Time For An Experiment
 

I was browsing a local thrift on Friday and found a nice little Elna. I made an offer on it and the clerk said she was worried I would bring it back, which I thought was odd but when I told her not to worry because I definitely wouldn't be bringing it back, that I would fix it if it didn't run she offered it to me for less than I originally offered her for it, I think she thought it was completely broken so I got this like new Elna Plana Automatic in a nice nice case for only $20.00.

Of course I had my suspicions and after taking it apart today I was right. Flat spot on pulley which made this girl sound like she was going to fall apart when she was turned on and the foot control pressed. LOL

I will order a new friction pulley, but as I cleaning the machine I had an idea, I know I know. :shock:
Sceers hubby too when I say that!

I know nothing about the rubber or material the pulley is made of but what if I heated the flat spot with my heat gun being careful of fumes of course? Would the flat spot heat up and raise back to it's original height? Would I cause the rubber to get too hard and brittle by doing that?

Just wondering if some other mad laboratory scientist wannabe has already tried this, And what were the results? or if anyone knows what kind of memory retention or stress retention of this kind of material is? Sorry I am not sure of the proper terminology. If no one responds I will give it a go and report back in case anyone else is tired of flat spots!!!

We will disengage the new friction pulley by pulling the clutch wheel out about an 8th of an inch since she will be in long rotations of use with the others in the collection and that should keep the flat spots from happening, we hope. :D

I'll tell you what I did with a different machine, that had a flat spot on the rubber pulley. I reved-up the foot control, so it was spinning nicely. (You'd have to get the handwheel or belt out of the way.) Then I took a big metal file to it. I don't even remember what machine it was. But it worked. You have to keep the same angle on it, or the motor shaft binds.

Nice looking machine and a great bargain. No suggestions on the pulley. DH replaced mine.

Here's a tutorial of the file method: http://www.quiltingboard.com/vintage...r-t187975.html

It might work but this flat spot is pretty big, I don't think she was ever sewn on...poor baby.

Thanks for the compliment, she is VERY lovely, and I couldn't pass her up. I really am trying to thin the herd down but they just keep finding me....;)

Thank you, I will go watch that clip now.

I've got a KENMORE with a rubber grommet that is in that condition. No telling how long it sat unused. I'm going to try that! (The file on the rubber, that is)

I wonder if Botox Injections would help eliminate a flat spot?

CD in Oklahoma

Lovely machine, hope you get it fixed and it works well for you.

I haven't heard of puffing them back up again. I've heard of people filing them down to even them out and even making a replacement part of aluminum and using O-rings which are much cheaper to replace than the rubber pulley.

I had an Elna SU blue top with everything find me this weekend for 10.00. They make is so hard to resist at such low prices!

lololololololololololol