KathyJB

I just picked up my Featherweight yesterday at an estate auction for $130.00! I got her home and tried to sew, but it wouldn't pick up the bobbin thread and the few times it did, the thread got stuck around the bobbin compartment. I did a search and it looks like it may be out of time. I'm trying to find a place close that still works on sewing machines.
I love this little machine! Has anyone attempted putting their older machines back in time?

barny

Did you get a manual with it? Before you get it to a repair man, check if the needle is in right. You might save a bundle of money. Flat side of needle to the left. Thread it right to left. I hope this is correct.

quiltingcandy

Have you taken the bobbin case out and cleaned the area? It has to be put back just so in order for it to work properly. Do you have the book that goes with the machine? It shows it in the book.

This website has the manual.
http://ismacs.net/singer_sewing_mach...e-manuals.html

Suzanne57

Here's a great website about featherweights.

http://www.novamontgomery.com/index.htm

manicmike

This is the most common problem with featherweights. I usually have to remove a big load of thread that's jamming the shuttle when I buy one.

oldtnquiltinglady

Please do get your (or a) book out and study it carefully (someone gives a site by the name of one of us, I think, MUV) if you can find it. Work very carefully and slowly. You can do it.

My experience has been that the repair person you take it to is going to see $$$ instead of your little machine's headache, and really sock it to you for doing exactly what you can do yourself. The DH and I worked on a FW today, and got it back to sewing from a definite knock knock knock coming from the bobbin area. I am the worrier, and he is the one with the big fingers and no patience. But we did it, and it didn't cost me one penny. Lay the machine on it's side and look down into the bobbin area, looking for thread ends. He pulled about 8" of thread out, with me wiggling the hand wheel and him pulling the thread with a pair of tweezers. Then we gave it a shot of air, and TriFlo oil and I am one happy little FW owner now.

maviskw

If you have any Amish or Mennonite communities near you, they would have a sewing machine fix-it man. And they know what they are doing, because they use these old machines all the time.

Pam S

Mine was doing the same thing and I found out that when I disassembled the bobbin area to remove the threads wound around it I didn't make sure the stitch finger was straight up between the two plates. Makes much more sense if you have a manual or a good picture on one of the web sites to look at. Very easy fix to what was causing me major problems.

Also, a FW repair person told me when you have a major thread tangle in the bobbin area, remove the bottom plate and turn the machine on its side. You will find threads in there you couldn't see from the top side.

oldtnquiltinglady

Yes, to Pam S. DH and I found just this problem on a white FW that my sister recently gave me. It was making a terrible knocking noise when I ran it with no thread. He turned the machine on it's side, with the bottom cover off and looked in that little hole on the left where the bobbin is located. Found a ton of thread there; I worked the handwheel back and forth for him and he pulled the threads out with tweezers, I gave it a shot of TriFlo, and it was happy as a little lark--and us too. No telling how much money he saved us. I love love love that little machine, and am getting ready to start a crazy mod colors French Braid Quilt for my GD in Texas.

KathyJB

I took it in to a repair man this first time. I will try it myself the next time. There was no knock as far as I could tell.