Thanks Irish. I know all the usual tricks. The FW I took apart and put back together first thing, using the manual that came with it. Someone had put the bobbin case back in wrong and as soon as I got that corrected it sewed like a champ. The 301 sewed just fine at first. Something has to be loose in there.

I have a question about the bobbin area on the featherweight. I took the tiny screw out and the pin piece but the next piece I can't get off. All the resource material I have found doesn't tell me how to get that off. I can see bits of the nest but I can't get to it.
What am I missing?

Did you remove the throat plate under the needle. That's the first step. Remove the screw. Put it in a safe place. I use an old medicine bottle. With your right hand, rotate the gib to the right, it moves out and down.

Now turn the bobbin case till the point of the hook is in the 10:00 oclock position. Now the bobbin case can be removed.

Yes. I did all that. move the gib and the center piece with the pin comes out. That part is fine but the thread is under the next piece.

let me get a picture. I was ticked off and I put it away.

The thread is wrapped around under this piece. I have the tiny screwdriver stuck in there for depth. Does this come off? The two or three things I have read stop at the pin removal. It's a 1950 model so it should be the later version but that's about all the info I could come up with.

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Wow! This is exactly what is wrong with my Lily..( my FW) I cant get to the silly little thread behind the gib! I will look again tonight with this beside me! Thank you all

Did u download the free service manual? It says earlier models have a spring clip that pulls out. Not sure what year tho. Drop some TF behind there and hold while wiggling handwheel. I think actual psn is a little further ccw.

I have the regular manual but I can't find a good link to the adjusters manual. There's a lot of clutter out there in 221 land.

Never mind, found it. I thought that first result was a pay site.

Here's a nice clear service manual. http://www.singer-featherweight.com/...viceman-1.html