Originally Posted by ArchaicArcane

Geri, It sounds like you should probably be adjusting the bobbin case tension at this point. Your aim should be to have the stitch balanced at about 4.5 when the machine is threaded with 50 weight thread.

I use a 1oz weight, tie it to the bobbin thread and hang it from the bobbin in the bobbin case. The thread should be -just- ready to come out of the bobbin case when you turn the case vertical. If that's where it's set to, someone disassembled the top tension and didn't set it right. There are instructions in the manual for that.

The manual can be found here:
http://ismacs.net/free-sewing-machine-manuals-list.html
There are 12 of them to pick from.