How to Repair a Vintage Rotary Sewing Machine
Vintage sewing machines are an excellent choice for the modern sewer. These machines often still run beautifully and are easy to repair and maintain at home. Most vintage rotary sewing machines can handle fabrics of nearly any weight and many even offer decorative stitches. While a new cord, belt, and cleaning will not repair every problem with a vintage sewing machine, it will fix many. With a few tools and supplies, you can make your thrift-store find purr through any fabric you throw at it.
Things You'll Need
- Screwdriver
- Small brush
- Tweezers
- WD-40
- Sewing machine or Three-in-One oil
- Soft cloth
- Emery board
- Small scale vacuum, if desired
Instructions
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1
Examine the sewing machine cord and wires, assuming your rotary sewing machine is electrical as opposed to a hand-crank or treadle. A rotary machine relies on a system of wheels and belts to move the needle and form stitches. Remove and replace a frayed or damaged cord to prevent any risk of electrocution or shock. If the cord is in good repair, as many rotary sewing machine cords are, move on to the belt.
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2
Remove the sewing machine from the case or sewing machine table if necessary to examine the belt and access the underside of the machine. The belt should fit quite snugly in the belt path and be smooth and undamaged. Replace the belt if it is frayed or damaged. Note the belt path before you remove the old belt, then install the new one in the same manner.
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3
Remove the throat plate from your sewing machine using a small flathead screwdriver. Clean any lint or fuzz using tweezers, a small brush and a small vacuum cleaner if desired. Remove the bobbin assembly and clean. Smooth any snags or rough areas on the bobbin assembly with an emery board.
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4
Use tweezers and a soft cloth to clean the threading assemblies and tension wheels on your rotary sewing machine.
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Wipe the underside of your vintage sewing machine with a soft cloth. If there is a grease buildup, clean it off with WD-40 or a similar product. Wipe away any residual lubricant.
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Oil each opening. If you have a manual for the sewing machine, oiling information should be included. If not, oil any clearly moving parts. Look for small round holes on your sewing machine and add a drop of oil to each.
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7
Install a new needle in the machine. Fill and thread a bobbin, then test the machine.
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Tips & Warnings
Kerosene may be used to clean machine gears instead of WD-40. Older machines, including treadles and hand-cranked styles, may require a more thorough and aggressive cleaning to get them working correctly.
Vintage machines are relatively easy to find. Walk away from machines in extremely poor condition--those with rust or electrical machines with broken or damaged motors.
