Gear making machine GONE!!!

[Hangin' Burrito]

Well, I burned up my Thread Injector. Took it to get it repaired and the guy told me it would cost more to get it fixed than it was worth.

My question is, I need to get another one but, my budget is about 200$.
Can I get a good semi-commercial machine without a lot of plastic parts, for that price?
I don't know what to look for if I go buy a used one, as far as telling if it's a lemon or not.
HELP!!!! The season is almost here and I've got projects to make!

[Hawk-eye]

OH Man ... sounds like my kinda luck pal ... hope you get it worked out soon!

[Frawg]

Here's a Craig's List search for the Asheville area.

[Hangin' Burrito]

Thanks Frawg,
I've checked and found an Elna Supermatic here in H-ville I think I'll check out.
All metal, and produced between 1952-1964. looks to be in great condition.
I'll keep ya'll posted!

Thanks Gargoyle, I'll check them out too!

[pedro]

I'm surprised that your repair guy doesn't have any trade in machines in his shop. Those can be outstanding deals. One question: what is wrong with the old machine? It sounds from your post like it is a broken plastic gear. If it is, and you have any mechanical aptitude at all, keep the machine. Get another machine, sure, but install a new gear in the one that you have. It is not that hard, and you will have a backup for less than $20.00.

[phatpenguin]

I'm surprised that your repair guy doesn't have any trade in machines in his shop. Those can be outstanding deals. One question: what is wrong with the old machine? It sounds from your post like it is a broken plastic gear. If it is, and you have any mechanical aptitude at all, keep the machine. Get another machine, sure, but install a new gear in the one that you have. It is not that hard, and you will have a backup for less than $20.00.

+1 on that. I purchased a singer zig-zag with the plastic gears already stripped for $20, dropped $18 more on new parts shipped to me, about 2 hours including all of the online research, reviewing the schematic, replacing the stripped gear, and I am good to go... I wish it had metal gears, and truly I am surprised no one has produced metal gears for these babies but at $18 I can afford to fix it a few more times before I buy a new one. I tend to be a little careful with webbing but other than that it seems to work great.

[shevy77]

Thanks Shevy77,
That's the same exact model as I've got. I went to buy it, and it said 10 bucks then when I went to checkout, they were going to charge me another 7!!!
I'll get it if I have too, but I'm going to see if I can locate it somewhere else.

Ok, I will try again.

This link is cheaper and is an electronic copy (pdf).

SPL-9000 Manual

EDIT: I looked at the link again and when I click to buy it says 'Currently Not Available'.

Sorry,

Shevy77

[pedro]

+1 on that. I purchased a singer zig-zag with the plastic gears already stripped for $20, dropped $18 more on new parts shipped to me, about 2 hours including all of the online research, reviewing the schematic, replacing the stripped gear, and I am good to go... I wish it had metal gears, and truly I am surprised no one has produced metal gears for these babies but at $18 I can afford to fix it a few more times before I buy a new one. I tend to be a little careful with webbing but other than that it seems to work great.

I don't know this for certain, but it may be that the bearings on those machines would not be able to handle the additional load that steel gears would put on them. The replacement plastic gears are supposedly made from better material than the originals, so as long as you take it easy, you should be okay.

[Rockdawg69]

Let us know what you get and how it works. I need another one so I'm not using the wife's. Lots of complaints about not re-setting the tension, etc., etc., etc.

[oldgringo]

Lots of complaints about not re-setting the tension, etc., etc., etc.

I'm right there with her...makes me nuts when my wife gets into my tools.