Singer 206 Swing Needle
Last Updated: 2025.04.11
The machine in the gallery above is a 1952 Singer model 206K25 Swing-Needle sewing machine on loan to me from a private collection.
Getting ready to clean
I removed the motor and lamp, then took off the various covers. I removed the presser, and tensioner bars, and the tensioner assembly itself. This machine is in really good shape, and sews quite well, so there’s little reason to disassemble the main parts of the machine any more than this.
Main sections cleaned and reassembled
As stated above, this machine is in really good condition, and though cleaning is still time consuming, it’s not too difficult. For a closer look at cleaning a Swing needle machine refer to my article on the Singer 319W.
Tensioner
The tensioner on this machine probably isn’t the correct model, and if it is, it has some missing and incorrect parts. The correct tensioner functions more like the one on a Necchi BU Mira. (Last photo in the gallery above), with a graduated window.
Motor
The Singer BA3-8 motor is easy to work on, but notorious for having bad bearings due to poorly designed lubrication design. The bearings in this machine are in good condition, but the grease wicks and pads where bone dry. It does suffer one of the other issues with this motor in having excessive motor shaft end play. That said, it’s one of the better BA3-8 motors I’ve worked on recently.
A slightly newer model
The machine in the gallery above is one year newer than the machine at the top of the article. This Singer 206K43 Swing-Needle was made December 09, 1953. You’ll notice the Zig-Zag adjuster looks more like the one found on the later Singer 306 Swing-Needle machines, the face plate for the feed adjuster is black rather than Nickel plated and the knob style feed adjuster has been replaced with the more traditional lever resembling the one found on the Singer 201-2.
Specifications
| Brand | Singer |
| Model | 206 Swing-Needle |
| Years Produced | 1936-1953 |
| Hook Type | Rotary |
| Bobbin | Class “L”, Part No: 55623 |
| Bobbin Case | Part No: 105032 |
| Needle System | 206×13 |
| Foot Type | Low Shank |
| Construction | All Metal |
| Construction Drivetrain | All Metal |
