Singer 128 Bobbin Winding Problem
 

I recently purchased a Singer 128 with a vibrating shuttle, which is the first machine I've owned with this type of bobbin winder. While trying to wind the bobbin, the thread guide begins to move, but only moves so far and then it stops because the bobbin winder tire becomes tight and won't move. I loosen the screw so the bobbin winding tire will move and the same thing happens. I hope I've explained this well enough for you all to understand what the problem is. If anyone has any advice on what I can do to adjust this, please respond. Thank you.

I can try to get a picture, or video of mine in action tonight so that you can see how it is supposed to work and move. if the actual "tire" is binding up though... it sounds like you need some oil and degunking.

The bobbin winding tire moves freely until the bobbin begins winding, it then stops. When we check the tire, it is really tight. We loosen the screw and the tire moves freely again, but the same thing happens when we begin winding the bobbin again.

Do you have it threaded to the bobbin correctly?

not sure what screw you are loosening ..... there is nothing I can think of that would regulate how freely the bobbin winder would spin.

I am puzzled by this, too. Thinking of the mechanics of how the bobbin winds, I don't see in my mind's eye how the tire can get tighter.

On the front of the bobbin winder mechanism, there is a round part with small "teeth" around the outer edge...on the front of this is a heart shaped piece of metal...on this is a large screw and a small one. When we attempt to wind the bobbin, this large screw tightens up (on its own) and the bobbin winder stops turning...we have to loosen this screw again in order to get the bobbin winder to turn freely. I know it sounds crazy, but this is what is happening.

Ahhhh, no that makes sense. That large screw is the axle that the cam turns on and if it got tight then it would lock up things. Two things are going on...the cam should turn freely so as not to tighten the screw, and the screw (I think) should have a nut on the back side so it is "locked" in adjustment...(either that or it should have a shoulder on it so that it can't get to tight.

I did not take the winder assembly that far apart img mine. I can check tonight and see if I cam help you out somehow.

greywuuf,

This is exactly what the problem is. My husband said it must have something to do with the nut on the back side of this screw. When we loosen this screw so the bobbin winder will turn, it tightens up again when we begin winding the bobbin. I hope we can get this figured out and get it working.

Tartan,

This is exactly the procedure I use...thank you.

Greywuuf, my husband thinks that perhaps the "nut" on the back needs a lock washer on it...this one doesn't have one. I'm wondering if yours has one. Maybe that's what it needs in order to keep it locked in adjustment.

Surfergirl,

Not sure about your Singer, but I have 5 (?) machines that use the long bobbins, and quite a few that use the round bobbins with the same type of winder. None of them have lock washers on the back. I think greywuuf is right that there is a shoulder on the axle screw.
None of mine have ever come loose and I've never needed to take any apart that far for cleaning, so I'm not sure. Since yours is loose, it wouldn't be that hard to take it apart for a deep cleaning and make sure.

Joe

I would tell you if I knew. I am away from home and don't have one to look at right now, plus mine were stubborn and I could not even get that screw loose. So I have never had that particular screw/nut apart. I will say that I have 5 machines that use that type of wonder and none of them "self tighten" so later today I should be able to get you the answer you need.

Surfer:
I just took my bobbin winder apart and took a bunch pictures and will post them if you need, but I think I discovered a couple of things to check.

First off did you take yours completely apart?
If you did you found two cupped washers. They are not the same. One is thicker than the other. The THIN one goes behind the toothed wheel with the heart shaped cam.
Also the screw that holds the cam on is "etcentric" and is used to adjust the tooth engagement to the screw drive (on the tire).

So make sure to use the thin washer, adjust the cam to just engage and then tighten the nut on the back. That should take care of it.

Let me know how it turns out.

Dan.

Reading back through my post I see I forgot to mention, yes the screw that is the "axle" for the cam has a shoulder, and no there is no lock washerer (nor is one needed) if you have the wrong washer in there it is to thick and the cam gets pinched (locks up) before the shoulder comes to bear, and you can't get the nut tight enough to hold. I accidently put mine together that way tonight and it did exactly as yours does, had to take it back apart and realy look at it before I figured it out. It is easy enough to tell which washer is thick just by comparing them, don't worry you won't need a micrometer or anything to tell ;).
Again, good luck and let us know if it works or what you find.

Dan

Dan:

We'll take it apart today. Will let you know if it works. Thank you.

Dan,

We took everything apart and the washer that is supposed to be between the heart shaped cam and the wheel with teeth is missing. The cup-shaped washer that is present was placed against the back side of the wheel with teeth. If you can send pics of these washers, it would really be appreaciated. My email address is: [email protected]

Lynn:

I did not take the heart shaped cam off, the washer is supposed to go behind the tooth wheel. there is another between the pulley gaurd and this moveable tire unit. I have uploaded photo's of mine in my album: http://www.quiltingboard.com/members...bums17262.html. I hope this helps.

Dan,

Thank you so much for taking the time to help me. I will let you know if we get this working. We will have to locate another washer somewhere.

Surfer , take a look at my album, there should only be two, one goes behind the tooth wheel, and the other goes on the mount, I find it hard to beleive that they are missing, I just swapped mine for each other, and that was enough to keep it from working. I think that yours is just in the wron place. you know when you flip the mechanism into place.....the bolt that it pivots on... thats the other pace a washer goes. check to make sure you dont have what you need all ready.

I guess I should mention that my "tooth wheel" is a little persnickity. It is best adjusted by turning the ecentric screw (axle I have been calling it) untill the wheel teeth do not make contact with the drive worm (screw threads on the drive tire shaft) then snug up the lock nut so you can just turn the screw.... And slowly turn the screw untill the tooth wheel just makes contact. Spin the tire (a lot.....one complete revolution of the heart shaped cam) and see if there is any binding, my wheel does not seem to be perfectly round (or the teeth are deformed) and it has a few tight spots as it turns...... It is important to get this "gear mesh" just right......Ie you can not just run the axle screw in tight and call it good. In fact the axle screw only threads into the lock nut on the back..... Turning it only adjusts the tooth wheel closer to or farther from the worm gear. Get a strong light on the subject and look at what moves and how when you adjust that screw and I think you can solve your problem.

If we don't get it by the time I get home, I am considering doing a video on the adjustment.

We will solve this, it is just to neat a machine to be spoiled by this :)

Thank you, Dan...we would love to get this machine working. It sews really well...it's just the bobbin winding mechanism that's giving us a problem now.

Did what I was saying about adjusting the mesh of the tooth wheel and the worm make sense?

Yes, I understood exactly what you were saying.

Dan, we only have the thin cupped washer that goes behind the toothed wheel. The thicker cupped washer is missing from between the pulley guard and the movable tire unit. My husband had to soak this in oil in order to be able to take it apart. We will have to search for a suitable washer for this area.

hmmm, with out the washer mine would not stay engaged ( well I had the thin washer there) but that should not lock it up. I might suggest a couple of thickness's of washers cut from a plastic milk jug, tthey are kinda slick and will prevent metal to metal contact and provide some friction to keep it in place. also maybe the thick washer got put in the other place ..... maybe move the one washer you have and see if that area works.... because when i used the thick washer behind the tooth wheel it kept the shoulder of the axle from seating and ould allow it to lock up.


I am just guessing now. but it is something to try.

Fascinating.

Good Luck!

Dan, I haven't been able to find a washer suitable for the 128 bobbin winder, so I purchased another 128 machine that was in pretty bad condition. I took the bobbin winding mechanism off and put it on my better machine and it worked really good. I'm still not giving up on the other one yet. Thank you for all your help and for the photos. I'll let you know if I get this to finally work.

Lynn

more importantly, are you able to use the machine now ? I think they stitch really nicely. Hope you enjoy yours as much as I do mine !

Yes, the machine works great, but I will continue to try to get the other bobbin winder to work and I will try to get the other 128 to work, also. I have a collection of vintage machines and I love them all. I hate to see one that isn't working as it should.

Surfergirl:

I have a bobbin winder that gave me fits at first too. Did you take the time to clean the worm gear and the teeth on the drive cog? Did you oil it?

When you seat the worm gear into the cog... it has to have some play or it will just jam up. Also check to see that there is no grim or thread bits jammed into the mechanism. In my case there was a bit of black thread caught up under the screw on the back of the drive cog.

Do you need an adjustment guide for your 128? I can provide you with a link if you need it.

I recently bought a 128 the seller said was in "great or excellent condition" LOL So far I have found that the shuttle carrier was bent, the take up lever was bent, and the motor was/is weak.