Case. The bobbin itself is unmolested. In my mind, the bobbin is far more liley to be damaged than the case. From what i can see, the only way the needle can strike the bobbin case is if it is installed wrong or the hook assembly is too far out on its shaft. I also adjusted the hook to needle clearance when I timed the hook. Maybe that is the difference. Dunno. The needle passes darned close to the needle as per the service manual instructions. The clearance is about as minimal as you can get. I'm not sure even a .002 feeler guage would clear.

I will try to put a pic up later.

Nope, they haven't arrived yet. The ones coming aren't Ti, just chrome. In theory, there should be no difference. The Ti is just a coating like the chrome ones...

I think needle deflection causes the bobbin case damage. The 15x1 needle tip can be in the fabric while the feed is still moving the fabric, especially on thick jobs.

CD in Oklahoma

Could be, that's what I thought the issue would be.

But I was doing the test stitches on 4 layers of denim and a schmetz (size 18) 15x1 at the end.

No damage, no stitch quality issues of any sort. Thats pretty thick and no aparant needle deflection, no damage at least.

Could be that mine is just a "factory freak" of some sort.

If true, that will make the hlx5 needle test on line of little use to other 319w machines.

About all I will be able to do is compare measured lengths with the 206x13 needles and someone else will have to see if it works.

No pictures of the bobbins case yet, but it essentially looks like these:

http://www.devsew.co.nz/img/product/...ea788a1a54.jpg

The only difference is my "oval cut" isn't as large.

Thanks for the pics. Those bobbin cases look like the ones for the Singer 206. Some say they interchange with the 319s, some say they don't, and some say it depends on the hook number. I say ..... I don't have the slightest idea.

Joe

You're quite correct Joe. My 206 does not take the 306/319/320 bobbin case (I have one of each ;)).
It still seems that the slightly shorter hlx5 needles would give you a better chance of avoiding a bobbin case catastrophe.

While I don't have a 206/306, what I have read on it indicated that the bobbin case is indeed different and it depends on the hook.

It appears the 206/306 uses and "open slot" case in order to align with two pins at the top which prevent it from spinning:

The later versions (like my 319W) use a single pin at around the 4 o'clock position:

This seems to be why the difference in cases. Not so the needle doesn't hit it, but the difference in positioning and securing the bobbin case.

To further complicate the issue, I've read several posts about a German built 306 that uses 15x1 needles instead of the 206x13 and actually says so in the owners manual. It was a singer 306M if I recall....

Ah, after looking at it for a while longer, I now see why/how the needle can hit the bobbin case if the fabric is still moving when the needle tip enters the fabric....

Was repairing the veneer today in prep for refinishing and took a little polish to the dirty drawer handles.

50's quality strikes again. Solid brass.

A little jewelers rouge with the polish wheel and they will clean up nicely.

They will look great on the refinished table.

Those hlx5 needles showed up today.

Haven't measured them yet, but they are shorter tips than a 15x1 for sure.

Feel very strong compared to schmetz 15x1 size 18's too....