point I was going to just buy a new one. After following your instructions I fixed and cleaned it myself. Works perfectly. Thank you
Thank you for starting my new year 2020 of with a big smile, Leah, and for saving that hook! Nice of you to let me know and glad you found my video. Keep sewing and have a great year.
Thank you!!! My newly acquired 301 would not sew, and the problem was in the bobbin area. I could hear it catching each time it went around, making a very solid clicking noise. It had a broken needle in it when I bought it, and broke another needle when I tried to work with it. I still don't know what the problem was because I didn't find it very dirty, but after doing everything just like you show in this video, it works perfectly now.
welcome to Andy Tube, Randall and thanks for your comment I don't know why it was held in the review section but I appreciate it and I'm really glad that it helped you get your machine working and that you took time to let me know that's exactly why I make videos like this hope you'll stop by again to my channel when you have time take care
Oooo, tiny, tiny screws! I’m impressed with that 404 hook! I didn’t realize there was that much difference. Still, both machines have more power than my modern Juki.
Too tiny for me I think. I need to restore another 404 to balance myself out. I know! That 404 hook :) Never worked on a Juki, but I thought they were a "top of the line" brand. I thought they would be full of power, not just electronics. Thanks for watching.
Andy, I finally found time to disassemble the 301 per your video that doesn’t require the whole machine be dismantled. I paid particular attention to the part about the motor wires . I didn’t try to run this machine before servicing, but I really believe someone had those red (found on right) and black (found on left) motor connections backwards. Wouldn’t that have ruined the motor? Thank you for all the great video information!
No, do not worry about that red & black and I'll tell you why. The electrical plug is NOT polarized, meaning the two prongs are the same size. So that means it does not matter how you plug it into the socket on the wall. You can plug it in one way and the motor will work normally. Then you could pull out the plug, turn it over 180 degrees and plug it back in and the motor will work normally. Either way does not affect the working of the motor or make it run backward or anything like that. No worries.
Dear Andy, thank you again for all the effort you put in making your wonderful tutorials - Maybe this is a silly question but does it require re-timing after putting the hook back in place? Thank you!
You are very welcome. If you follow the hook removal video that I mention in this video you will not lose the timing and there would be no need to reset it. I give a link to that hook removal video in the Description Area below the video and on the ending page (last 20 seconds) of this video. Here is the link again: ua-cam.com/video/OhBOhfKusHw/v-deo.html I love that you can remove and replace the hook without losing the timing on this hook system compared to other SInger machine models that do require you to retime the hook to needlepoint. I do this process each year when I clean and "tune up" Coco, my wife's model 301A, and Lala her 221 Featherweight machine. It's just easier, IMO, to pull the hook off and soak in cleaner while I brush off and apply new oil and grease to the machine and then pop it back on. Thanks very much for watching my channel.
I agree with your assessment of the wonderful Singer 404. The Singer 404 weighs more because it is very robust and well designed. I can understand why Singer used 404 slant needle machines to supply Home Economics classes to teach students to sew. The challenge is convincing current quilters that the Singer 301/301a is a Singer Featherweight on steroids and the Singer 404 is even better for piecing together quilting blocks. The typical response I get is -"The 301 and 404 are not as cute and are more heavy that a Singer Featherweight". No wonder I am getting bald. LOL.
Quilters buy about half of my restored machines, especially the 404 and 403A models. Some of them already have a 221 or 301 or both but say they want something "more powerful." One viewer commented to me that "women of my Grandma's era were just stronger than we are today, and did not mind lugging around those heavy black Singer models". BTW, don't worry about your hair; you had it when you needed it!
Hey Andy, I finished the cradle video and now I’m watching this one. I’m cleaning this piece of the 301 but my intention was actually to remove the motor but I can’t get it out. I took the handwheel off, removed the guard/cover that’s down below and I unplugged the two wires and it’s not budging. Am I missing something? I’m guessing it’s stuck in that cylinder/tube but I’m just wanting to be careful not to damage something trying to get it out. Any suggestions?
Good guess. A very good chance it is stuck in that tube with dried oil. You can try to carefully get some WD40 into the tube by turning the machine upside down and spraying where the shaft cover enters the tube. Let it sit for a while and see if that helps. One of my favorite methods involves heating from above and below with a hair dryer, get it nice and hot. Then stand the machine upright in a normal position, and wearing a glove for heat protection, lift the right end of the machine (handwheel end) about 2 inches then let it go. Just drop that right end of the machine onto the bench/table a couple few times. Lift it a little higher each time. The heat can soften the film of oil that is in the tube making the motor shaft cover stick. and by using that dead drop the weight of the motor is pulled straight down out of the tube. When that motor releases it drops down from the tube onto the bench with a thud.
Hey Andy I now have five 301’s and this last one isn’t allowing me to take the hook out. The two set screws came out with no problem but when I went to pull it out of the machine,it’s not budging. Applied triflow, WD-40, blaster, and a blow dryer but nothing is working. Maybe I need to do it a little bit longer. Any other suggestions? ….thanks.
Patience is the key to this one. I wrap some cotton, like makeup reviving pads, around the hook base and soak it with Wd, and let it work overnight. Don't try to force it, New hooks are hard to come by. In the meantime, I work on other parts, like the pedal or something. That's a small herd of 301 machines you have there 😃👀
Thank you, this was extremely helpful. Is the 401a's bobbin case and hook assembly as beefy as the 404's, or is it fiddly and delicate like the 301's? Thanks.
Fiddly & Delicate, hehe. The 20+ pound 401A & 404 use the same hook and bobbin case, while the 16 pound 301 uses the same hook and bobbin case as the 11 pound 221 featherweight. Good question, thank you.
Nope. Other than the hook shaft bushing there is just one spot that needs a drop of sewing machine oil on this mechanism. See 1:17:06 in this video: ua-cam.com/video/BIhupj5K3t0/v-deo.html That orange dot is where to oil. You can download a free copy of the instruction manual that includes oiling and greasing instructions at this link: www.singer.com/search/support?title=301 Thanks for watching my channel.
Did it pick up the thread before? I've seen this a couple of times and found that the hook was not installed on the shaft properly. The hook point must be in a certain position in relation to the shaft and the counterbalance as shown in this video: ua-cam.com/video/OhBOhfKusHw/v-deo.html Other cases the thread guard was installed wrong or as simple as a bent needle. If the needle did not pickup the bobbin thread before you started that would be more od-f a timing issue. Here is a timing video for model 301A: ua-cam.com/video/6pAWzJyV0IY/v-deo.html The videos show how to check for the proper timing before you change anything so you can easily see if the timing is set correctly or not
I noticed the "finger" of a Singer 301/301a bobbin case base kept jumping out of the slot of the needle plate. I finally discovered that there is a difference in the bobbin case base of a Singer 301/301a and a Singer 221/222. Most parts suppliers do not know or understand that there is a difference and sell bobbin case bases as if they are interchangeable. It is especially prevalent in suppliers of reproduction 221/222 bobbin case bases. At this point, I do not find any reproduction 301/301a bobbin case bases. The bobbin case base of a Singer 301/301a is SIMANCO Part # 170076. The "finger" on the 301/301a bobbin case base is offset to correspond to the slant needle. The bobbin case base of a Singer 221/222 is SIMANCO Part # 45926. The "finger" on the 221/222 is NOT offset to correspond to the vertical needle. I hope this information will be useful to your viewers. I am a student of yours and strive to learn as much as I can from your vast experience, expertise and knowledge. I appreciate your honesty and respect you immensely. Thank you for the vast library of UA-cam videos you have made - >330 videos at this point in time!!
Thank you for sharing. Anytime anyone can help clarify information it is a bonus. There is always confusion around these two models, 221 & 301. You mentioned the 221 bobbin case base part # is 45926. I do have an illustrated Singer parts manual that does indeed show that part number. The manual is identified as "List of Parts-Machines Nos. 221-1, 221K1, 221K4, 221K5". It is 2 pages in total. I also have a manual (Form 5779, Stamped "RECEIVED MAR 27 1950 COST DEPT." It is titled "Illustrated List of Parts for No. 221K1 Machine" and is 35 pages in total. It shows the bobbin case base is part #45752. I have a 3rd manual with the exact same title but listed as "Form 6121" (faded) which is 38 pages total. Page 22 is labeled "June, 1957" FORM K6134 (List of Parts for 221K1 Machine ALTERATIONS. There are not any pictures in this parts list, only numbers and descriptions. One example is part #15926 "Rotating Hook Bobbin Case Base... I'm guessing this is a list of part number changes from 1957, but who knows? You also mentioned SIMANCO Part # 170076 as being the bobbin case base of a singer 301. I can not find that part number anywhere, for any part. I do have a 30-page parts list, with picture plates, FORM 20783 (455) titled "List of Parts for FAMILY SHOPS" SINGER MACHINES Nos. 301-1, 301-2 and 301-3 THE SINGER MANUFACTURING COMPANY (no date) It has a picture plate and parts number list that shows part # 170166 and it is listed as "Rotating Hook Bobbin Case Base..." I think some of the confusion is the hook part number is the same for both 221 and 301 (the hook part itself) and I always felt that some people looked at that plus the fact the bobbins are supposedly the same and believed they could just take the hook system from a 301 and pop it into a 221 no problems. There was a 5-year period where every 301 machine I found for sale on CL or Goodwill was missing the entire hook. A collector of featherweights I know in California told me people were buying used 301 machines just for the hook to put on 221 for eBay b/c the 221 could be sold for much more than a 301. Another thing I noticed over the years was the piece on the back of the hooks has a different part number for the 221 and the 301. (rotating loop hook guard) That also created problems when swapping out the hook. I think some people knew about the bobbin case base different, but not the loop guard. I get a headache just thinking about all this, haha. If you, or anyone else reading this, would like copies of the documents I mentioned above then feel free to email me at andymanuals53@gmail.com and ask for the 221/301 manuals. I will also include adjustors manuals and whatever I have, except the Instruction Manuals which you can download free at Singer.com/support. I do not share or even keep your email, but after replying with the manuals attached I delete your email and my reply. I'd like to thank you again for your interest and your sharing on my channel. New light on a subject is always worthy and it is kind of you to do so. One last number; as of today I have uploaded 514 videos :) but I had to look that up by searching for "Andy Tube" on UA-cam search ua-cam.com/users/results?search_query=andy+tube Take Care.
@@andytubesewing1953 Thank you for the concise and extremely helpful reply. I dismantled my Singer 301 which I know has a correct bobbin case base. The SIMANCO part # is 170076. I had no idea that the rotating hook loop guard was different between the 221 and 301. I will have to look for that I am sending you an email. Thank you so much. I believe that many vintage Singer sewing machines will be saved from information people can glean from your UA-cam videos.
@@ibsoarin I believe you found that part number on your machine I just don't see the part number on any list but maybe I should look closer on that alternate list I mentioned I'll watch for your email and send you all the stuff I have I know that you are very interested in the information and much like me you look for the answers it's been a pleasure communicating with you take care and God bless
@@andytubesewing1953 I received the Parts Manual for 301-1, 301-2 and 301-3 from you and agree that Part # 170076 is no where to be found!! I am surprised that such an important part is not listed in Singer's official parts manuals. I chuckled at the name Singer gave to their parts manual - "List of Parts for Family Shops; Singer Machines 301-1, 301-2 and 301-3". Even the names for some parts are too wordy and confusing. I have only paid attention to the bobbin case base when the "finger" kept jumping out needle plate of my Singer 301-1. I found that a Singer 221 bobbin case base was mistakenly placed in that 301. I am going to look at other Singer 301/301A machines to see what their bobbin case base part number is. Thank you for your help and patience with my question. I did find that Part # 170066 is the Presser Bar Lifter. Best Regards.
@@ibsoarin I realize this is a very old thread but it sure helps to be able to look back and find this info. I just bought a non-running black long bed 301 and got it all cleaned up. The problems were the foot controller and a hellacious thread jam. When I tried to sew with it the bobbin case gets stuck in the base. I removed the assembly tried several bobbin cases with same result. It even gets stuck without a bobbin. The part # on the base is the same as mentioned above 170066 which I could not find anywhere. My working 301's (I now have 4) all have the other base # 170166. I thought it must be a wrong part that was causing the problem so good to read that there are more out there like mine, especially that they function correctly. Another Simanco mystery. Thanks to Andy for all of these archives available to us searchers. Bless you, and wishing you improved health.
Hey Andy. My wife’s machine gave us trouble again, no stitch are being made anymore. I toke the hook apart and I’m missing the second screw you talk about at 12:46 (you call it swivel screw). Now it’s easy to find the first one but impossible for me to find this one. Do you know the exact name and where to find it? Could it be part of my problem? Thanks.
"Rotating Hook Gib Hinge Screw", Part No. 200614. Very hard to find. singer-featherweight.com/products/screw-pivot-mounting-for-gib-hook-singer-featherweight-vintage-original (sold out) You may need to buy a used hook: www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=m570.l1313&_nkw=Genuine+Singer+221+Featherweight+301a+Hook+Assembly&_sacat=0
I’ve soaked my rotary hook assembly pieces in the solution but the traces of oxidation/rust is still hiding in the tiny crevices. What can I use to remove this, or will a good oiling take care of it? Also, my plate has deep groves in it. I’ve tried using a rubber honing stick to smooth it out but the grooves are looking permanent. I hope it’ll not make much of a difference when the machine is all back together.
If you really think it is rust and not dried oil then you can use a rust remover. Here is the one I use: www.rustoleum.com/product-catalog/consumer-brands/krud-kutter/rust-remedies/the-must-for-rust-rust-remover-and-inhibitor There are many other rust removers, of course. Here is one video I did about rust removal: ua-cam.com/video/xlAl-VhVgOg/v-deo.html
The gib hook hinge screw is definitely challenging to replace.
The re-assembly is easier if the gib hook screw is replaced first, then swing the end of the gib hook hinge into its place and finally replace the gib hook hinge screw.
That order of re-assembly helps align the holes for the gib hook hinge so the gib hook hinge screw is easier to replace.
Thank you for sharing this with my viewers. It is tricky and I know they will appreciate this info.
I lost that gib hook screw that tiny little bugger fell to the floor and I cant find it how do I replace it please
Many thanks. You have the most detailed, informative videos I've seen.. the best part, is that you don't just replace parts, you work with what you have, and fix the problem You are the Bruce Pender of sewing machines (That is a compliment, Bruce works on small engines)
I appreciate yur comment and happy you watch my channel. It certainly is a compliment to be compared to Bruce Thank you! 🙏
@@andytubesewing1953 you are welcome
Nice explanation of cleaning and assembling and disassembling the rotary hook for the Singer 301A and the 221/222. This is very helpful to me. Thank you, Andy. Congratulations on making over 330+ videos for UA-cam. You’ve helped many of us with our machines. Wishing you continued improving health.
Thank you. After I finally figured out a damaged Thread Loop Guard was the problem, I wanted to make this video. Finally got it done and I'm glad you found it helpful.
I hope you get an alert that you have new comments posted on your videos & are reading this. ;-) Thank you for your thorough instructional videos! I found a 301a at a thrift shop for $20 in a Queen Ann style cabinet last summer. It was very dirty (Seriously - I realized this must have been in a home with heavy smokers and had never been cleaned since it was built in !) but it had the bobbin in tact! When I brought it home and plugged it in, it was stiff but working. I found your videos of Coco! This week, I've watched the bobbin videos and have cleaned out where I never thought I'd have the courage to touch. This morning I got my sandpaper out and removed a serious nick on the outer edge of the thread loop guard disc (9:18) and was amazed. I had good sandpaper for metal lying around and it only took a few swipes as you described to do. In a few days I hope to have my 301a (dubbed Nikki) up and running. Many thanks for sharing your passion/hobby on Andy Tube! We will miss you and I hope that you find comfort in this community of supporters and virtual friends. Take care.
Thank you for saving Nikki and providing a new home. $20, haha... the tension unit on Nikki sells for that much 👀 so an incredible bargain 🏆
You saved the day again. Thanks for your help Andy.
Thanks for keeping your machine in service. I'm glad you found this video. Take care.
THank you Mr. Andy. I had to take another one apart. This was very helpful. Hope you are doing well.
Happy you are still busy with the machines.
I am so thankful and blessed for your videos! I don't have the money to shell out for a 301 in great condition so I bought a $75 fixer upper including the Singer cabinet, knee control, cradle, and the machine. I am fully restoring her and am now at the point where her frame is completely clean and I am cleaning all the parts and putting them back on. I named my machine Fannie Mae because that was the name of the lady that I bought her froms great grandmother that used this machine and loved it. The more I put together the more pride I have in her and I can't wait to sew with her. Thank you so much from the bottom of my heart!
well you sure made my evening Gina I'm really happy for you and excited about your new machine this is exactly why I make my videos and spend all the time with my UA-cam channel thank you for saving that machine and I know it's going to sew very beautifully for you thank you for your comment and take care
I got there link to this video from another of your videos,but it was supposed to slow the removal of the hook assembly from the machine. That's what I need.😢
OK. The video you're looking for is in a 17-video Playlist for working on model 301A: ua-cam.com/play/PLsCOZgzzaiKI_6fbu3itbd1v4z3uQvvkO.html The video for removing & replacing the hook is this particular one:
-> -> -> ua-cam.com/video/OhBOhfKusHw/v-deo.html
Great and informative/detailed video Andy. Can’t wait to get to this part if my 301A❤️. Thanks for sharing
You're welcome! This is one of the easier hooks to work on and it's smaller than many I have done. I enjoyed learning about it and it did improve the stitching quality. Thanks for the comment and good luck!
Thanks for your videos. I just got a 1951 301 in cradle and cabinet and I’m really struggling. It won’t form stitch; top thread breaks right away below needle area. I have a new bobbin case and needles ordered and hope this remedies the situation. Your video explaining the cradle helped me a lot.
Sorry to hear this. If you have the original bobbin case it usually works much better than a new, after-market case.
Take a look at your threading, like remove it and run it back in. The needle is inserted with the flat side to the left. The needle is threaded from right to left. Be sure the needle is fully inserted.
Be sure the bobbin is inserted in the correct direction into the bobbin case. Check the tension of the bobbin case and upper needle thread tension unit.
These are the most common things I have found in this model to cause your problem. They are all easy to check/fix.
After that, I'd check the timing. Did you get the manual with the machine? A free copy is available from Singer Support: www.singer.com/search/support?title=301
Thanks again, Andy! I got another 301 (without the a) yesterday and these two videos on the bobbin bits were extremely helpful. I’ve done a lot of the upper thread tensioners so wasn’t afraid of that - thanks to you! This machine is the 1952 301, called Grand Introduction - and parts of it are blackside. Pretty cool, looks nearly new! Hope you’re doing well.
It sounds great! Have fun with it and take care.
Thank you Andy, you saved me again! I was at a point I was going to just buy a new one. After following your instructions I fixed and cleaned it myself. Works perfectly. Thank you
Thank you for starting my new year 2020 of with a big smile, Leah, and for saving that hook! Nice of you to let me know and glad you found my video. Keep sewing and have a great year.
@@andytubesewing1953 thank you Andy you too. I love your helpful videos. You've been a life saver! Hope you and yours have a wonderful year,!
@@leahquesenberry2958 😉 thank you Leah
Thank you so much Andy. Great info for me. Have a great weekend.
Welcome and thanks for commenting.
Thank you!!! My newly acquired 301 would not sew, and the problem was in the bobbin area. I could hear it catching each time it went around, making a very solid clicking noise. It had a broken needle in it when I bought it, and broke another needle when I tried to work with it. I still don't know what the problem was because I didn't find it very dirty, but after doing everything just like you show in this video, it works perfectly now.
welcome to Andy Tube, Randall and thanks for your comment I don't know why it was held in the review section but I appreciate it and I'm really glad that it helped you get your machine working and that you took time to let me know that's exactly why I make videos like this hope you'll stop by again to my channel when you have time take care
Oooo, tiny, tiny screws! I’m impressed with that 404 hook! I didn’t realize there was that much difference. Still, both machines have more power than my modern Juki.
Too tiny for me I think. I need to restore another 404 to balance myself out. I know! That 404 hook :)
Never worked on a Juki, but I thought they were a "top of the line" brand. I thought they would be full of power, not just electronics. Thanks for watching.
Oh, the Juki is sweet but she hesitates on very thick seams where Jake just punches right on through.
Andy, thank you for the videos. This one was a big help!
Happy to hear that! ✨ Thanks for commenting and for watching my channel.
Thanks Andy !!
absolutely
Andy, I finally found time to disassemble the 301 per your video that doesn’t require the whole machine be dismantled. I paid particular attention to the part about the motor wires . I didn’t try to run this machine before servicing, but I really believe someone had those red (found on right) and black (found on left) motor connections backwards. Wouldn’t that have ruined the motor? Thank you for all the great video information!
No, do not worry about that red & black and I'll tell you why. The electrical plug is NOT polarized, meaning the two prongs are the same size. So that means it does not matter how you plug it into the socket on the wall. You can plug it in one way and the motor will work normally. Then you could pull out the plug, turn it over 180 degrees and plug it back in and the motor will work normally. Either way does not affect the working of the motor or make it run backward or anything like that. No worries.
Thank you
very welcome, David.
Dear Andy, thank you again for all the effort you put in making your wonderful tutorials - Maybe this is a silly question but does it require re-timing after putting the hook back in place? Thank you!
You are very welcome. If you follow the hook removal video that I mention in this video you will not lose the timing and there would be no need to reset it. I give a link to that hook removal video in the Description Area below the video and on the ending page (last 20 seconds) of this video. Here is the link again: ua-cam.com/video/OhBOhfKusHw/v-deo.html I love that you can remove and replace the hook without losing the timing on this hook system compared to other SInger machine models that do require you to retime the hook to needlepoint. I do this process each year when I clean and "tune up" Coco, my wife's model 301A, and Lala her 221 Featherweight machine. It's just easier, IMO, to pull the hook off and soak in cleaner while I brush off and apply new oil and grease to the machine and then pop it back on. Thanks very much for watching my channel.
Thanks!
I appreciate your support of my channel, Dave. Thank you.
I agree with your assessment of the wonderful Singer 404.
The Singer 404 weighs more because it is very robust and well designed. I can understand why Singer used 404 slant needle machines to supply Home Economics classes to teach students to sew. The challenge is convincing current quilters that the Singer 301/301a is a Singer Featherweight on steroids and the Singer 404 is even better for piecing together quilting blocks.
The typical response I get is -"The 301 and 404 are not as cute and are more heavy that a Singer Featherweight". No wonder I am getting bald. LOL.
Quilters buy about half of my restored machines, especially the 404 and 403A models. Some of them already have a 221 or 301 or both but say they want something "more powerful." One viewer commented to me that "women of my Grandma's era were just stronger than we are today, and did not mind lugging around those heavy black Singer models". BTW, don't worry about your hair; you had it when you needed it!
Hey Andy, I finished the cradle video and now I’m watching this one. I’m cleaning this piece of the 301 but my intention was actually to remove the motor but I can’t get it out. I took the handwheel off, removed the guard/cover that’s down below and I unplugged the two wires and it’s not budging. Am I missing something? I’m guessing it’s stuck in that cylinder/tube but I’m just wanting to be careful not to damage something trying to get it out. Any suggestions?
Good guess. A very good chance it is stuck in that tube with dried oil.
You can try to carefully get some WD40 into the tube by turning the machine upside down and spraying where the shaft cover enters the tube. Let it sit for a while and see if that helps.
One of my favorite methods involves heating from above and below with a hair dryer, get it nice and hot. Then stand the machine upright in a normal position, and wearing a glove for heat protection, lift the right end of the machine (handwheel end) about 2 inches then let it go. Just drop that right end of the machine onto the bench/table a couple few times. Lift it a little higher each time. The heat can soften the film of oil that is in the tube making the motor shaft cover stick. and by using that dead drop the weight of the motor is pulled straight down out of the tube. When that motor releases it drops down from the tube onto the bench with a thud.
Hey Andy I now have five 301’s and this last one isn’t allowing me to take the hook out. The two set screws came out with no problem but when I went to pull it out of the machine,it’s not budging. Applied triflow, WD-40, blaster, and a blow dryer but nothing is working. Maybe I need to do it a little bit longer. Any other suggestions? ….thanks.
Patience is the key to this one. I wrap some cotton, like makeup reviving pads, around the hook base and soak it with Wd, and let it work overnight. Don't try to force it, New hooks are hard to come by. In the meantime, I work on other parts, like the pedal or something. That's a small herd of 301 machines you have there 😃👀
Thank you, this was extremely helpful.
Is the 401a's bobbin case and hook assembly as beefy as the 404's, or is it fiddly and delicate like the 301's? Thanks.
Fiddly & Delicate, hehe. The 20+ pound 401A & 404 use the same hook and bobbin case, while the 16 pound 301 uses the same hook and bobbin case as the 11 pound 221 featherweight. Good question, thank you.
Would you ever recommend using a dry lube such as a teflon or graphite based lube to negate attracting lint into the mechanism?
Nope. Other than the hook shaft bushing there is just one spot that needs a drop of sewing machine oil on this mechanism.
See 1:17:06 in this video: ua-cam.com/video/BIhupj5K3t0/v-deo.html That orange dot is where to oil. You can download a free copy of the instruction manual that includes oiling and greasing instructions at this link: www.singer.com/search/support?title=301
Thanks for watching my channel.
I did all this and put back together but now the needle will not pick up the bobbin thread. What did I do wrong
Did it pick up the thread before? I've seen this a couple of times and found that the hook was not installed on the shaft properly. The hook point must be in a certain position in relation to the shaft and the counterbalance as shown in this video: ua-cam.com/video/OhBOhfKusHw/v-deo.html Other cases the thread guard was installed wrong or as simple as a bent needle. If the needle did not pickup the bobbin thread before you started that would be more od-f a timing issue. Here is a timing video for model 301A: ua-cam.com/video/6pAWzJyV0IY/v-deo.html The videos show how to check for the proper timing before you change anything so you can easily see if the timing is set correctly or not
I noticed the "finger" of a Singer 301/301a bobbin case base kept jumping out of the slot of the needle plate. I finally discovered that there is a difference in the bobbin case base of a Singer 301/301a and a Singer 221/222. Most parts suppliers do not know or understand that there is a difference and sell bobbin case bases as if they are interchangeable. It is especially prevalent in suppliers of reproduction 221/222 bobbin case bases. At this point, I do not find any reproduction 301/301a bobbin case bases.
The bobbin case base of a Singer 301/301a is SIMANCO Part # 170076. The "finger" on the 301/301a bobbin case base is offset to correspond to the slant needle.
The bobbin case base of a Singer 221/222 is SIMANCO Part # 45926. The "finger" on the 221/222 is NOT offset to correspond to the vertical needle.
I hope this information will be useful to your viewers.
I am a student of yours and strive to learn as much as I can from your vast experience, expertise and knowledge. I appreciate your honesty and respect you immensely.
Thank you for the vast library of UA-cam videos you have made - >330 videos at this point in time!!
Thank you for sharing. Anytime anyone can help clarify information it is a bonus. There is always confusion around these two models, 221 & 301. You mentioned the 221 bobbin case base part # is 45926. I do have an illustrated Singer parts manual that does indeed show that part number. The manual is identified as "List of Parts-Machines Nos. 221-1, 221K1, 221K4, 221K5". It is 2 pages in total.
I also have a manual (Form 5779, Stamped "RECEIVED MAR 27 1950 COST DEPT."
It is titled "Illustrated List of Parts for No. 221K1 Machine" and is 35 pages in total.
It shows the bobbin case base is part #45752. I have a 3rd manual with the exact same title but listed as "Form 6121" (faded) which is 38 pages total. Page 22 is labeled "June, 1957" FORM K6134 (List of Parts for 221K1 Machine ALTERATIONS. There are not any pictures in this parts list, only numbers and descriptions. One example is part #15926 "Rotating Hook Bobbin Case Base...
I'm guessing this is a list of part number changes from 1957, but who knows?
You also mentioned SIMANCO Part # 170076 as being the bobbin case base of a singer 301.
I can not find that part number anywhere, for any part. I do have a 30-page parts list, with picture plates, FORM 20783 (455) titled "List of Parts for FAMILY SHOPS" SINGER MACHINES Nos. 301-1, 301-2 and 301-3 THE SINGER MANUFACTURING COMPANY (no date) It has a picture plate and parts number list that shows part # 170166 and it is listed as "Rotating Hook Bobbin Case Base..."
I think some of the confusion is the hook part number is the same for both 221 and 301 (the hook part itself) and I always felt that some people looked at that plus the fact the bobbins are supposedly the same and believed they could just take the hook system from a 301 and pop it into a 221 no problems. There was a 5-year period where every 301 machine I found for sale on CL or Goodwill was missing the entire hook. A collector of featherweights I know in California told me people were buying used 301 machines just for the hook to put on 221 for eBay b/c the 221 could be sold for much more than a 301. Another thing I noticed over the years was the piece on the back of the hooks has a different part number for the 221 and the 301. (rotating loop hook guard) That also created problems when swapping out the hook. I think some people knew about the bobbin case base different, but not the loop guard.
I get a headache just thinking about all this, haha. If you, or anyone else reading this, would like copies of the documents I mentioned above then feel free to email me at andymanuals53@gmail.com and ask for the 221/301 manuals. I will also include adjustors manuals and whatever I have, except the Instruction Manuals which you can download free at Singer.com/support. I do not share or even keep your email, but after replying with the manuals attached I delete your email and my reply. I'd like to thank you again for your interest and your sharing on my channel. New light on a subject is always worthy and it is kind of you to do so. One last number; as of today I have uploaded 514 videos :) but I had to look that up by searching for "Andy Tube" on UA-cam search ua-cam.com/users/results?search_query=andy+tube
Take Care.
@@andytubesewing1953 Thank you for the concise and extremely helpful reply.
I dismantled my Singer 301 which I know has a correct bobbin case base. The SIMANCO part # is 170076.
I had no idea that the rotating hook loop guard was different between the 221 and 301. I will have to look for that
I am sending you an email. Thank you so much. I believe that many vintage Singer sewing machines will be saved from information people can glean from your UA-cam videos.
@@ibsoarin I believe you found that part number on your machine I just don't see the part number on any list but maybe I should look closer on that alternate list I mentioned I'll watch for your email and send you all the stuff I have I know that you are very interested in the information and much like me you look for the answers it's been a pleasure communicating with you take care and God bless
@@andytubesewing1953 I received the Parts Manual for 301-1, 301-2 and 301-3 from you and agree that Part # 170076 is no where to be found!! I am surprised that such an important part is not listed in Singer's official parts manuals.
I chuckled at the name Singer gave to their parts manual - "List of Parts for Family Shops; Singer Machines 301-1, 301-2 and 301-3". Even the names for some parts are too wordy and confusing.
I have only paid attention to the bobbin case base when the "finger" kept jumping out needle plate of my Singer 301-1. I found that a Singer 221 bobbin case base was mistakenly placed in that 301.
I am going to look at other Singer 301/301A machines to see what their bobbin case base part number is.
Thank you for your help and patience with my question.
I did find that Part # 170066 is the Presser Bar Lifter.
Best Regards.
@@ibsoarin I realize this is a very old thread but it sure helps to be able to look back and find this info. I just bought a non-running black long bed 301 and got it all cleaned up. The problems were the foot controller and a hellacious thread jam. When I tried to sew with it the bobbin case gets stuck in the base. I removed the assembly tried several bobbin cases with same result. It even gets stuck without a bobbin. The part # on the base is the same as mentioned above 170066 which I could not find anywhere. My working 301's (I now have 4) all have the other base # 170166. I thought it must be a wrong part that was causing the problem so good to read that there are more out there like mine, especially that they function correctly. Another Simanco mystery. Thanks to Andy for all of these archives available to us searchers. Bless you, and wishing you improved health.
Hey Andy. My wife’s machine gave us trouble again, no stitch are being made anymore. I toke the hook apart and I’m missing the second screw you talk about at 12:46 (you call it swivel screw). Now it’s easy to find the first one but impossible for me to find this one. Do you know the exact name and where to find it? Could it be part of my problem? Thanks.
"Rotating Hook Gib Hinge Screw", Part No. 200614. Very hard to find. singer-featherweight.com/products/screw-pivot-mounting-for-gib-hook-singer-featherweight-vintage-original (sold out) You may need to buy a used hook: www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=m570.l1313&_nkw=Genuine+Singer+221+Featherweight+301a+Hook+Assembly&_sacat=0
@@andytubesewing1953 Thank you Andy, as usual your help is a mine of Gold. You take care!
@@Nico-go7uc You too, Nico. ✌
I’ve soaked my rotary hook assembly pieces in the solution but the traces of oxidation/rust is still hiding in the tiny crevices. What can I use to remove this, or will a good oiling take care of it? Also, my plate has deep groves in it. I’ve tried using a rubber honing stick to smooth it out but the grooves are looking permanent. I hope it’ll not make much of a difference when the machine is all back together.
If you really think it is rust and not dried oil then you can use a rust remover. Here is the one I use: www.rustoleum.com/product-catalog/consumer-brands/krud-kutter/rust-remedies/the-must-for-rust-rust-remover-and-inhibitor There are many other rust removers, of course. Here is one video I did about rust removal: ua-cam.com/video/xlAl-VhVgOg/v-deo.html