quiltinghere

Tonight I spent some time going over a 301A that needed some attention that hasn't been used in a long time. I think I may have purchased it at a garage sale and never looked at it before ...there were so many small things wrong with it. After some minor cleaning and adjustments (bobbin tension loosened, bobbin finger installed correctly, top tension regulator dismantled and cleaned well (a few times)), the machine stitches are great!

However.....If I put the thread in the very last guide right before the needle the thread would break after it sewed nice stitches for a while. I think this is because....

As I slowly turn the hand wheel I see there's a 'pause' 'hiccup' 'strain on the thread' 'like it's catching on something' AT/ON the Thread Take Up Spring just as the Take Up Lever is reaching for it's highest point.

It still sews nice stiches (without the thread in that last thread guide) but makes a slight 'clicking' noise when the thread hesitates. IF there's an easy fix, I'd like to fix it so it doesn't make for a more expensive fix down the road.

All troubleshooting suggestions welcomed and appreciated.

Nan - IN

miriam

I would tear down the tension, clean it and put it back. If necessary order a new spring on line and replace the old spring. I would also check the bobbin tension but that is what I do every time I clean up one of those old machines.

quiltinghere

Thanks Miriam - I did take the tension dial apart at least 3 times because each time I did, it seemed to get a little better. I noticed a little light rust on the discs and buffed it out. Rubbed off the springs too and put a tad bit of oil on metal to metal to make it go back together easier.

How would I know if any of the two springs 'needed' to be replaced? By this issue I'm having?

Thanks again - Nan

miriam

The beehive spring almost never needs to be replaced. The other one may need to be replaced if it has been spring all out of shape, broken or has rust. If it has rust you might have some luck with some chrome cleaner. Very likely, it may not be set right. This wonderful manual can tell you how to set that spring: http://www.tfsr.org/pub/technical_in...echanism_2.pdf Some times when people can't make their sewing machine work they automatically tamper with the tension - at least that is my theory... anyway when they don't know what they are doing they can do a whole lot of harm. I pretty much take all tensions apart and put them back together as I clean - actually saves me a lot of time. Most of the time they don't take very long to do once you learn how. It may also be that you have the tension adjusted too tight. You will need to read every word of that manual about the correct tension for your machine. Do it step by step. When I first started seriously rebuilding tensions, I enlarged the manual at the copy place so I can keep track of each step. That TFSR manual has the best info I know of about setting the little pot, the spring and the post. The rest may well be in your owners manual. Some owner's manuals will show what order the tension parts go together. You may need that to compliment the info in the TFSR manual.

quiltinghere

WOW - that's a great manual - I saved it!

I feel pretty good that I cleaned the tension area well and replaced it correctly...but I will check again later this week.

Thank you very much for the info you provided.

Nan

redmadder

What is that site? I only hope I can get back to it at home. (I'm in Ohio with new grandson). Wow!

miriam

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