Singer 500 keeps unthreading itself
06-12-2014, 11:53 AM
#21
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Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: New England
Posts: 865
Maurie and Singer guy, thank you. I did change the needle 4 times. I was using Singer needles and the last change was to a Schmetz 90. So far, so good, but I have yet to give it a thorough test (jury duty). I did check the place where the needle goes with a mirror, as I often do since I use so many machines and it's too much to remember, and so am pretty sure the needle is in correctly.
Joe, that's a great idea. I never heard of that before but it is worth a try.
I may be able to do further testing tonight and I'll let you all know. Thanks for the help!
Cricket
Joe, that's a great idea. I never heard of that before but it is worth a try.
I may be able to do further testing tonight and I'll let you all know. Thanks for the help!
Cricket
06-12-2014, 12:19 PM
#22
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Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Arizona
Posts: 1,371
Roll your finger around the edge of the actual bobbin. I have one that has a "knick" on it and catches the thread and breaks it. Had to learn to fill the bobbin so that side is down when I put it in the machine.
06-12-2014, 01:42 PM
#23
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Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 200
Originally Posted by cricket_iscute
I did check the place where the needle goes with a mirror, as I often do since I use so many machines and it's too much to remember, and so am pretty sure the needle is in correctly.
Cricket
Cricket
06-12-2014, 03:01 PM
#24
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Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 8,091
Originally Posted by ArizonaKAT
Roll your finger around the edge of the actual bobbin. I have one that has a "knick" on it and catches the thread and breaks it. Had to learn to fill the bobbin so that side is down when I put it in the machine.
Joe
06-16-2014, 04:37 PM
#25
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Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Not Here
Posts: 3,817
Originally Posted by cricket_iscute
Hi Tammi. Your theory sounds good to me, so I went over every bit of the entire thread path. I found one slightly rough area after the tension, but not on the exact tread path.
The seam does not pucker.
I would have tried switching parts with the 401, but at this moment, it doesn't seem necessary. I've sewed three long, very fast seams with no problems so far, but have not yet tried it on a quilt. The difference is that I followed Joe's instructions and measured and adjusted the part that holds the bobbin in, and I used a Schmetz 90 needle. Oh, I also flossed the tension thoroughly. I did catch some shredding there. I haven't done anything about that (crocus cloth) yet because of the three good seams. My philosophy is that "if it ain't broke, don't fix it."
Thanks, Joe. I did check and adjust all 4 specs together. Sorry if I wasn't clear.
Good idea on setting gaps in the middle. I'll remember that and do it next time.
Maybe I am pulling the fabric. It is hard to handle a quilt in the space of just the cabinet. I don't have any other tables upstairs to support quilts nor room for them. I do have them downstairs but I also have knee issues and stairs are not doable right now. I'm guessing it isn't out of timing because the stitch remains perfect. Would you agree? Also, I see no needle marks or indications of timing problems. Unless you know something I don't? If so, do tell, please.
I will try to quilt my quilt and I'll let you know how it goes.
Cricket
The seam does not pucker.
I would have tried switching parts with the 401, but at this moment, it doesn't seem necessary. I've sewed three long, very fast seams with no problems so far, but have not yet tried it on a quilt. The difference is that I followed Joe's instructions and measured and adjusted the part that holds the bobbin in, and I used a Schmetz 90 needle. Oh, I also flossed the tension thoroughly. I did catch some shredding there. I haven't done anything about that (crocus cloth) yet because of the three good seams. My philosophy is that "if it ain't broke, don't fix it."
Thanks, Joe. I did check and adjust all 4 specs together. Sorry if I wasn't clear.
Good idea on setting gaps in the middle. I'll remember that and do it next time.
Maybe I am pulling the fabric. It is hard to handle a quilt in the space of just the cabinet. I don't have any other tables upstairs to support quilts nor room for them. I do have them downstairs but I also have knee issues and stairs are not doable right now. I'm guessing it isn't out of timing because the stitch remains perfect. Would you agree? Also, I see no needle marks or indications of timing problems. Unless you know something I don't? If so, do tell, please.
I will try to quilt my quilt and I'll let you know how it goes.
Cricket
The reason I asked about the seam puckering when the thread breaks is I thought that maybe if one or the other puckered, it might let us know if it was being hung up. Oh well.
So you haven't disassembled this machine's tensioner? Only flossed it? You may find you like the end result better if you disassemble and clean. I do every one of them now as the first order of business.
I don't suspect timing, no. There's a series of articles on my blog about timing. It covers most things - not raising the needlebar but otherwise pretty much all you'd ever need to know.
Originally Posted by J Miller
ArizonaKAT, umm, why not just replace the damaged bobbin? I don't think I could tolerate such a bobbin.
Joe
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