Sewing thread

[ajlelectronics]

Its's been a while, but either the same as Krams problem, it locks up. Or the top stitches, but the bottom thread doesn't (it spools out but doesn't create the stitch.

Do you know if it has been timed correctly (service job) ?

You can look at the sample to see what is going on. When you feel inclined, do a short row of stitches and let's have a look at it top and bottom. It sounds like the spool is not catching the loop underneath. That can be excessive tension on the top, or as in my case, because I had threaded the needle from the wrong side, so the loop formed out of range.
The other damn fool thing I did was fit the needle backwards so the scarf was on the wrong side. That will give similar symptoms. Clue there is that I had just changed the needle.

 

[Arc Tourist]

My mother still uses her hand kranked singers.

Can't fault them.

 

[Divingdad]

Had this problem and it was resolved by adjusting the thread tension.

 

[outofthefire]

Do you know if it has been timed correctly (service job) ?

You can look at the sample to see what is going on. When you feel inclined, do a short row of stitches and let's have a look at it top and bottom. It sounds like the spool is not catching the loop underneath. That can be excessive tension on the top, or as in my case, because I had threaded the needle from the wrong side, so the loop formed out of range.
The other damn fool thing I did was fit the needle backwards so the scarf was on the wrong side. That will give similar symptoms. Clue there is that I had just changed the needle.

If I get a minute i'll dig it out and give it try, I never thought about asking on here

 

[ajlelectronics]

If I get a minute i'll dig it out and give it try, I never thought about asking on here

What machine do you have?

I use a Seiko ST-8 walking foot, the equivalent to a Consew 206b. It works fine until I do something daft! Unless it has gone out of time, you should be able to lace it up reliably.

Do you have the star spring in the bobbin case? That was another one that caught me out. Sometimes changing bobbins, the spring comes out stuck to the bobbin and then it falls off into the innards. I have a small back of replacements on top of my machine now!

Are the tensioners correctly laced and are they stuck? The two discs tensioner can get sticky, so take it apart to clean and inspect it for burrs.

Are you using the correct needles? They vary greatly and are fairly machine specific.

Is the scarf of the needle on the correct side?

Is the needle bent?

Does the material feed correctly? You can test for that without any thread. Use a piece of folded heavy cloth for a test sew, with contrasting thread. It can be helpful for diagnosis to put different colours in top and bottom. So pale material with say red and blue thread.

This is an example of my machine, only years of use at Reliant Motor Company have seen it scratched and battered, plus the name Joan scratched into the paintwork. A servo motor absolutely transformed it for me.

 

[Screwdriver]

Can't fault them.

View attachment 379979

Out of interest, will these things stitch leather?

 

[Morris]

It's well worth finding a good sewing machine mechanic.
Wifey has a Newhome (built like a tank) that is about 45 years old. She always had it serviced by a local shop until he retired. I found another company and when it came back it was a revelation. She said it had never sewn that well even when new. The occasional issues of failing to pick up the stitches, tension problems and other odd quirks have never happened since. It even sounds better!
For anyone near Oundle, BM Sewing Machines.

 

[ajlelectronics]

Out of interest, will these things stitch leather?

They can do, but for heavier materials it is usually a struggle to get them to feed reliably. A machine designed for the purpose has a walking foot which grips the material and carries it forward. An old Singer would be a better bet than a modern machine if not walking foot, in my opinion especially if hand cranked. I believe that is what the crafts lady uses on Repair shop.

 

[Arc Tourist]

Out of interest, will these things stitch leather?

Yes, lighter or should I say thinner leather's, but more effort is needed to pierce through.

 

[slim_boy_fat]

I never thought about asking on here

Shame on you....

 

[Beanwood]

Top tip - use different colour threads in top and bottom so you can see which is the issue.
If the mess is on the bottom, it's likely top tension issues, and vice versa.

 

[ajlelectronics]

Top tip - use different colour threads in top and bottom so you can see which is the issue.

There seems to be an echo in here.

If the mess is on the bottom, it's likely top tension issues, and vice versa.

 

[pint]

marvelous bit of engineering sewing machines

 

[pedrobedro]

I got piss3d off with mine and it's in a corner somewhere. I bought it to do leather it even came with a walking foot, but I rarely got a decent stitch out of it.

Is it one of those Chinese leather stitching machines? I have one in my watching on ebay.

 

[Arc Tourist]

marvelous bit of engineering sewing machines

It changed the world for us peasants.

 

[ajlelectronics]

One machine to avoid is the "portable" one handed operation machine that is widely advertised for £20-£30 because they do not actually work, by design. I thought it was me and asked someone else to test it, but it is impossible for it to work. The problem is that there is only one thread. As you sew it merely makes loops underneath which you are then meant to manually feed the loose end through. Utter junk.

This sort of thing... Amazon link

 

[GrahamGKD]

marvelous bit of engineering sewing machines

That they are - I've got a couple of these - this one and a more basic model. The one pictured belonged to a late Aunt - I have the original purchase receipt from 1969!



Regards the original question - I read that a build-up of static could cause problems with more modern plasticky machines. Before the first Bernina I had a plasticky New Home - it drove me around the bend - it would work fine for brief periods of time but inevitably play up at the critical moment.

 

[bourbon]

One machine to avoid is the "portable" one handed operation machine that is widely advertised for £20-£30 because they do not actually work, by design. I thought it was me and asked someone else to test it, but it is impossible for it to work. The problem is that there is only one thread. As you sew it merely makes loops underneath which you are then meant to manually feed the loose end through. Utter junk.

This sort of thing... Amazon link

That's nothing new. Steve Fletcher of the Repair shop, attempted to fix one. Although it wasn't mentioned in the programme. It turns out the whole thing was a con from start to finish

 

[Farside]

There's an old Singer lying in a ditch near here.
Couple of pints and he'll sing anything.

 

[DAPPH]

OOF.... Check your thread tensioner