I'm a chicken with my featherweight - please help!
 

I actually posted this problem in September with my featherweight, but didn't "get" it, so I left it alone...but now I want it back to sew on!... My needle is stuck and I cannot turn my hand wheel forward or backward! It just makes a little "click" when I try. So, I can't remove the needle because it's stuck in the hole. Also, my feed dogs are in a down position... Is that a concern, or is it natural when you're sewing that they go up and down? I'm attaching a picture of the problem. I've looked at the way to remove the bobbin case that was suggested, but I'm afraid to try because the bobbin case is rotated differently from the way it was done on the featherweight 221 website.. Can I still remove it if it's in that position? Thanks in advance for your comments.
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If your feed dogs are in a down position, I would try to take the needle out. Maybe needle is broken/bent and tip is stuck. Also if you undo the screw on the needle plate, you may be able to see better why the needle is stuck. Have you checked the manual trouble shooting page?

my thought too. unscrew needle, take out bobbin plate (unscrew the 2 screws) and you will see better what's happening. maybe the needle is caught in between the bobbin case and bobbin hook. here's the SERVICE MANUAL .

Sorry about all those attached images...I don't know how to delete them and didn't know they were getting attached! Meanwhile, I opened up the bottom of the featherweight, and there is a long loose thread hanging...and, I loosened the faceplate, and cleaned out some lint, and now the needle goes up and down. I've loosened the gib screw, and my bobbin case looks different from the bobbin case on the http://thefeatherweight221factory.co...MachineJam.php ... It almost looks like it's oriented 180 degrees differently. Anyhow, the website says it might be hard to remove the bobbin case if there's a thread jam, and I agree! But I've never removed a bobbin case before, should I insert a screwdriver where I can fit one in and try to pry it loose?[ATTACH=CONFIG]459717[/ATTACH]

Actually, this is quite exciting now...I,ve taken the bobbin case out, and it looks like there was just that one long thread...bad bad thread! Now I, having a tough time getting that bobbin case back in! Guess it's therapeutic to share my trials here on this board, and get suggestions too!

Hooray! It's fixed! It was an exciting adventure, and from here on out, I'll have more confidence in taking out the bobbin case...and my featherweight got a good oil and lube job to boot. Happy sewing everyone!

don't pry it with a screwdriver. it just needs a tender touch, just your fingers should do. shake it left, right, up, down and see how it goes. never force it as you might break something.

Fun reading an adventure that has a happy ending! Have fun sewing with your FW!

So glad your problem is solved!!! Have fun with your featherweight!

That's the beauty of a featherweight, they are usually pretty easy to work on..

So happy for you that it is fixed. Happy sewing. Carol Jean in WV

Only use a screwdriver if it the manual instructions include it.

Remove needle,,,,remove plate where screw is....?Most likely thread is jammed.
Find out that was what my problem was just recently. After bobbin case is out, hold that tongue (tiny arm on case) and rotate hand wheel backwards and forwards with other hand...it should loosen threads where u can remove with tweezer or finger. Hope this makes sense?

You won't get thread pieces in the bobbin mechanism if you always stop the machine with the needle in its highest position before you remove the fabric and snip the threads. Think I read this somewhere.

Also never turn the hand wheel backwards, that also causes thread jams.

I'm planning on being super careful from now on... Until I get too excited about a project and try to rush it!

So glad you fixed it. Your f/w looks so shiny and clean. Did you have it refurbished? I have two f/w's and would like to have the black one painted and refurbished. The other is the white/green one and she is my "baby". Love, love her.

I was really blessed - when I bought her on ebay, I had just begun to want a vintage machine - it was reasonably priced (I think $187 including shipping), and I'd had some good communication with the seller. It came in this shiny condition! There was a thread jam when she came, but the LSMG was kind enough to remove the bobbin case and clean that area for me .. for free! So, it's been a great journey these last 1+ years with her. Now, having read more posts on this board, I'd probably be more careful when buying from ebay - but this purchase has been great! Good luck with your refurbishing - do you know Nova Montgomery? I went to Huntsville to take her featherweight maintenance class - it was really good, and she's very knowledgeable.

I unscrew needle and wiggle it out. Then unscrew faceplate , see threads? Try to get them out or you will
Need to remove bobbin case, be careful with that. Then clean it out and make sure the hook is on and push in correctly
After removing threads. I saw a video on how it's done and Finch helped me step by step! I'm sorry I forgot how to attach video though.

Also purple fiend is correct...make sure needle on highest point when u stop.
Glad it's fixed now!