301 discussion thread
#11
Super Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Milton DE
Posts: 3,189
I have a 1951 Black 301 (no cabinet) and 1954 Tri Color 301A(cabinet w/knee and foot pedal) both short beds...Love them both. But I rank my 301A better then the 301 even though they are the same machine. I haven't mastered FM yet but find it much easier on the 301's versus the modern machines.
#13
Junior Member
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Western NY
Posts: 152
I purchased a 301 earlier this year (1951 tan short bed in an art deco cabinet) and had similar issues with the tension- Icould not set the tensioner low enough to make a balanced stitch, much less lighten up the tension if needed for specificsewing. What I eventually did was to tighten the bobbin tension with that tiny screw on the bobbin case until I had a
balanced stitch when the upper disc was around the middle number. This took about an hour of fiddling around with it,
tighten the screw- sew a trial seam, adjust, adjust etc. and now I have it so that if I am sewing 2 layers of cotton, the
upper tension is set at about 4.5 or so. I also cleaned the heck out of it, oiled everything and then played with all the
attachments that came with it. Spent just one summer afternoon sitting on my camper deck to get it purring along.
I also have a FW (love it for piecing) and a Bernina 430, but I really like FMQ on my 301.
balanced stitch when the upper disc was around the middle number. This took about an hour of fiddling around with it,
tighten the screw- sew a trial seam, adjust, adjust etc. and now I have it so that if I am sewing 2 layers of cotton, the
upper tension is set at about 4.5 or so. I also cleaned the heck out of it, oiled everything and then played with all the
attachments that came with it. Spent just one summer afternoon sitting on my camper deck to get it purring along.
I also have a FW (love it for piecing) and a Bernina 430, but I really like FMQ on my 301.
Last edited by DesiG; 11-18-2011 at 04:49 PM. Reason: sorry for the goofy spacing- don't know how that happened
#14
Member
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 9
#15
Power Poster
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Somewhere
Posts: 15,506
#16
Member
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Bartlett, Illinois
Posts: 92
http://www.ismacs.net/singer_sewing_...ine-manual.pdf
I found a manual that can be downloaded and has the explanation on the attachment feet. Ismac has all sorts of Singer manuals for free if anyone needs them. I have both the 301 and 301A but haven't used them much or even cleaned them up. My husband fines more then I can get done or else I am on the website too much. It must be he fines more then I can get done! Hope someone can use this site as I believe it is a very good one.
I found a manual that can be downloaded and has the explanation on the attachment feet. Ismac has all sorts of Singer manuals for free if anyone needs them. I have both the 301 and 301A but haven't used them much or even cleaned them up. My husband fines more then I can get done or else I am on the website too much. It must be he fines more then I can get done! Hope someone can use this site as I believe it is a very good one.
#17
Super Member
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Massachusetts, USA
Posts: 1,775
Here is a link that teaches how to fix the tension problems. It's a little long, because the author is a little chatty, but the information in the article is really good.
http://www.treadleon.net/sewingmachi...djustment.html
Dave McCallum has directions to fix the tension, also, in his book "The Featherweight 221 and I" I found it easy to do once I learned the workings of the tension dial.
http://www.treadleon.net/sewingmachi...djustment.html
Dave McCallum has directions to fix the tension, also, in his book "The Featherweight 221 and I" I found it easy to do once I learned the workings of the tension dial.
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