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Singer 360K Memory Drum

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madamwoolly

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
I recently bought a Singer 360K knitting machine and ribber from EBay. My first knitting machine. It was my first purchase and I should have asked more questions. The drums/memory cog thingies barely move in the main carriage. One has a metal fin missing so it won't read punchcards correctly. The lace carriage is just stuck solid. I'm very mechanically minded and have already started pulling it all apart as I'm happy to clean, oil etc and purchase new needles, tools and clamps etc. But, what I'd like to know is 'do all Singer knitting machines take the same size memory drums or not'? (I could always buy a non working machine and ransack it for parts if that's the case).
Also, where do Australians buy their bits and pieces for knitting machines? Where in the world do reliable part specialists reside?
Ladies and gents of the machine knitting world, I'm hoping you can help me with this problem.
 
#2 ·
Singer were sold with different names in different countries so if you need parts look for Knimaster360 or Silver Reed as well as Singer. If drums are stuck it is often gungy oil. A hair drier is good to melt it. You can use a bit of force to turn the drums. Once clean they will work. Many of the parts are the same if you keep to these three names. I dont know about the metal fin but in the UK older machines are often sold for Spares and Repairs. I have done up a323, a360 and a 700 and they were all much the same. Good luck with it.
 
Discussion starter · #3 ·
Thank you for that reply. So memory drums from punchcard machines named Singer, Silver Reed and Knitmaster are likely to fit. Brilliant! Now, how about needles, are they all different lengths or are similar number systems in the above three brands of similar size? I'm trying to avoid having to purchase anything from China as word is that bits and pieces are not as strong or good as the originals were.
 
#4 ·
check out AskJack and the AnswerLady on YouTube, great demos on cleaning, oiling and maintaining machines and putting them back together, I have serviced 6 machines successfully following their advice. If you're stuck they will also answer email questions as time allows. I have ordered parts from Asia, can take some time but worth the wait, Sunny's is a good source and is on EBay. Happy knitting!

Also on youtube, lots of great how to demos Diana Sullivan, Roberta Rose Kelly etc., makes the learning curve so much easier.
 
Discussion starter · #5 ·
Thank you for those replies. It was watching The Answer Lady and Jack cleaning up the carriages and knitting beds that gave me great hope. I was a textile teacher for 40 years and used to pull the sewing machines apart after school and clean them up and remove tons of thread from around the flywheels etc. Students always tried to find novel ways to 'break' the machines when they didn't feel like working. When I discovered that I'd been 'had' with this purchase I just thought it's my own fault now just get on and fix it.
I have heard other people speak highly of Sunny before. I must investigate further. Thank you for the wise advise.
It is tomorrow here and it's still damned hot. The temperature overnight didn't drop below 30c. I had to spray myself and my dogs with cold water three times during the night so we could try to sleep. There will be a great many grumpy people today just waiting for the cool change that's due later this evening.
 
#6 ·
Hello there - you might like to join the Australian Machine Knitting Facebook group - there is plenty of advice there and links to parts and service. There are also machine knitting clubs in most states of Australia and you might like to join one of these - pm me if you are in South Australia. Good luck.

madamwoolly said:
I recently bought a Singer 360K knitting machine and ribber from EBay. My first knitting machine. It was my first purchase and I should have asked more questions. The drums/memory cog thingies barely move in the main carriage. One has a metal fin missing so it won't read punchcards correctly. The lace carriage is just stuck solid. I'm very mechanically minded and have already started pulling it all apart as I'm happy to clean, oil etc and purchase new needles, tools and clamps etc. But, what I'd like to know is 'do all Singer knitting machines take the same size memory drums or not'? (I could always buy a non working machine and ransack it for parts if that's the case).
Also, where do Australians buy their bits and pieces for knitting machines? Where in the world do reliable part specialists reside?
Ladies and gents of the machine knitting world, I'm hoping you can help me with this problem.
Click to expand...
 
#7 ·
The drums can be freed using a hair dryer and by cleaning with surgical spirit. There isn't always the need to take the carriage apart.
The metal teeth as I call them (fins) can be bought and they just slot in. A friend of mine bought a pack from a supplier and they cost next to nothing.
If you have a Silver Reed supplier in Australia phone them. If not then Metropolitan in the UK may have them and they do ship. Seeing that the packet will only be small postage costs shouldn't be high.
 
#9 ·
#10 ·
I went on Australian Ebay and I-can see your problem There is not much to choose from but there is someone selling secondhand needles which look OK. Are you sure you need needles? They do clean up. You only need to replace broken or bent ones. Most people in England will post to Australia. For us China supplies decent parts but they take a long time to arrive.
 
#11 ·
Please try to find the machine knitting Association in your state in Australia, ie MKAV-- NSW machine Knitters-- MK S A -- etc.
Then you may be able to link to a local M/K club etc.
Go to your local hard ware shop, buy a can of Inox spray and apply this liberally to the drums , it will help dissolve the hardened grease etc.'also , be ware that there could well be yarn etc caught around the spindles of the drums.
There are lots of Singer punch card machines around and can be purchased quite cheaplyb , and thw carriages are inter changeable, usually.
BB
 
Discussion starter · #12 ·
Thank you all for the great information. I joined a machine knitting group here in Melbourne last weekend and am slowly discovering places to obtain bits and pieces with your helpful advise. I just feel very foolish at not asking the right questions when buying the machine but certainly know better now. The machine can be fixed which is the main thing. That I'm happy about. Once I find needles as 11 are missing and a memory drum or better still the little metal fins (I didn't know they could be bought separately) I'll get that machine up and running.
One of you has restored 6 machines already. That really makes my heart sing. Thank you all so very much.
 
#13 ·
Try the company that I sent the link for. They will have needles, and possibly the fins, because they import Silver Reed machines (that were called Singer) as well as service/repair them. The needles for your Singer 360 machine are the same as those in the newer Silver Reed machines.
 
#15 ·
As you are in Melbourne, get in touch with Kevin at http://www.maxisewdataezi.com.au/ in Noble Park.
He will probably have the parts you are looking for, and he does do repairs etc.
My friend and i sent a carriage from an MK70 machine down to him, it had drum problems.Kevin fixed it very promptly , sent it back and did not charge the proverbial "Arm an Leg " either.
 
Discussion starter · #16 ·
I actually visited 'Kevin' in Noble Park this morning and was able to purchase a metal fin, some secondhand needles (that's a start) and two transfer tools. Kevin asked me if I'd like him to fix the carriage for me but I politely declined his kind offer and told him that with the aid of YouTube I'd like to have a go myself. If it doesn't work, I'll bring him all the bits to put it back together for me. He laughed. I really feel that I can do this now. So many other women and men have bought these machines back to life and I'm determined to do so. Then I'll learn how to knit on it, but that's another story. Thank you everyone for the help and advise.
By the way for all those who are interested, the needles I got for the Singer 360 are marked as SK 321-329. I also went to Bunnings this morning and bought myself a folding trolley. Those knitting machines are damned heavy to move around aren't they!
 
Discussion starter · #18 ·
I joined East Malvern Victorian machine knitters last weekend and received the booklet of information yesterday. I will in future buy Machines through the Machine Knitters Guilds unless it is an absolute bargain and even then I'll be asking the right questions in future. Thank you for your help. I feel so much happier now that I'm not stuck with a Lemon.
 
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