I bought this old machine because I want sometimes to go slo.o.o.o.o.ow, like around strap fasteners, etc. and this machine has a gear that slows it down to about 25% of its normal speed. The elna No.1 does similar; both '50's-60's machines.
So I found one Viking all froze up on Craigs list and my local shop did a good of freeing it up and it makes a fine stitch in normal operation,and has good power,but the knob you pull out to make it slow just sort of disengages the tension on the belt and it just squeals: not the slow-down I need. Two questions:
Anyone know about the slow-down mechanism? Maybe it is supposed to engage a gear or something? I don't think the operations manual would give that kind of detail, but a maintenance manual would.
The shop couldn't replace one of the worn belts with a new one because their "expert" said all the new ones are made too short to install. (My dealer, while capable, isn't a Viking dealer) So I have a used belt from a scrapped viking, but the belt is now in good shape, at least compared to the that came off it. Just one problem: re-installing the cover plate completely causes it to make contact with the belt, stopping the machine, so I have it sort of "floating" with tape rather than screwed down tight. Maybe the new-old belt is stretched and allows the floating pulley to travel too far.
Any thoughts appreciated.
JPBill