Originally Posted by
greywuuf
Not a Quilter and have yet to make my First stitch with my new ( to me) 306W BUT.... from what I have read, tension problems are very Common with 306/319 series machines that people have messed with in trying to get them to use standard needles. Something about raising the needle bar and then advancing the hook.... results in having to run very high tensions to make up for it. Since your machine had the other needles and i think you mentioned a needle bar adjustment..... I would look at your hook timing before I messed with the tension much. Just a thought i hope it helps . I am very interested in your progress as I have heard a LOT of negative about my newest addition ( 306W) and I am hoping that you ( and myself) will be the exception and be quite happy with our funky old Hybrid zig-zag machines. I got mine because my Singer 27 has no ZigZag and i want to be able to bar tack with a treadle.
Good luck and let us know how it goes. If you want and it will help I can link to a quote from an old singer techie on how to set up the hook timing and needle bar easily and without the gauges and such used in the service manual.
Boy I could have used that link a few weeks ago when my grandson messed my 319w up so bad I had to completely take it apart and put it back together! My 319w was so jammed up that I had to remove the hook/race, whole bobbin assembly area, position finger - then put it all back and time the needle/hook while getting that position finger in the correct spot so the thread would clear it. Anyway, I did it and other than that one mess up, have had no problems with the tension on any of the stitches with the cams nor built in. I use my 319w in treadle only - don't even have a motor for her - and, I love that machine! I have not tried to mess with the needle bar so she'll be able to use 15x1 needles. I see no need to do that - I have a stash of the 206x13's and see no need to 'mess' with what works the best.
I have not heard bad things about the 306 - it should be just as dependable as the 319. Good luck with your 306! You should post a photo![ATTACH=CONFIG]324683[/ATTACH]
Nancy