Failure and Repair.
Linda’s 33 year old, ‘vintage’ sewing machine started smoking the other night. The machine was just sitting there when the motor started by itself and smoke emerged from the machine! They unplugged the machine but there remained a ‘nice’ odor in the room. This has been an excellent sewing machine over the years.
We plugged it in the next day and the motor started at a slow speed without depressing the foot pedal. After concluding the machine is not worth much anymore I started the disassembly. I was able to eventually get to the motor and the little terminal box that held some electronics. There was capacitor that had blown up leaving a moist oil like substance on the terminal board. The cap had a label indicating it was 0.1 uf, 250V ~ MP, fo = 3.6 Mhz, PME 271M. This turned out to be a interference suppressor used, I think, to reduce electrical noise caused by the motor.. I looked for a replacement capacitor but found only one half the size that sold in lots of 200 for about $2 each. ($400).
The motor and terminal board assembly.
The blown capacitor. Its belly is missing.
I didn’t want to leave the machine disassembled too long for fear I may not get it back together correctly so I completely removed the capacitor. Now the sewing machine works just fine. Maybe when the motor is running we will hear interference on our radio or tv. I may look further for a replacement part as time permits?
Here the beauty is.
I wonder how many more years of service this machine will provide? There are some new machines out there even in the $150 neighborhood that may outperform this vintage sewing machine. Who knows?
You are amazing. Think of all the money you have saved.
ReplyDeleteYou were correct on every assumption and simple removal was all it takes !!
ReplyDeleteWant to ask a Question...?
http://www.wix.com/i08870/justask
Jim,
ReplyDeleteI was so glad to find this post, this is exactly what happened to mine. However I put it back together and now it works but wont shut off. I wonder if I put the wrong terminals together. I waited too long to put it back and had forgotten how it went. I wasnt as smart as you. Anyway have any thoughts?? By the way you will never get a machine as good as this today no matter what you spend!
Thanks Virginia
hi Jim
ReplyDeleteI am grateful for this article of yours.
my 6440, having not been used for a long time, did exactly as yours did - it started running away by itself and smoke came out of the motor casing - I had no idea what to do and it was going to be expensive giving it to a repair shop just to look at it...
I have opened it up and oiled it (it had ceased up partially (the reverse button was stuck in)) and freed the stuck parts but when I re-closed it up and reconnected the power it did the run-away/smoke thing again. You say that if I take out the damaged capacitor the machine will run as before except it might cause interference somewhere. As I have nothing to loose I will take your advice and give it a try. I can get a similar capacitor here in the UK for $9 (for 3) but I will see what happens 1st.
Thank you
dug (UK)
Dug Conn -- I had the same issue and researched the remedy. As Jim did, apparently all it takes is to take out the capacitor. The TVs are not made the same these days so that you do not need the capacitor anymore. No need to replace it, is my understanding. Now, I have yet to remove it on my machine yet. I'll try soon.
ReplyDeleteJim -- thank you for the photos. Very helpful.
how do you take the capacitor out?
ReplyDeleteRemove the rear cover to gain access to the motor. Loosen the two brass screws that connect the two leads from the capacitor and pull it out. You may need to grab it will a pair of needle nose pliers. Tighten the two screws. Replace the rear cover. A service manual for these machines can easily be found online for free using Google.
DeleteThe capacitor in my 6170 blew up years ago!
Jim, Thanks my Husqvarna 5530's capacitor smoked and poped also .Glad I found out I can just remove it. It works fine now.
DeleteThank you so much for sharing this information. You saved me quite a bit of time and money since I was ready to take my machine to the repair shop until we found this.Worked perfectly -thanks!
ReplyDeleteOMG... This is a god send.... i have same Rifa PME 271M capacitor blown on my husky 2000 model 6430... so questions...
ReplyDelete1) how do i remove it.
2) do i need to replace it and how (soldering iron)?
3) dont sew and radio ever so can i have it without?
I live in auckland and see these capacitors all over ebay... so .. what is the wisest option?
Cheers Edward (collector and hobbiest repair guy)
hello Virginia my name is David, would you know of a manual for the Husqvarna 6440 sewing machine? my email address is davidprigent2764@gmail.com take care.
ReplyDeleteif you haven't already found one, here's a downloadable free one that covers all the 6000 series:
Deletehttps://vikatikki.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/husqvarna-viking-6000-technical-briefing.pdf
Thank you for the link. My husband has been trying to fix my 6440 which was frozen up and so far it works perfectly - as long as I am sewing straight. It will not go into zigzag mode at all. Hopefully the manual will help him to figure out what is causing this.
DeleteSorry Linda, I am David , I called you Virginia, again do you know of a manual for Husqvarna 6440 sewing machine, my email is davidprigent2764@gmail.com
ReplyDeletehttp://manuals.husqvarnaviking.com/
DeleteThanks Barb.
DeleteHI
ReplyDeleteI repair sewing machines in Southern Maine. I have a number of old Viking 6000 series machines that come in and it is very common to have this small electrical part smoke. A guys who used to repair in the area told me he always removed them. That's what I've been doing and the machines work fine. Its a little scary when you hear of something smoking, but I have had no problems so far.
I would of course love to hear from a Swedish engineer who put them there but I don't think that will happen.
I've spent a lot of time working on the 6000 series so if anyone's ever in Maine hit me up for a repair or some advice. They are fantastic machine.
Tyler@thesewingmachineexchange.com
Thanks for the blog
I ordered some from Mouser and I think they are the correct ones.
ReplyDelete80-PME271M610MR30 these only cost about $1.70 with $8 dollars shipping. If they don't work well I will be back to update my addition. I really like my old Sewing machine.
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ReplyDeleteDon't replace the capacitors on these machines! TV and radio electronics are no longer interfered with when your Viking runs without it. All the sewing machine techs I know recommend taking them out and never looking to replace them.
ReplyDeleteMy 64 40 has ceased up and I don’t have a clue how to fix it.
ReplyDeleteAnyone know what to do ?
Judy
Just recently, I completely disassembled the pattern mechanism of my 6460, using the service manual (aka "Technical Briefing") and found that all the gears and gizmos had wodges of dried white lubricant and gummy brown oil stuck on. As I disassembled, I put the parts from each step into a separate plastic zip bag and taped them in order onto a large sheet of blank newsprint, thus referencing each baggy to page number, step, and part names written on the paper. Then, using various cleaning agents and tools (alcohol; vinegar; soap & water; Winsor & Newton brush cleaner/restorer - a non-hazardous, low vapor solvent for acrylic and oil; toothpicks, cotton swabs, metal picks), I carefully cleaned and relubed each part with either clear synthetic grease or high-grade sewing machine oil (depending on the part and its function), before reassembling the pattern selector and putting it back into the machine with a new cam stack. My 1974 Viking 6460 works better than ever and I recently acquired another one for $5 at a Goodwill on which I have just started restoration. Yes, it was a long project, but I don't know of any service technician who would do this kind of loving work on my machine - I use it every day in my clothing alterations business and I need it to run smoothly. One caveat - you might become addicted to vintage machine restoration! And then what will you do with all the machines? I can only sew on one at a time!!!
ReplyDeleteI love my 6460. It was making a terrible noise at times so I decided to take it in for a check up. I was told they used tri-flow oil and that my machines needs to be run often so it doesn't dry out. I paid $178. I wonder if I could oil my machine myself?
ReplyDeleteI took out the blown capacitor, yup, smoke and smell. Figured it'd work OK without it. And it did for a while. Then got slower and slower under sewing load. And then one day slowed like it was straining then a Bang, and stopped. The bang was like a capacitor blowing but since I removed the mains supply one can I ask if there is there another I need to pay attention to?
ReplyDeleteAny one experience this before and is it worth my effort to resolve. Gluey sticky oil sounds like a culprit.
It's too good a machine to dispose of.
Thanks
I took out the blown capacitor, yup, smoke and smell. Figured it'd work OK without it. And it did for a while. Then got slower and slower under sewing load. And then one day slowed like it was straining then a Bang, and stopped. The bang was like a capacitor blowing but since I removed the mains supply one can I ask if there is there another I need to pay attention to?
ReplyDeleteAny one experience this before and is it worth my effort to resolve. Gluey sticky oil sounds like a culprit.
It's too good a machine to dispose of.
Thanks
anyone out there who has a copy of a manual for a Viking 4700 and also a 6440 that can be emailed to me?
ReplyDeleteI would really appreciate it as I can't find a pdf to download. All the sites I have tried get a 404 error.
Thank you for posting this, helps the sewer community a more than a decade later! I had the same problem with my Viking Husqvarna 2000 and did what you suggested, and it works again!
ReplyDelete