Singer Stylist 437 Seized Zig-zag Mechanism

When I came to try the Singer Stylist 437 I discovered that the zig-zag wouldn't work.  I tried the needle position setting and that didn't work either so I figured I had a seized part.  When I came to have a look at what was going on I pulled out the Super Stylist 533 to compare.  It was very simple, the part that was supposed to move the needle bar had seized and wasn't moving the tiniest bit.  I applied oil as shown in the photograph below.

I then (having tried this on the machine that was working, just to check that I could do this without damaging anything) started to force the needle bar to oscillate by pushing it back and forth.  From what I remember you get the greatest movement when the machine is set to widest zig-zag and left needle position.  After I had moved it a few times I applied more oil to the 'oil repeatedly' points.  Ten minutes later it was springing to and fro as well as any working machine.  I have to say I love it when I have a similar machine to compare workings with!  As a real surprise the pedal on this machine was fine and it is now for sale.

Another thing that initially wasn't working was that the flat-bed refused to lock in.  Unfortunately I didn't take any pictures of this but I'll try and explain.  Start by turning your machine up and taking the bottom off so that you can see where the flat-bed locks in.  Now try and attach the flat-bed.  I found that the metal pin wasn't long enough and thus the cut in it wasn't allowing the catch to catch in.  If you turn the flat-bed up the other way you'll see a grub screw holding the metal pin.  Just loosen the grub screw, adjust the pin slightly and tighten before trying in your machine.  It didn't take me all that long to find a length that worked just fine!

Singer Stylist 437

Just a week ago I got a new machine at work.  For some reason it comes with an instruction manual for a Singer 427 but it is actually a Stylist 437.  It is actually rather a nice machine in a pleasing tan colour and comes with a cover, which is always nice!

 I have to say though, once I started taking it apart I decided I didn't want one, which is nice!  It is a belt drive connecting top and bottom and has two sets of plastic gears.  Amazingly both sets of gears look all right, for now at least, but they are just an accident waiting to happen.  We replaced a plastic gear on one of our machines once, cost us $20, almost more than the machine was worth and the machine never felt the same afterwards.  Below are pictures of the gears.

One thing I do like about this era of Singer machines is the hook area.  They are rather easy to take apart and oil.  This one had some minor fur-balls and needed a good oiling, it was slightly seized when I first started on it.

 There is very little under the top cover, apart from the blindstitch cam anyway.  It is also a free-arm machine and still has the flat-bed with it.  No accessories though.

 It does, however, have one of those dangerous pedals on it so I could yet not be selling it.

On Wednesday I got another machine in.  This one is a Globe overlocker.  I am not the world's greatest fan of overlockers, the only thing they seem to do remarkably well is not cooperate!  Unfortunately this one has the wrong pedal and I don't have one that will plug into it, so it looks like it is in for a long stay!

 And finally, a machine I sold recently was a very brightly coloured Brother.  I would definitely not like to own one of these but I love the bright red!

I do have some pictures lined up to post here and an Elna as well.