NOTE if the machine binds as you turn it, you got the gear too tight. The top mark should just be visible under the bottom of the aluminum piece that moves right to left as the machine ZZs. Slowly turn the machine until the needle shaft is all the way down.

Do not worry about where the vertical shaft is in relation to the timing belt, it makes no difference. I have read yes and no on this but I do know the Tri-Flow synthetic grease won't hurt and probably helps, so I use it.Īt this point the machine is way out of time. >For just because I put some Tri-Flow grease on the gears. Don't be timid with them, remember how tight they were when you took them off. Tighten one, then the other, then repeat until you just cannot tighten them any more. >Once you get it on and set so there isn't too much play, then you will have to tighten those set screws as tight as you can get them. There needs to be just a tiny bit of play in it. Do not set the gear so far down on the shaft it is too tight. >Then slip the new gear in and push the shaft back up. >While the shaft is down and the old gear is out you'll need to clean all the debris and gear fragments out of the top of the machine and especially out of the teeth of the driving gear. >Then you'll need to reach under the bottom and pull the shaft down just enough to slip the old gear out. So make sure the screwdriver is straight into the slot. >Using a long hollow ground screwdriver, slip it in from the outside of the machine through the 'STITCH WIDTH' lever slot, loosen the two set screws on the gear. I should have checked mine with a gap gauge (feeler gauge) before I took the gear off, but I didn't think of it. You'll want to get it as close to this as you can when you put the new gear on.

(NOTE: At this point check the vertical movement of the shaft. >Loosen the timing belt adjuster and slip the belt up off of the drive gear. >Remove: the slide plate, needle plate, bobbin case, presser foot, then the top, the face plate, the bottom plate and the plastic trim on the front of the machine. I am NOT an X-spurt on these machine but I have done two vertical shaft top gear replacements. The 413 from 72 to 73 and the 413K from 72 to 78.

According to ISMACS the 413 series was made from 1972 to 1978.

What year is my singer 304