tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26975001.post1795973403444829313..comments2024-02-15T13:00:51.078-05:00Comments on Vintage Sewing Machines: Not ANOTHER Necchi!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06057276731453019090noreply@blogger.comBlogger63125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26975001.post-3082227305238727012017-01-21T02:13:41.408-05:002017-01-21T02:13:41.408-05:00Hi Ed
I have been researching a problem I am havin...Hi Ed<br />I have been researching a problem I am having with my lovely Necchi Lydia 3 Type 544, and your blog keeps cropping up, so I thought I would post my problem in the hope you might be able to help. <br />My machine had begun to run noisily and since the oiling diagram in the service manual was difficult to interpret, I asked my partner (who is an electrical serviceman) to look at it. He took the motor out and saw that a part that looked like a fan on the drive spindle was loose - easily fixed by tightening a grub screw. He also found several brittle/burned wires so replaced them. One of these was the set of wires that go to the speed regulator mechanism. There is a speed regulating wheel on the bed of the machine, with numbers 1-5. Previously, when set at 1, the machine runs slowly and steadily, allowing extremely precise detail. At setting 5, the machine runs much faster with the pedal in the same position, making it quicker to do long stretches of straight sewing (eg curtains etc). After taking it apart, my partner could see that adjusting the wheel rotates the position of the brushes in relation to the motor commutator, thus presumably adjusting the motor speed.<br />After replacing the fragile wires, which involved removing and re-fitting the micro-switch which is activated by the above-mentioned speed regulator wheel(after new wires attached), the machine is once again humming along very quietly and smoothly. BUT my problem is that now when I have the speed regulating wheel set to 1, the motor sometimes does not work at all; sometimes it works but goes immediately to full speed with the slightest touch of the pedal. I have found that I can still get the slow and steady speed if I set the wheel to 3.<br />This has flummoxed my partner - he can't work out what the switch part of the speed regulator component is intended to do (does it change the field windings arrangement?).<br />Do you know anything about this feature of this machine, and can you help explain to my partner how to get it back to how it was before? <br />And as an aside, can you clarify for me where I should lubricate the machine? According to the user manual there are only two places to drop oil - one beside the bobbin case, and one through a hole above the needle bar (although unclear exactly which part the oil is supposed to get to). Should I apply some oil to other parts as well?<br />Thanks in anticipation for any help you can offer.<br /><br />Regards<br />MirandaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26975001.post-51894688426961581742017-01-15T10:40:15.389-05:002017-01-15T10:40:15.389-05:00Hello, I"m happy to have found this blog, and...Hello, I"m happy to have found this blog, and hope someone can help me. I bought a Necchi 523 (Taiwan) a few days ago. This is my first older machine, and the bobbin did give me some fits. I was unable to thread the bobbin because the clutch knob didn't seem to be operating correctly...the bobbin wasn't spinning, and the needle was going up and down.I ended up threading the bobbin on my Brother. So, after my husband helped me get the bobbin in, I attempted to sew to see how it worked. Handwheel is frozen,It did work for a few "stitches" (which were very malformed) and now wheel will not move either back or forward. Does this sound like an oiling issue? I appreciate any help!!! Thank you.<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26975001.post-77287554158935962952016-06-24T14:28:13.707-04:002016-06-24T14:28:13.707-04:00Hi Ed,
I was given a Necchi BU Supernova but the t...Hi Ed,<br />I was given a Necchi BU Supernova but the toggle switch for the speed is broken, and it is missing the foot pedal and power cord. I just came across your page and was wondering if you might have either of these for sale? <br />Thank you TerriAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01852026978045485048noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26975001.post-77090790637485573512016-01-08T09:59:53.765-05:002016-01-08T09:59:53.765-05:00Sounds more like the reverse mechanism needs lubri...Sounds more like the reverse mechanism needs lubrication. Remove the upper and lower lids and trace the reverse mechanism from the pushbutton to the feed dog, oiling every point along the way where metal rubs against metal. When that's done, exercise the reverse function until everything works smoothly and freely. -EdAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06057276731453019090noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26975001.post-76902942496472631962015-12-18T21:41:59.887-05:002015-12-18T21:41:59.887-05:00Could it be the wrong pedal? You could try replac...Could it be the wrong pedal? You could try replacing it. You can find replacement pedals on eBay. David Adamshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05396252418790563989noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26975001.post-2629553259882501192015-09-28T10:26:25.396-04:002015-09-28T10:26:25.396-04:00I acquired a Necchi 523 and I pressed the reverse ...I acquired a Necchi 523 and I pressed the reverse button, but now all it does is sew in reverse. Does anyone know how I can get it to go back to sewing the normal forward way?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26975001.post-67228926758007928062015-08-26T17:24:51.904-04:002015-08-26T17:24:51.904-04:00I wouldn't have any Lydias in my collection ei...I wouldn't have any Lydias in my collection either if I'd seen this before I optimistically acquired two ebay Lydias recently. One has a plastic hook gear in pieces, the other has a badly cracked gear behind the handwheel. Probably more than that if could figure out how to remove the stitch selector knob that's preventing me from seeing what's behind the end cover. I paid 50 and 70 plus shipping for these Lydias. Sometimes it's hard to know the difference between optimism and foolishness.osmgreasemonkeyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15364623206183114049noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26975001.post-80445147027089645282015-06-03T06:14:14.785-04:002015-06-03T06:14:14.785-04:00Delighted to find your blog. Given a Necchi Lydia ...Delighted to find your blog. Given a Necchi Lydia for my 21st (I am now 68!) and used it every day for years and years. Finally a belt of some sort went and the repairer was unable to replace it. I bought another through a small ad, but it is terribly noisy, so have been reluctant to use it. I have a Janone all singing all dancing machine now but still yearn for my Necchi - never had the confidence in the new one that I had in the old. I assumed it would be too old to get the Necchi serviced after all these years? All the best.Janetnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26975001.post-57207374273906207212015-03-19T15:51:18.927-04:002015-03-19T15:51:18.927-04:00Hi Ed
many thanks for this blog. I acquired my fir...Hi Ed<br />many thanks for this blog. I acquired my first Lydia 3 a couple of years ago, and with your blog knew what to look for. Luckily she turned out to be in perfect condition. I have since been gifted a Lydia 2 from a Twitter follower - once again camstack all in tact. After a service she runs very smoothly. I have now acquired a Sylvia maximatix in battle ship grey. It was delivered to my mum's house, so won't know condition she will be in, but here's hoping :).Her Loquaciousnesshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11652519523437838586noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26975001.post-41910289312657690602014-12-23T05:51:49.497-05:002014-12-23T05:51:49.497-05:00I am looking to replace the foot pedal of our Lydi...I am looking to replace the foot pedal of our Lydia 3 544. Any ideas as to where? Are other foot pedals compatible?<br /><br />Davidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26975001.post-45981553357447481262014-10-12T18:25:18.450-04:002014-10-12T18:25:18.450-04:00Hi, I'm looking for the gear at the top that d...<br />Hi, I'm looking for the gear at the top that drives the cam stack on my Necchi 544 I know they are rare, any leads?<br />The cam stack is split very slightly but when the shaft froze the spiral gear just broke the pinion gear in half. <br /><br /><br />Sincerely, Tom<br />Tom Carbonehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07790533839250965369noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26975001.post-876506086514078812014-08-28T16:46:03.439-04:002014-08-28T16:46:03.439-04:00I have a Necchi Lydia and have had it for 34 years...I have a Necchi Lydia and have had it for 34 years! I still use it all the time- best machine EVER. I just can't seem to buy a new machine because I can't fine one that I can afford that is as nice as what I have!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26975001.post-66961618854480698832014-07-30T09:02:14.824-04:002014-07-30T09:02:14.824-04:00Hi Ed,
I,ve been searching for information on Nec...Hi Ed, <br />I,ve been searching for information on Necchi BVs and found your blog. There seems to be very little out there about these machines.<br />We have been looking for an industrial type machine to sew vinyl seat covers and ran across this one at an estate sale. The price seemed fair and lots of accessories were included so we brought it home.<br /> After a few minor issues it seems to sew very well. However,the original owner's manual is printed in Italian. Do you have a source for an English copy? Alannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26975001.post-15489368260310013022014-02-03T00:43:59.951-05:002014-02-03T00:43:59.951-05:00Hello, I'm new at this, and have acquired a Ne...Hello, I'm new at this, and have acquired a Necchi 544 sewing machine, but unfortunately the power cord and foot pedal are missing. I see I can get a power cord to fit it on e-bay, but I haven't been able to find a foot pedal. Is there some way to make other foot pedals work with this model? (It's not a Lydia, it just says 544, and it's in very good shape). Your help would be much appreciated! Sylvia.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15516201431308950718noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26975001.post-37856897263928356112013-12-25T04:39:25.351-05:002013-12-25T04:39:25.351-05:00Hi All! Have Necchi 544 too, with cracks. Now i te...Hi All! Have Necchi 544 too, with cracks. Now i tell you, how to save! At first you should mark the schafts and gears, will save you a lot of time at reassambling. Then remove the cam! Drill 1,5mm holes to end of the cracks, they will prevent them to continuing.<br />Take a sheet paper over it! Put two AWAB hose camps to the two end! Heat up the alloy part! (Simply put it to an electric heated hot plate.) When it became hot, remove from heater, thigthten the hose camps, and leave it alone for a night. Next day mornin you have to remove the camps. The cracks will open again, but the plastic will keep the arch of the alloy. Now you have to get a two component epoxy glue, and fill up the cracks. Do not choose ten-minute ones, you'll have no time to trim the excess glue! Leave it until the glue hardened. Now you should trim it with small files and knifes. Put the cam back to te machine, and try all of the stiches. If they doesn't works well, glue up some small plastic parts (for example from a broken CD case) to the edges of the cams at the cracks, or file down! Repeat until the machine works smoothly. Play with it for few days, and if you like to keep it for the next decades, find a local foundry, take your glued, trimmed, and tried cam to there, and ask them, to cast it from metal! Any metal should ok, except pure aluminium. That is necessary, because the cam, what is began to crack once, once will broke anywayAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26975001.post-42881954757768090602013-12-11T12:20:14.877-05:002013-12-11T12:20:14.877-05:00I have a necchi lydia 3 544 with no manual, is the...I have a necchi lydia 3 544 with no manual, is there somewhere it needs to be oiled, and if so can you tell me how to do it<br /> teraAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26975001.post-87985158230110609892013-09-30T08:58:49.634-04:002013-09-30T08:58:49.634-04:00Anita,
Necchi motors rarely go bad. The weak p...Anita,<br /><br /> Necchi motors rarely go bad. The weak point is the transformer in line between the power source and the motor that provides the High/Low motor speed setting. Remove the bottom panel and look at the rectangular black thing in there. If it has a black, tarry substance oozing from it, it's toast.<br /><br /> What can you do about it? I have never found a source for replacement transformers, so a donor machine is the only possibility and I can't tell you which other models use the same transformer. Necchi is not as free with their parts diagrams as Singer, I just have to hold two Necchi parts together to see if they appear interchangeable and then try installing them. The only option I can think of for a bad transformer is to bypass the transformer and wire the high speed side of the motor directly to the foot control. You won't have a low speed setting, but most other machines of that vintage don't either. (Note: I have never tried this - it might not even be feasible)<br /><br /> If it turns out that the transformer is good and the motor truly is bad, I suspect that motors from several other Necchi models might interchange but again, I can't tell you which models. I have several motors that utilize U.S. voltage and frequency, but none that might work in New Zealand. <br /><br /> Allyn International is the U.S. Necchi distributor but you might Google for the New Zealand Necchi distributor and ask how they can help. -EdAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06057276731453019090noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26975001.post-13429053070023639542013-09-28T23:33:20.161-04:002013-09-28T23:33:20.161-04:00Hi Ed. I'm in New Zealand. I've just stumb...Hi Ed. I'm in New Zealand. I've just stumbled on your blog. A couple of weeks ago I brought a 1956 Necchi Supernova freearm with everything (manual, cams, feet) for NZD $31 (about USD $26). It was a bit dirty but in fairly good condition. After a good clean and oiling it ran beautifully - and then it began to smoke and sizzle! I think the motor melted some of the old wiring. Do you know if I can swap this out for any other branded motor or a motor from another Necchi model? Thanks, AnitaMaggieJayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12745341311794945379noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26975001.post-61343543171846097702013-08-18T17:12:11.558-04:002013-08-18T17:12:11.558-04:00Zenguy101 - The first place I would look is the f...Zenguy101 - The first place I would look is the foot control. Depending on the foot control you have, it could need cleaning, adjustment, or replacing. <br />Often, problems like this are caused by friction somewhere in the drive train. The motor has to work harder to turn the machine and you have to supply more current to accomplish that. Once the motor overcomes the initial inertia, it takes less power to keep the machine spinning.<br />The causes could be dried-up lubricant, lack of lubricant, corrosion, a bent needle bar or main shaft, thread wrapped around some moving part, or the motor belt too tight. -EdAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06057276731453019090noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26975001.post-75701474410685076522013-08-18T16:11:59.117-04:002013-08-18T16:11:59.117-04:00Ed, my lydia 3 sews way too fast in min spd is the...Ed, my lydia 3 sews way too fast in min spd is there something I can do to idle it down ?<br />My foot pedal is very touchy and I find it difficult to go slow when needed.<br />ThanksZenguy101https://www.blogger.com/profile/04378606253041352745noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26975001.post-17948667784918449532013-07-27T22:36:07.190-04:002013-07-27T22:36:07.190-04:00I found a Necchi Lydia3 at a yard sale.....w/sewin...I found a Necchi Lydia3 at a yard sale.....w/sewing table, chair, accessories, extra arm and has the lid/case cover.... owners manual & original warrany paperwork. It was bought on Nov. 1972....I plugged it in and works like a CHARM. I was completely blown away.....and all for the grand price of $30.00. I am so impressed....tammyrhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12437286244380372192noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26975001.post-78855211163240435922013-07-18T07:51:08.464-04:002013-07-18T07:51:08.464-04:00Honestly, I don't remember if I sewed anything...Honestly, I don't remember if I sewed anything on that machine other than a test swatch. It is still sitting on the shelf. It is too new to comfortably fit into my collection and light enough to ship, if you think you might be interested in it, gmail me at oldsewingmachines and I would make you a good deal. -EdAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06057276731453019090noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26975001.post-50841800704719997732013-07-18T04:13:30.030-04:002013-07-18T04:13:30.030-04:00Hi Ed:
So, it was nearly 2 years ago you got your...Hi Ed:<br /><br />So, it was nearly 2 years ago you got your Lydia. I'm wondering if you ever sewed a project with it, and if it's still running fine. I'm asking this because I am about to go take a look at one myself, and although I have no idea what kind of a condition it actually is in (the seller's description is 'works great') and even if there are small cracks on the cam stack, if the machine would sew decorative stitches at least for a few years. What I really wanted was a Mirella which has recently shown up on my local CL but with a prohibitively expensive price. With a deep sigh, I let that one go. But it seems like a Lydia 3 is still waiting for a new home.UrbanRecyclist Micki Shttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15031477249140126474noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26975001.post-54682681280429296372013-06-18T13:39:54.919-04:002013-06-18T13:39:54.919-04:00You have to find where the noise is coming from: i...You have to find where the noise is coming from: is it a loose part on the bobbin case itself? Is it excess gap around the position finger? Does the machine have the correct bobbin case? once you have figured out where the rattle originates from, it will hopefully be obvious whaT you need to do to correct it. -EdAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06057276731453019090noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26975001.post-85876552993903590222013-06-16T09:36:39.196-04:002013-06-16T09:36:39.196-04:00Hi Ed:
Just got a Necchi Lydia 3 in an incredible...Hi Ed:<br /><br />Just got a Necchi Lydia 3 in an incredible good cosmetic condition. The only thing is that the bobbin case makes a lot of rattling noise. What can I do about that?<br /><br />thanks<br />cantica12https://www.blogger.com/profile/17164642895461209035noreply@blogger.com