- Add larger Sailrite balance wheel
Consew CP206RL sewing machine is allowing me to sew thick heavy materials without breaking machine. Liking it a lot. Pricey (and this is an inexpensive machine) however its WAY too fast for me. Trying to control with foot pedal slow enough for me bogs down motor.
Plan from the get go was to replace the balance wheel with Monster wheel from Sailrite. They are quite a bit larger than factory wheel and considerably heavier. Basically weighted gear reduction. In and of themselves can slow down machine a lot and also increase power or torque at slow speeds. Handle (and its weight) allows use by hand, whether no electricity or for me starting stitch.
To truly get machine to run as slow as I want I'm also adding a Sailrite WorkerB Power Pack Motor System. Stronger motor with speed controller. Almost price of this machine but in conjunction with the Monster wheel I will have a machine I can fully control down to stitch byyyy stitch. I looked at under machine speed reduction but this new kit from sailrite will be perfect. But another project.
Not inexpensive but awesome. Complete as shown to swap out factory wheel. One nice thing about these cheap machines is interchangeability of parts and so upgradeable. This fits with no modification on my Consew machine.
2 options for mounting, 1: reusing existing friction clutch or 2: using included set screws for positive locking.
To start I reused the friction clutch. Allows keeping the bobbin winding without needle running function. Likely I will be changing and locking the wheel to shaft with the set screws, maybe, as I've had machine slip. That's a lot of torque with the larger wheel.
Slipped the belt off new balance wheel to try sewing by hand.
Sewed a loop of webbing for handle to existing pouch. 2 layers 600d fabric with foam pad between and 2 layers of webbing. Simply a breeze cranking by hand. Stoked. Didn't bother to see how slow as new motor will be here tomorrow.
Unsure about the friction clutch. I'd like to lock down wheel with the set screws. Don't have issue with winding bobbins and needle moving or I could get an external winder. But if machine really binds for some reason the friction clutch seems like a good idea, could save machine. Will see how much slipping or how often we have with new motor.
Update, Using machine at low speed (with later installed new motor) and run into heavy or thick material clutch does slip. Usually just back needle off a bit retry and it'll punch thru. Happens only when seriously pushing, not enough to warrant locking wheel with set screws. so we are keeping the friction cluch.
Install the replacement motor/speed controller tomorrow. See Power pack page
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