99k - trouble with bobbin winder
 

I think I know now why this machine ended up at Goodwill! I can't get it to wind a bobbin properly, even though everything moves as I think it should. First - it looks like the bobbin tire is not set properly - it sits right where the belt meets the hub, and I don't know which it is supposed to press against.
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So, the contact isn't good. The tire will spin, then stop, then spin again, making for a completely useless bobbin. I'm using the cheap 66 bobbins from JoAnns, but I don't think that is the problem here.

The manual says to loosen a certain screw, press the bobbin tire closer, then tighten the screw. This doesn't do any good. So, should the whole tire be over farther in one direction or another? And how doe one move it? Should there be a washer in the mechanism to move the tire over by the hub.

Also, this is a Simanco bobbin tire. It looks ok to me, but this is the only machine I have with a bobbin tire, so don't know what it's supposed to look like. It's a bit soft and mushy.

Guess I'll go try the rubber band method while waiting for your always helpful replies!

I looked all over but couldn't figure out how to edit my first post, so here is an addition:

Look at this picture [ATTACH=CONFIG]511578[/ATTACH]See the gouge on the inside of the handwheel? It's about 1/8" long and fairly shallow, but it could be causing some problems. What do you think? Should I try to get a replacement handwheel? I'm thinking $80 was too much for this machine!

Margaret,

The bobbin tire could be hard and slick and or have a flat spot. It might also have shrunk a bit. The Simanco marked parts are quite old and the rubber can become hard and deteriorate when they get old. At that point they tend to slip and slid on the hand wheel.

Get some alcohol, I use denatured, and clean the tire and hand wheel to get all the oils off the surface. Then use a magnifying glass to verify there's no flat spots on the tire.
Personally I'd put a new tire on it anyway.

Several of my machines have the bobbin winding tire contacting the hand wheel at the same point as yours. I suspect the tire.

If your talking about the little pit in the bore of the hand wheel that's a non issue. I blew up and lightened your pic to see it better and I can't seen anything wrong with the hand wheel.

Joe

Thanks, Joe! I was worried about the pit in the hand wheel. I will order a new bobbin tire and some vintage bobbins, I think; also a light bulb as mine is burned out. Still hoping to make this a usable machine!

I don't know what shopping resources you have in the Tri-Cities, but I'd check Walmart or a fabric store first for a replacement tire. My husband picked up some of the bayonet and screw-in 15w bulbs at an Ace Hardware store. A friend told me that the $4.59 bulb she was going to order online would have cost $8 in shipping and handling.

Thanks, elnan! I went through Sew Classic which only charged me $2.00 for shipping. Easier than driving over to Kennewick to the JoAnn store! They didn't have my light bulb, though. Will have to find out what I need and maybe I can get it at our Ace Hardware.

I bought replacement tires at Joann's. The Singer 66 fits the 99k. It comes in a package with the wheel one. I changed both when I got my machines. I would buy vintage bobbins, as the cheap ones do not work well, and will give you more aggravation than not.. You will enjoy your machine. She is worth keeping.. I alternate between the 99k, and the 66. I love them both.

The 99K's take a standard 5/8", screw in base, 15W bulb. If your machine has the fish eye light housing it originally had a round bulb in it. Those are not available any more but the regular bulbs will fit.
{ http://www.shop.sew-classic.com/Bulb...att-2SCW-F.htm }
If you go to a hardware store make sure the bulb is no bigger than 15W or this is what will happen:
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I've yet to find a correct sewing machine type bulb at a hdwr store. I've found others that would work, but they are all weird shaped bulbs.

The tires sold at JoAnn fabrics are in a set with a stretchy rubber band belt sold by Dritz. The tires are smaller than the correct Singer size and might give trouble on some machines.

Joe

Don't use denatured alcohol on the handwheel! You don't want alcohol anywhere near the black paint!

You can use it to clean the rubber tire, but again don't get it on the paint. It looks to me like the handwheel might not be fully seated? Did you take it off? Be sure it is back on all the way..maybe that is why the bobbin winder is not rubbing the wheel.

I would get a new tire for it. They're very inexpensive.

Some vacuum cleaners also take the same 15w screw in light bulb. I recently bought one at the supermarket. Last place that I would of thought to look.

Darn it, I was just at Ace buying mousetraps and forgot to look for a bulb. Oh, well, getting the mouse out of my sewing room is more important right now!

We had mice get in the house a couple winters ago. I prefer Decon over traps. Just keep it away from your pets if you have any. I hope you get the nasty little thing quickly. It's amazing how destructive something that small can be.
Rodney

Set two traps, mouse licked one clean without setting it off. Score: Mouse - 1, Me - 0.

OUCH! Is that a 185 with a hole burned in the light fixture?
The 15w bulbs my husband picked up at the Ace Hardware store in Chehalis are the same as the ones I have for Kenmore and Singer machines I have. He did get two of the 25w round ones, but I suspect they are meant for something like an oven or vent hood.

I've had good luck with peanut butter on the traps. When I used decon, they got even by dying in the walls or in a drop ceiling.

So, I was able to tighten the bobbin winder assembly enough to wind a good bobbin. Now on to the next part - the bobbin is too tight for the case. I can't pull any thread at all through the tension slot. Is this likely to be a problem with the bobbin case tension or is it because these Class 66 bobbins are the cheap Singer ones from JoAnns? I have some on order from Sew-Classic, I'm just impatient to get my machine up and running!

PS - it's now Mouse-2, me-0. Must be a smart mouse or a bad trap!

If the mouse is licking off the peanut butter without setting off the trap, try tying the peanut butter on with a small strip of nylon stocking. Their little feet get tangled in the nylon and set off the trap when struggling to get free. Or, do what I did and get an electric trap. To get to the peanut butter, they have to step on the electrodes. Zap! One fried mouse.

My red eye treadle didn't care for the cheap plastic bobbins from Joann's. The bobbin winder rubbed some of the inner side off while it was winding. It fit in the bobbin case but it threw the tension off when I tried stitching. Only tried it once and then stuck with my old bobbins since. I would wait until you have some good bobbins.

Denatured alcohol will not hurt the hand wheel, no shellac, no decals, just the paint. I've used it many times and not one hand wheel was damaged.

Joe

elnan,
Yes that's a 185. I've been looking for a replacement light fixture but so far no success. I might have to use a black one and try to match the paint color.

Do not use those 25 watt bulbs in the sewing machines. They are too hot. If you find 15 W bulbs that's OK.

Joe

I have quite a few plastic Class 66 bobbins. If you get those actually made by Singer in the 70s and marked Singer, they are OK. If you find aftermarket ones that match the old Singer they are usually OK. But I've also seen them narrower between the rims, burred on the edges, and just sloppily made.

The best bobbins to use in an older machine made for Class 66 bobbins are the metal ones sold by Sew-Classic. Those are really good.
But even better than that are the actual vintage Singer bobbins.

Joe

I'm betting it's the bobbins. I bought some metal class 66's from JoAnn's, Singer brand...they don't fit into my Rocketeer or either of my two 99Ks - I can't get a single one of them to fit into any of the bobbin cases, they're too large and/or not round. I wound one and I could see it "wobbling" so I took it off and compared it to the (one) vintage bobbin I have and the new ones are distinctively different. The new ones are not manufactured as well at all. I don't know what Singer is thinking but those bobbins don't work in any of my machines. I tossed them into my "junk metal" box - they'll work their way into some art project some day, LOL.

I just ordered some different new metal class 66 bobbins from Amazon, made by a company called Gold Star. The reviews seem to indicate these are good replacements for the vintage ones - I'll let you guys know if they work. If they do, I'm buying dozens before THOSE go bad too. (It's around $5 for 10 of them, not bad.)

I ordered some from Sew-Classic. Hope that's the answer! The bobbin winder actually works really well now - makes better bobbins than most of my other machines!

Mouse update - put the cat in the room and shut the door (after removing the traps, of course!). Final score - Mouse - 2, Me - 0, Cat - 1. And the cat wins!!

Sewnoma,

You got a link to the Amazon Gold Star dealer you'd share with me? I only ask cos I'm pathetic when it comes to searches.

Joe

Good kitty!

Sometimes you just can't beat a cat! :D

Joe

Yes! They just came today and I'm happy to report they are really nicely made and fit my 500A & my 99K perfectly! I bought more. I notice there are a couple different sellers, I bought from "Metropolitans Warehouse" - I don't know if the other sellers have identical product or not.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0040ZFPBK/

Sewnoma,

Thanks for reporting back. I checked out the Amazon link and those do look like pretty good bobbins.

Joe