Overlooked overlocker!

I will start by admitting that I trashed my mom's fine old overlocker from the '80s. The perfectly good old Eva had been to professional service some years earlier and was just waiting to be used. Against my better judgment I didn't take it to service regardless of the noice and occasional jamming. It was already too late when the stitching got slower. The motor was trashed and repairing would have been very costly. Good old Eva donated many spare parts to overlockers with healthy motors. Now that I have confessed to my ignorance I can go on sharing my latest efforts to salvage an abandoned overlocker. 

I bought a used Bernette 335 knowing that full professional service will be needed. I made the purchase through web based on one photo of the overlocker in its original carrying bag. There was a colourful veil of tangled thread. So I knew what I was in to. Poor overlooked overlocker. Once a spool pin

To my disappointment some spool pins were broken as well as the retractable thread stand. For a while I searched the web for spare parts but was only met by photos of similar tragedies. So buying replacements was a no go. 

I was tempted to use glue but knew that it wouldn't last. After a while my frustration reached the point of recklessness. Screw it. I started making a pilot hole with a 1mm drill bit and continued widening the hole with 0.5mm at a time up to 2.5mm for both the base and tip of broken spool pins. Unfortunately the 2mm bit snapped in the process and the tip is left in one of the pins now. On the bright side I believe that pin will not break too easily. 

Pilot holeDrilling a pin requires a pair of pliers

ta-da

With a pair of pliers and screws with torx drive I managed to carefully connect the broken pieces back together. I couldn't make a perfect fit but I am quite satisfied with the result. Good enough repair. And the pins will be hidden under the spools so aiming to aesthetics would've been justTorx drive for secure sit arrogant. 

My "screw it" method was not applicable to the loose tip of retractable thread stand since the metal loops go all the way through the plastic cap. I noticed a 2.5mm hole in the middle of the plastic part that was left insidSet screw fastened to the bottom of thread guidee the retractable metal shaft and I decided to try a set screw (the screw without a head). I had to make a pilot hole in the bottom of the thread guide. I used a 2.5mm drill bit and carefully drilled just to the point where the bit got in touch with the metal loops. It is impossible to create a tapped hole inRetractable thread stand back in one piece old plastic so now I got to use glue to fasten the other end of the set screw to the base of the thread guide. I waited for full 24 hours to make sure the glue was cured. The set screw made attaching surprisingly easy. I just spun the thread guide until it sat well with the base of the stand. And yes I did use glue between the parts for reinforcement. Good as new. And the overlocker is ready for professional service.

Beautiful old Bernette ready to be taken to service