Joey's brain quit working ..... :-(
 

I've been working on finishing a quilted cover for my 9W-7 treadle. I had trouble at the start with my #1 9W-7 with the thread breaking. I went to a larger needle and that helped. But my #2 machine is modified to use 15x1 needles rather than the 127x1s so I switched to it.

Troubles with thread, troubles with the bobbin thread coming out of the tension spring. Just troubles.

Finally a couple days ago the #2 machine went BAM!, BAM!, CRUNCH!. Somehow the needle got busted, in two places. And the tip of the hook was broken off. I still haven't figured that one out.

I switched back to the #1 machine. Again troubles. No birds nests, but the tension just wasn't consistent. And every time I'd un-thread the machine for some reason the bobbin would un-thread itself from the tension. Grrrrrrrr.

Mizkaki had asked me to take some pics of the broken hook on the #2 machine for her so today when I was doing that I was amazed at how similar the entire bobbin drive, hook assembly and bobbin case base was to the Featherweights. I suspect Singer used the W&W design with slight modifications, it's just too similar to be otherwise.

As I was sitting here mulling over things, a comment made by another forum member sometime back during a discussion about which way bobbins fit in a 15-91 ( I think) popped into my pea brain.
The comment went something like this: The bobbin thread has to make a right angle turn as it leaves the bobbin and passes through the tension parts. Something like that. I forget who said that or I would quote them. I sat there and said ..... HMMM, I wonder. Then I looked at the bobbin area of the machine. Ummm again, no right angle turn. Hmmmm.
I dug out the owners manual and read up on how to insert the bobbin and thread the tension.

I had been installing the bobbin backwards. I had it going counter clockwise. In this machine it goes clockwise. Oh Brother ...... :(

So I put it in right. There's the right angle turn and it threaded up much easier. I finished quilting the skirt to the cover with no further problems and just wondered where in the world my brain was.

So, if you have a Singer 9W series the bobbin goes in with the thread coming off the top towards you. Or, clockwise.

Duh ...... where's my sign?


Joe

Welcome to the Club.

Sometimes when I think I know some “shituff” about sewing machines, that’s all that it turns out to be. I probably haven’t learned my lesson, but I’m trying. That’s why you’ll see text in my posts that include words like “I believe that”, “in some cases”, “generally you’ll see”, “as far as I know”, “in my experience”, “I have heard that”, “possibly”, “perhaps”, “maybe”, “in most cases”, etc, etc....

CD in Oklahoma

With so many machines around it's easy to get confused. I've considered putting a note with each machine "threads left to right" or "flat side back" "bobbin winds clockwise". Just a small card...maybe laminated. lol!

I'm making faster progress on my cover now. It's just amazing how much better a machine works when the bobbin is in correctly. :D

Joe

I'm pretty certain that one would have thrown me too. I'm used to the other way.
Rodney

We all have those moments - some more frequently than others.

Don't be so hard on yourself -as the old saying goes s-it happens. It seems like the moon was in the wrong position all week for sewing machines. Singer #1 only wants to make bird nests Singer #2 has decided she does not like any of her feet attached, she keeps slipping out of them. Belair spits sparklers so she needs a new pedal cord and New Home decided that she likes her feed dogs below the surface.And last but not least Singer #3 my oldest and dearest long time companion's treadle has seized up. She is now having a lovely soak in some rejuvenating oil. So I decided it was best to stop quilting until the moon shifts into a friendlier position and to not tempt fate on the other 7 machines....: (

Stitchit123,
I never gave the moon a thought. Maybe I should stay in bed until it passes.

Joe

That's my problem, Joe. Not enough time in the bed! My thinking has been very cloudy due to stress and lack of sleep. The other day at the gas pump I couldn't remember my zip code after putting in my c.c. I had to ask my son, who was luckily in the car! I felt like a dope.

Be sure and go out and look at the moon tonight--it is passing through some kind of degree (for lack of a better word) that will only happen this month and maybe next for the next so many years. I think it will be extra large, more so than the rest of the months this year. It has been a topic of news on our local news for the last couple of evenings (does that mean we don't have much bad news in Middle Tennessee?). I usually watch the news while I am perusing the forum posts before I shut my computer down and go to bed, so with only one eye.

Exactly! I am making covers for all my machines (30+) and each will have a pocket for an index card(s) with way to thread, way to place bobbin, what the machine is/isn't good at, threads it likes or doesn't, it's little tricks, etc. Since I also have students from time to time, it will say whether I reserve that machine for my own use or whether a beginner/intermediate/advanced student may use it.

Joe, don't feel bad. We've all been there.

BTW, thanks to you, Joe, and everyone else for help with the Singer 500 a couple months ago. It is purring now.

Hi Joe,
I have been there many times. My brain is not what it used to be. I wish I had a dime for everytime I forgot to engage brain. I would be rich. LOL
Skip

Hi Joe,
I have that problem too. The Singer 201 and 66-1 thread opposite,bobbin goes in different and the needle goes in different too.

They really get upset with me when I've been using the White Rotary and try to turn the hand wheel backwards.
Sharon in Texas

When you pull the bobbin thread from the bobbin case, the thread should pull the bobbin "backwards" My featherweight bobbin pulls the opposite way from the 301.

When you thread the machine, the thread goes into the needle from the side where you see the last thread guide. I learned that in high school. I suppose that was the time there were machines threading from left to right, and some going right to left. That was also the time zig-zag machines were coming into greater use.

Brain overload, I call it. I finally put an erasable arrow on the model plate of my 29 to remind me which direction to crank with my spinner knob. One less brain cell freed for something important.