Yard Sale Machine-Mistake?
 

Well, I am tired of traveling with my old warhorse of a machine that weighs a ton
and only sews straight...but purrs like a kitten.. Nikki.
So, at a yard sale I bought for $20. a Singer Futura 925, well, no attachments,
and I thought that's okay...then I tried to sew, I can't wind the bobbin in the
machine and I can't pick up the thread from the bottom. The release lever, pops
back off every time I try and wind the bobbin..Did I make a mistake, is this
going to cost me a fortune to fix? Any suggestions?

I have learned to not rely on the seller's statements - I want to see for myself if a machine works before I take it home!

You can probably guess why this is so!

Most repair places charge about $100 to look at a machine. I don't know what the value of that machine is but I would guess it is not worth fixing.

I don't know anything about this machine, like what is worth in good working order. I do know it will cost me $85 just to take my machine in for a good cleaning and check over. I have bought several good machines at Yard sales but have always tried before I buy. I sit down with it, check bobbin area, winder, all nobs move, cords, are the frayed or look like they were replaced, look every where before I turn it on, than check stiches, dog feed's-up an down, reverse, needle adjustments, everything I can think of that I might use. If the seller says I can't for what ever reason, like no power into yard, I pass on the great buy. In the past I have been stung big time.

I don't know about this machine. Is it a newer one? Or vintage? I am thinking joining the following Yahoo! group might be helpful:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/singermachines/
as it does list Futura as one of the models in its description. Chances are good these are easy fixes once you know what to do, so I wouldn't give up on the machine yet.

Hippie girl
 

My hippie girl neighbors had a yard sale and there was a pretty good looking Singer..probably 60s or 70s and they were asking $5 for it so I assumed it was a piece of junk. They said it worked perfectly so I figured what the heck and bought it but as soon as I handed them the money they remembered it didn't work...oh well. I took it home and it was not working so I googled the problem and it showed a diagram of screw A and said to loosen it so I did. It also had a bad bobbin. Cleaned it up...works great and I love it! I can use it on my table for larger projects plus it runs faster than my cabinet one. Try Google!

Crappy people are everywhere. Seems I relearn this frequently. Hope you figure it out inexpensively & have a gem!

If you don't get any help from Google you could take it to a repair place & get estimate for a check-up & repairs. Most reliable repair places will happily do this for you. If it's not worth fixing then thankfully you are only out $20. 00.
To me it sounds like someone was pretty harsh with it. Did it come with the user manual that might give you some insight to where to start. Good luck!!

I sure hope you can get it fixed. I have bought machines at yard sales and donated them (to a quilt guild or a needly friend, etc.), but I always plugged them in first and tried them out. There are good deals out there because many times what seems "broken" to the seller isn't broken at all, but just needs adjusted (like tension) or the seller simply doesn't know how to use the machine. Good luck to you!

This is why when I have a garage sale later this month I am setting up all 3 machines I am selling and people can use them before they buy and I will be sewing a quilt together on one while the sale is going on.

Unfortunately, not everyone is as honest as we are. Many times on E-Bay, people say it works if the wheel turns. They just don't understand machines. I would try to get an owners manual on line (they are usually not too expensive). Here is one I found on E-Bay http://www.ebay.com/itm/Singer-Sewin...7#ht_26wt_1041 Many times you can figure it out from the manual. Also, if you belong to a guild, many times someone's hubby or brother loves to tinker with machines and will do it cheap. Good luck.

Please tell us the end of the story when you do something with it. good luck !

I recently bought a pink Atlas on CL. Cant get it to sew one kind of stitch. Instead it sews straight and then zigzags....forget the decorative stitches. Haven't really had time to mess with it either.

I am sorry you have this happening to you. BUT did you plug it in before you bought this machine. I bought a yard sale machine and ask to plug it in,$25.00 well worth the money.

Does it have a bobbin with black or white lines on it? I had a Singer Athena purchased from local Singer business, it had a "self winding Bobbin"... I took it back, the Singer man told me those Singers have problems with the Self winding feature. So I steer clear of those now. But it sounds from your description that is like the problem I had with the Athena. Hope your Singer man isn't as expensive as mine was to just look at machines. I don't use him anymore., and depend a lot of this site and the wonderful members for infor, etc.

After buying three sewing machines on EBay and having all of them to be far worse then the sellers said they were, I refuse to buy anything over 10 dollars without trying it out...Hard lesson learned on my part.

Oh how I wish you were in my territory. Have a fellow who works on the older machines (not the new embroidery ones) for only $25.00 plus parts and many times if he has an old machine with the same part, he doesn't even charge for them since the machine was donated to him. They look like and run like new when he is finished with them and if you have any problem he says bring them back and he will fix it n/c. Needless to say I dearly love him and take all my older machines to him for service etc.

Your location is to far away to even consider shipping, but if any of your Missouri gals are anywhere close to Columbia, Mo., privately e-mail me and I will give you the information about him. He takes the older machines that some people don't want (on a donation basis) and fixes them up for mission work in the lesser developed countries. He is just one great guy.

Hope you get the machine working and at not too great of cost. Let us know the outcome of what you decide to do and how it all comes out.

themachinelady

jdeery,maybe you could google the model and any info to find a manual for it. some problems are easy. such as threading wrong or needing a new needle etc. some manuals are free and some cost.I would try the basics first.Good luck. Your avatar is adorable.Mary

I used to have a Futura - different number, but probably similar. It was very persnickety about which way the thread reels off the spool. If I remember right, it had to go over the top from front to back and then under. If that doesn't work, try the other way, but it's the one thing I can think of that could account for both the bobbin loading and sewing problem. Good luck!

The things you describe don't sound too serious to me! The machine not picking up the bobbin thread could be as simple as having the wrong needle or bobbin..(you don't know what previous owner did?)...if the needle is too short for the machine it will never pick up the bobbin thread. I would start with that. Get the manual and make sure you have correct needle and bobbin, and that everything is lint free, clean, and above all threaded properly.
If that doesn't fix it, it may be timing....which is quite easy to do on those machines if you or someone you know know has basic machine sense.
I wouldn't worry too much about the bobbin winder just yet..get it to pick up bobbin thread and see how it sews, then you can take it from there.
Don't panic, just take this step by step and you will most likely get it running. Good Luck! Donna

Too bad you don't live closer, I have an old Singer you could have. I am trying to wean out some of the older stuff in my Sewing room before I move it to the shop. Its a great old, all metal machine, and I still use it now and then, but it is also very heavy to move around

I got caught like that a time or two and my hubby - more than that! Live and learn.

Might want to post this under the Vintage machine section. Many very experienced "mechanics" there. Good luck. I hope it's not too hard to fix.

I wonder if this would help you:
http://www.sewusa.com/Threading_Diag..._threading.htm

The "old" machines are wonderful if you get them going.lol . Good luck.

I have a Creative Touch 1036 that is the younger cousin to the Futura. Mine has a timing belt that is on it's last legs so I did some research to decide if it would be wise to repair the machine. At this point other parts may be on their last legs as well and would cost more to repair than buy a new machine. Here's a link of replacement parts and cost .
http://www.tandtrepair.com/Futura.html These machines were not built to last like the metal geared machine.

So many replies! JD: I don't know if anyone has mentioned however there are a few sites that may help you figure out what ails your machine. I have purchased bargain machines at yardsales in the past and what I have found is either the seller doesn't sew and is just getting rid of what doesn't interest him or the machine has not been well cared for and needs some TLC. You'd be surprised at the kind of gunk I've cleaned out of machines to get them purring again. Anyway: check out this site: http://www.tandtrepair.com/Futura.html for more info on your machine. a little time and patience is sometimes all it takes. good luck

I went to a yard sale and bought a Viking machine for $2.00. The guy said his girl friend did not know how to thread it so I took a chance and got it home cleaned it and went online to find out how to thread it and the machine works great. I could not believe how smooth it runs. All the extra feet are with it also.

I had a Singer Futura slant needle that I sewed on for years. Loved that machine and it made the BEST buttonholes ever! If it's an old one it is a workhorse. I sewed everything I could shove under the foot. I would rather spend $100 fixing up a good old machine than buy those throw-away new cheap ones that don't last.

I purchased a old Bernina knowing there was no foot pedal from a sale. $5.00 out the door........but foot pedal was $35.00 +shipping..........and outweighs a. Ton........it's still in the garage, I am older now and weaker.......what can I say I had lust for a Bernina.................calla

Be happy it was only 20.00 and consider it a lesson learned. That machine was made during the very worst phase of Singer. I believe the Singer machines built today are better than that machine.

I would ask my sewing machine repairman if he could give me an estimate before any work is done. I've heard about this machine but never used it personally. Seems like it would be worth a little inquiry as mentioned above before you give up. A lot of people buy a new machine and then never use it or learn how to use it or neglect it. It could be something really simple like a good servicing. Hope so.

Good morning JD: PM me, I think I can help you decide if you want to keep and use the machine, or stick it in your next yard sale. I have several models of this machine, they sew beautifully, but are very persnickety (and once you, as the owner learn all it's personal quirks, use it to create great stuff, and don't let ANYONE ELSE touch it).....

Good repair man.
 

I wish you were close by (Jacksonville, TX) I use a wonderful gentleman who retired from working on sewing machines for factories. He has done all sorts of repair and servicing for only $20. Got my long time storage FW up and running for $20.

rather than paying to repair it I would check out walmart

No manual, no accessories, and I did google and it said what to do, but it still doesn't. My husband isn't interested
in looking at it. "Why did you buy this piece of @#$%. It is in good shape, it probably is something simple, but
I will try and figure it out again. I think it is from the 70-80's. It just won't pick up the bobbin thread...grrr.

yes, it does have those lines. I did print out the manual from on-line, I just want my hubby to look at it. I do have a cousin that may be able to help, but he isn't available right now. It is also a slant needle, it was stupid to buy. But
I asked the lady if she had the accessories, and she said she would look for them and give me a call. Ya, two weeks
later no call, I did tell her that the bobbin does not wind or pick up the thread...no comment, then she tried to sell
me an embroidery attachment. Like " no thank you" that should have been with it. oh well lessons learned.

You all have been so helpful, will let you know if I get it running, or if it goes into the trash.

Please, not the trash!!!!!!! You can do it, you can do it, you can do it. Your baby is adorable.......

I wouldn't pretend to give any advice on fixing a machine, but I just went through a similar situation myself. I bought an older Kenmore for twenty dollars. It was horribly noisey and the tension was crappy. I wasn't willing to put any money into it so I searched and searched for solutions, oiling and cleaning, etc.

Finally, I knew it would go through thicker material when fixed, so I took it to our local sew/vac store and had it repaired for about the cost you mentioned.

The difference is night and day. It is so quiet and purrs like a kitten. No more clanging, and they put a new tension assembly on it. I am very happy with the service and kind of wish I would have had it done sooner.