I've been threading the needle from the left to the right.

I'll try from the right to the left.

I have taken the bobbin and bobbin case out and felt around and it seems to be clean.

I do have a hard time putting the bobbin case back into the area that it goes.

I am going to suggest the following: Singer Featherweight 221 Book - Third Edition by Nancy Johnson-Srebro.

When my mother gave me her Featherweight two years ago (I learned how to sew on it when I was a child) I was thrilled. The best purchase I made was Nancy's book. What I find to be so incredible about the Featherweight is the perfect, beautiful lock stitch it makes. The drawback to the lovely lock stitch is that the finely tooled mechanics of the Featherweight can give you problems from time to time. Her book is the "bible", and I refer to it whenever I have a problem with Ethel (my fond name for my 221).

Here is a link: http://www.henscratchquilting.com/sife221bothe.html
It is the best $21.99 I have ever spent.

Kanoelani

Here's a sugestion...since you have had other machines...I think you know what what is....so I would take it to a sewing machine repair place and see what response you get...could be the needle....out of time...ect....seems like you have tried so many things that you do need help from a pro....good luck and let us know what the heck is going on with that machine....:-)

Thank you all for all the great suggestions.

I'm going to try threading the needle from the right to the left.

The bobbin thread seems to glide smoothly in the case. The case is a tight fit when I put it in the bobbin case base. It seems to "stick".

I'm going to work on it again today and if I can't get it to work I will take it to a professional.

I will have to get the book about the featherweight.

I would like to thank all of you for helping me with my sewing machine.

After rethreading, rethreading the bobbin, adjusting the tension and after repostioning the bobbin case holder, my machine seems to be purring!! :)

Yippee! Glad it is purring, can be sooo frustrating.

I too have Featherweight 221 by Nancy-Johnson-Srebro. I have the second edition and it was worth every penny.

Darn..I was just getting ready to suggest that you send that problem machine my way...:))LOL Skeat

If I hadn't figured it out, with everyone's wonderful suggestions, I might have sent it your way!!! lol :)

The 221 is the only machine that I've ever used that gets threaded from the right side - all of the others are either front to back or left to right.
Isn't that purring the most calming sound? and don't you just love that machine!!!!!!