HiDesertQuilter

I just got a Singer 319w because I gave my former one to my daughter and wanted another. Not wanting to break her heart by taking it back, I purchased this one and traveled a long way to get it. This one didn't come with anything and I didn't think about the needles. I assumed it would sew with the original ones Singer intended them to use...the 206s. I just put the new needle in and here is my results: It sews a beautiful single stitch with a very rare skip. Change to a zig zag or decorative stitch and it sews a mess...skips stitches like crazy. There are no snarls or anything, just skips stitches. Could this possibly be a machine someone has changed to use the modern size needles? I haven't put one in because I do not wish to bang the bobbin case up. There is no notching out done on the bobbin case at all. Any suggestions?

HiDesertQuilter

Ok, I just put a regular Schmetz needle in size 14 (hand walking it at first so as not to do damage) and it sews without missing stitches. The stitch quality is not as nice as when a 206 is used. I'm going to have it timed to the original needle size Singer meant for it to use.

Manalto

Someone probably, in the past 50 years, fiddled with the settings on your machine. A good repairman should be able to restore them to accommodate the correct needle. Enjoy working on your 319 - they're wonderful old contraptions.

Mickey2

I'm not an expert, but if you inspect the needle bar carefully, with a bit of luck you should be able to detect any previous setting it might have had. It's not much, but if it's there you have something to go by.

manicmike

I would check the distance between the needle and hook, which should be as close as possible without them actually touching. Last one I saw which was skipping stitches had a large gap. It should be obvious how to check it and you can adjust the distance.

If that's not the problem then I'd check the hook timing. This is really easy, and well documented.

The Yahoo vintage singer files group has a copy of the adjuster's manual, which I'd highly recommend - lots of other info on the 319s.

Mickey2

This is one of those models people have had enough trouble with to blogcast the www to advice us toforget about them. Some hate them, others advice to readjust for more common needle type, others again swear they only work well when adjusted for the original needles they are intended for. For this reason I have stayed away from them, even though I have a fascination for early zigzaggers.

Manalto

You might enjoy the Singer 206.

Mickey2

Yes, I probably would enjoy either of the old zigzaggers, the 206 and 319 included. I know most of these probles has to do with sorting out settings and adjustments as well as getting familiar with the functions of the machine. HiDesertQuilter liked her old 319 enough to get a new one, they can't be all that troublesome :- )

Manalto

I have an ugly old Band-Aid brown 306 that is one of my favorite machines, probably because I replaced its broken stitch-length selector and bonded with the thing. I like the clackety-clack noise that the drive belt makes, and that you can flip over the pattern cams and change their direction (those that are directional, like the arrowhead).

manicmike

I've bought 7 319s, 2 306s, 2 320s and 1 206. They're not all that troublesome, and all current ones use a standard needle.