miriam

Vintage sewing machine not stitching - very generic tutorial

Does it need a new needle? That is usually the quickest easiest cheapest fix. Change the needle... some times we hit pins or sometimes people pull the material through the machine and the needle bends. Sometimes needles get dull? When was the last time it was changed?
Make sure the needle is in all the way

Try this first. Take apart the throat plate then try putting it all back together as seen in your owner's manual sometimes that helps a 301 - maybe your 319, 221, 401, what ever has to go a certain way - so make it go the way the manual shows
Make sure the hole lines up with the needle - nothing crooked...
(While you are in there clean out the lint and oil the machine - some times that can be the cause of your skipped stitches)
here is one I found and it is well said http://sewing-machine-troubleshootin...-Stitches.html

Look at your upper thread. Is it catching on the little notch on the spool? Turn it over and see if that helps...

completely unthread and rethread the machine
Is the thread in the tension in correct position between the disks?
check to see if the bobbin thread is correctly threaded through the bobbin holder
is the bobbin worn out? warped? the correct bobbin for the machine?

Is the needle is the wrong length? size matters - a few of the vintage machines take a different from normal length needle and the machine won't work.
Check the owner's manual and double check your needle size
Check to see if you have the correct needle diameter for the fabric you are using. Smaller needle number for light weight fabric
Larger needle number for heavy weight fabric.
Does the needle size match your thread size?
If the needle is put in backwards it won't work - the owner's manual should show how it goes
Make sure the needle is threaded in the correct direction. - it usually goes through the groove side first
The curve side of the needle goes toward the bobbin so the shuttle can pass and grab the thread
Is the tension is too tight? too loose? (See your manual for that)

If that doesn't work open up the throat plate and take off the feed dogs. It is easier to watch the thread and needle closely.
Does the needle, thread and shuttle engage? If so it is not timing. If it engages but does not complete the cycle it may be a burr. Burrs happen. You can smooth up the burr with some emery cloth.
You can feel a burr with your fingers. You can see a burr. You can take a piece of thread and 'floss' through there until it hangs up on the burr

I had a machine buggered up and the thread kept breaking - the tension was full of lint and dried oil

Do you have "help" When you aren't looking do kids/GKs mess with the machine?

If the hook misses the needle's eye it could be timing.
I had a machine that the needle hit the foot and broke every time. It plagued me for months trying to figure it out. Finally I swapped the needle bar for one from a donor machine. SO it was a bent needle shaft.
Sewing on really heavy material can bend your needle shaft. Just because the people selling a vintage machine say it can, doesn't mean your machine was intended to sew on that heavy stuff all the time.

This video can help you know if it is timing. I think the part where he tested it is where I would start to test to see if it is messed up timing.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHhlHbUYwV8

miriam

Timing isn't all that hard to do and you may be right someone may have messed with it. If you can get it where it belongs I'm sure it will sew best. A repair manual is comforting to have around but that video is the BOMB!!!! I love it. I wish I had seen it 15 years ago when I first needed it instead of trial and lots or error and no manual...

tomilu

Probably $25 is my guess. The head is pretty worn.
Tommie

jljack

Try turning the needle around. I had the same problem with my 66, and after I turned the needle around it worked perfect!! More than just me had that same issue...very common error to make.

miriam

It is amazing what you can find for $25 on CL! If that one doesn't do it look around.

jljack

They are easily found at the online parts stores, and not expensive.

jljack

So here's a really interesting looking machine on CL at the California coast. Can't tell what it is from the pictures, but looks VERY InTeresting!! The top folds back to make a shelf? Can't really tell. But I can tell from the treadle that it's OLD!!

http://slo.craigslist.org/atq/2552187797.html

What do you think?

miriam

Wow I like it and the price is reasonable too!!!

miriam

I wonder if JB Weld would hold it together?

melinda1962

That would be my next thought, to try a 15x1 needle just in case someone has already adjusted it for you. When I got my used 319, I think someone had tried a 15x1 needle in it because it had one in it and would not sew at all, and is super cool with the real thing for sure. Good luck!! Also, whoever had tried to make it sew had loosened the pressure foot bar and put it back on backwards, yes I said backwards, and can you believe it didn't sew like that??!!