Glad I could help...love the machine, but not too fond of a couple of it's quirks! 1/2 speed is always a plus when winding the bobbin.

WARNING - WARNING

Invisble thread - when using this in addition to slowing down DO NOT wind your bobbin all the way full. Only wind to about 3/4 otherwise you take the chance of getting your bobbin out of shape. They tell me to do this even on the metal (my bernina) bobbins.

Regarding the speed of winding your bobbin...I have been told that fast winding actually causes the thread to stretch. I've been told that by both my Viking dealer and my former home ec teacher.

Is your spindle all the way back in the sewing position? I had this happen and thank goodness the repairman did not charge me any thing. And he was sweet enough to wait til I left before he fell to the floor laughing. In my defense it was my 1st ''new'' fangled Singer. This is why I love my vintage Ladies - they are so easy to figure out their few problems at home.

When I first bought the first Viking (+1 or 1+) in 1999, I was told not to wind polyester thread fast because it would tighten the plastic bobbin up on the spindle, and it is not easy to remove it unless the thread is unwound first. I forgot one day, and it was a pain to unwind the thread. It is rather annoying the bobbins were specially made for this model and generic metal bobbins could not be used, instead. When I buy my next machine, it will take metal bobbins as well as plastic ones.

this is exactly the problem. It will not happen with your machines that have metal bobbins, only the plastic. It gets hot and out of shape. Wind it slower next tiime.

For this stuck bobbin, pull off the thread. You can save it if you wind it on another bobbin with an external winder. Then THROW THAT BOBBIN AWAY. It is warped and will not work.

I own several Vikings...When I went to a class with Sharon Shaumber she told us the common "L" metal bobbin fits in our machine and works better than the plastic. That would also eliminate the problem of tightening the plastic bobbin when it's wound. The only problem is the "L" bobbin doesn't fit on our winding post, BUT works great on the "sidewinder". Of course the other benefit is that you can but about 100 bobbins for $10!

I've had that problem with the stand alone bobbin winder. It winds so fast that every time I used a plastic bobbin the bobbin would break. I guess the speed built up too much heat. Now I wind the plastic bobbins on the sewing machine where I can control the speed. I don't have the problem with metal bobbins.

I'm so glad to have read this thread. I am a 'fast as possible' bobbin winder, and haven't had a problem so far, but now that I know that this can be an issue, I will definitely slow down and think preventative!

I'm thinking I am glad I passed on buying a Viking. I have enough challenges in life without my favorite toy being persnickety. I wish you all wonderful quilts, with lots of love.