Originally Posted by J Miller (Post 5143403)

We have a slant stitch monogrammer that I wanted to try. Since our 401 has a needle plate lift lever I thought it would be simple to try it on that machine.
I hooked it up and got to trying it out. But I had problems from the start. As I was trying to figure the thing out I realized the top tension was way tight. I could not reduce it. It didn't take long to see that the presser foot was not releasing the tension. It had worked just the other day when my wife put some decorative stitches on some jeans pockets so I knew something had gone wrong.

To make a long story short I got back to it and looked inside the hole the tensioner fits in. I saw some shiny silver bits. Then I had an epiphany. When I had originally cleaned this machine I had to remove the tensioner to clean the area around it. It wouldn't go back in the I thought it should, but it did work.
I removed the long set screw cleaned and oiled it and put it back in snugly.

Today I removed the set screw (first pic) and slipped a very small long shanked screw driver into the hole. It would not protrude into the hole the tensioner passed through so I gave it a push. A bunch of metal chips came out (second pic).

I cleaned all this debris out of the set screw hole and everywhere else, reassembled the tensioner and put it back in the machine.
Then I printed out the top tension instructions to the TFSR site and adjusted it.

Put everything back together, threaded it up and proceeded to test sew with it. Works great now. (third pic )

So, if you have a machine that has tensioner problems and yet the tensioner is in good working order, check the set screw hole. If it's full of aluminum chips from when the threads were cut, the tensioner may be working loose as you sew with it.

As I'm doing this post my wife is sewing up a storm with our 401A. (last two pics)

Joe

Originally Posted by tsnana2000 (Post 5142603)

I got her from a friend at work. The machine and cabinet are in really good condition. Plus she and her husband delivered her to me.

Originally Posted by BoJangles (Post 5144947)

Geeze, Joe what a mess! I can't believe all those shaving were in that machine! Great information for the rest of us!

Ok, I am really impressed! I never dreamed of using my 503a or my 401a to put decorative stitches on jeans! That is a lot of fabric that your wife is going through! I add cystals all the time, but never ever thought about trying decorative stitches! How cool is that! I always just figure those denim jeans are just too thick! What thread is she using - a heavy weight?

Nancy

Originally Posted by melinda1962 (Post 5139162)

[ATTACH=CONFIG]327529[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]327530[/ATTACH]

It isn't exactly quilting, but it is sewing several layers of fabric together for a purpose. I used my late mom's 1966 Wizard for the construction, to make this a legit post about vintage machines. It is the same machine that made both mine and my sister's wedding gowns several years ago. The wedding went well, and my "legion of sisters" put on a wonderful reception for my daughter and her new husband, and I am eternally grateful for all they did. Her dress turned out great, and I even made a little purse. The edge of the veil, 8 yards of beaded fun as well, is in the top of the picture.

I have been enjoying reading about the new machines. Miriam, you are cleaning up at goodwill. I was hoping that was you bidding on those machines. I also am stoked about using Glenn's restoring methods on a couple of machines that need attention, now that the wedding is done, and more time on my hands. Everyone keep up the good work!!

Originally Posted by quiltdoctor (Post 5140635)

I was at a sale that a friend was having yesterday. She had lots of antiques and fabric this sewing machine. I knew from the minute I laid eyes on her, she was going home with me. She is a Wheeler Wilson 9 handcrank, 1/2 size. I brought her home and she sews just great but needs a cleaning. Alex of
www.Sewalot.com calls her the "Half size Half Pint Wheeler & Wilson 9". I have never seen one like her. She is very close in size to a Singer Featherweight, but weighs 20 pounds. The throad width is the same as a FW but the throat height is almost 2" higher. I am fascinated by her. Could this have been the idea that inspired the Featherweight after Singer bought Wheeler Wilson out in 1905? I don't have a firm date on her, but probably 1901 to 1905 is very close.


Texas Jan

Originally Posted by Candace (Post 5145256)

Viscose is rayon and yes, it's not a strong thread at all. Really, any area that is going to be in contact with a chair or rubbing shouldn't be embroidered with it. (Like jeans pockets, sorry to say!) I have a good example, one lady spent hours and hours doing beautiful embroidery on her skirt and soon began to notice areas on her skirt had lots of thread breakage. Guess where those areas were? ;> I'm actually phasing out all of my rayon and not buying it anymore(this includes Sulky). I'm only buying polyester embroidery thread now, like Isacord. Rayon is also not colorfast in the wash using any kind of bleach product. Young mothers with babies bleach their clothes and blankets a lot and all that fancy embroidery may end up stained and or different colors.