Help with a Singer 404
09-11-2011, 12:37 PM
#1
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2011
Location: New Jersey (North)
Posts: 32
Hi all. This is a great site and I have gotten a lot of helpful information. Just haven't had much time to make introductions. With 3 preteens life tends to be crazy.
Anyways I just got from my MIL a singer 404. It seems to run great. It needs the rubber dohicky for the bobbin and a new bulb. I've been trying to play around on it and I can't seem to get the stitch length regulator to stay at a continuous setting. I'll set it for 8 stitches/in and it starts out fine but the lever moves itself up to the fine position and just doesn't move the fabric forward. I am going to hit the singer store tomorrow to get the thing for the bobbin winder and a bulb as well as a darning foot. (My main hope with this machine is to be able to FMQ on it) I have been trying on my singer 6416 (millennium series) and it works ok for a bit and then it just skips stitches or breaks the thread. I am hoping that the 404 will work better for that. I really don't want to bring it to the dealer for service unless I have to. (trying to keep costs down and $90 for a service is not what I want to do if its something I can fix on my own.) Plus its in a basic case so I would have to take it out of that for servicing.
I have tried searching the internet and found the manual but it doesn't have trouble shooting information. Not sure where to turn from here so I figured I ask all of you knowledgeable people.
TIA
Anyways I just got from my MIL a singer 404. It seems to run great. It needs the rubber dohicky for the bobbin and a new bulb. I've been trying to play around on it and I can't seem to get the stitch length regulator to stay at a continuous setting. I'll set it for 8 stitches/in and it starts out fine but the lever moves itself up to the fine position and just doesn't move the fabric forward. I am going to hit the singer store tomorrow to get the thing for the bobbin winder and a bulb as well as a darning foot. (My main hope with this machine is to be able to FMQ on it) I have been trying on my singer 6416 (millennium series) and it works ok for a bit and then it just skips stitches or breaks the thread. I am hoping that the 404 will work better for that. I really don't want to bring it to the dealer for service unless I have to. (trying to keep costs down and $90 for a service is not what I want to do if its something I can fix on my own.) Plus its in a basic case so I would have to take it out of that for servicing.
I have tried searching the internet and found the manual but it doesn't have trouble shooting information. Not sure where to turn from here so I figured I ask all of you knowledgeable people.
TIA
09-11-2011, 12:45 PM
#2
Power Poster
Join Date: May 2008
Location: MN
Posts: 24,433
I also acquired a 404 - and I was going to "move it on" - until I talked to a sewing machine repair man. He said it was one of the better Singers - even if it was "only" a straight stitch machine.
My "mechanically impaired" son loves using it.
My "mechanically impaired" son loves using it.
09-11-2011, 01:04 PM
#4
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Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2011
Location: New Jersey (North)
Posts: 32
Originally Posted by scraphq
Usually there is a screw mechanism on the stitch length regulator lever, just tighten it when you get the stitch length you like.
09-12-2011, 07:42 AM
#6
Super Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Mars
Posts: 2,549
Do you have a manual for the machine so that it can help will possible trouble-shooting?
You're saying that when you set the stitch length regulator to 8, then you turn the knob at the end of the lever clockwise as tight as it will go, right?
You're saying that when you set the stitch length regulator to 8, then you turn the knob at the end of the lever clockwise as tight as it will go, right?
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