Vintage Sewing Machine Shop.....Come on in and sit a spell
11-13-2012, 07:14 PM
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Jersey Shore
Posts: 528
Where is the "crunch" coming from? Also, did you clean the thread tension disks? They can get gummy. My two 500's use a bit less tension in the bobbin case than we're use to on most machines... My last thought is that you have binding somewhere in the upper mechanism. On rehabing a machine, I am very liberal with the WD 40 until it is dripping from the bottom if the machine was bound up, just to insure that all parts are free to move.
11-13-2012, 07:24 PM
Super Member
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 8,091
Dan,
The crunch is come from, or sounds like it's coming from the bobbin area.
Haven't cleaned the tension discs yet. I know about them getting gummy.
Binding could be there no doubt. Don't use WD-40 on sewing machines but have floated it with Tri-Flow oil, everything is moving freely.
Joe
The crunch is come from, or sounds like it's coming from the bobbin area.
Haven't cleaned the tension discs yet. I know about them getting gummy.
Binding could be there no doubt. Don't use WD-40 on sewing machines but have floated it with Tri-Flow oil, everything is moving freely.
Joe
11-14-2012, 01:38 AM
Power Poster
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Somewhere
Posts: 15,507
Originally Posted by J Miller
Singer 500 is breaking it's top thread constantly.
OK, machine is a derelict that someone has messed with a bit and has some missing parts.
I have found enough parts to put it back in action:
Oiled and greased everything that moves.
Freed up the cam stack selectors.
Cleaned the hook area and the bobbin case.
Adjusted the bobbin case tension, there was none when I got it.
Adjusted the top tension, it was too tight.
Put in brand new unused needle.
The needle to hook timing is good.
The top and bobbin tension looks good when it sews.
After about an inch or two you'll hear a crunch, then a couple more stitches another crunch and the top thread breaks.
I'm not sure what's gonna become of this machine, but I want to see if I can make it sew before we make our decision.
Anybody have any ideas on what else to look for?
Joe
OK, machine is a derelict that someone has messed with a bit and has some missing parts.
I have found enough parts to put it back in action:
Oiled and greased everything that moves.
Freed up the cam stack selectors.
Cleaned the hook area and the bobbin case.
Adjusted the bobbin case tension, there was none when I got it.
Adjusted the top tension, it was too tight.
Put in brand new unused needle.
The needle to hook timing is good.
The top and bobbin tension looks good when it sews.
After about an inch or two you'll hear a crunch, then a couple more stitches another crunch and the top thread breaks.
I'm not sure what's gonna become of this machine, but I want to see if I can make it sew before we make our decision.
Anybody have any ideas on what else to look for?
Joe
11-14-2012, 04:51 AM
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Brookfield, IL
Posts: 862
Joe, I had the same problem with my 401. Make sure that the needle is in correctly. I reinserted the needle the wrong way three times in a row and mine was doing the same thing. I had the needle hole 45 degrees off. If that is not it check to make sure that the thread is going between the upper tension disks and not next to them. (I've done that too) And make sure that the tension disks are clean. There should be three disks. ~G~
Originally Posted by J Miller
Singer 500 is breaking it's top thread constantly.
OK, machine is a derelict that someone has messed with a bit and has some missing parts.
I have found enough parts to put it back in action:
Oiled and greased everything that moves.
Freed up the cam stack selectors.
Cleaned the hook area and the bobbin case.
Adjusted the bobbin case tension, there was none when I got it.
Adjusted the top tension, it was too tight.
Put in brand new unused needle.
The needle to hook timing is good.
The top and bobbin tension looks good when it sews.
After about an inch or two you'll hear a crunch, then a couple more stitches another crunch and the top thread breaks.
I'm not sure what's gonna become of this machine, but I want to see if I can make it sew before we make our decision.
Anybody have any ideas on what else to look for?
Joe
OK, machine is a derelict that someone has messed with a bit and has some missing parts.
I have found enough parts to put it back in action:
Oiled and greased everything that moves.
Freed up the cam stack selectors.
Cleaned the hook area and the bobbin case.
Adjusted the bobbin case tension, there was none when I got it.
Adjusted the top tension, it was too tight.
Put in brand new unused needle.
The needle to hook timing is good.
The top and bobbin tension looks good when it sews.
After about an inch or two you'll hear a crunch, then a couple more stitches another crunch and the top thread breaks.
I'm not sure what's gonna become of this machine, but I want to see if I can make it sew before we make our decision.
Anybody have any ideas on what else to look for?
Joe
11-14-2012, 06:21 AM
Super Member
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 8,091
Miriam,
I wanna play with it for a while then we'll see about that.
Grant,
I cleaned a bunch more crud and lint out of the bobbin area and for a few moments it was sewing real nice stitches. Than I noticed the top tension had been turned to 0. I reset it to 3 and it did about an inch and crunched the thread. So my next step is to take the top tension off and clean it. Then go from there.
The needle is in flat to the rear, of that I am sure.
Joe
I wanna play with it for a while then we'll see about that.
Grant,
I cleaned a bunch more crud and lint out of the bobbin area and for a few moments it was sewing real nice stitches. Than I noticed the top tension had been turned to 0. I reset it to 3 and it did about an inch and crunched the thread. So my next step is to take the top tension off and clean it. Then go from there.
The needle is in flat to the rear, of that I am sure.
Joe
11-14-2012, 06:27 AM
Super Member
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Rescue, California
Posts: 4,585
Originally Posted by J Miller
Miriam,
Mine moves, sews and with the cams makes the patterns. But when the cam follower gets to the high parts of the cam the machine bogs down as if something is binding. And there appears to be way to much pressure on the cam follower. When I've used it there is always white debris on the end of the follower from the cams.
I've not had the time to really work with it. Way to many things getting pushed up to the top of the "to do" list.
Joe
Mine moves, sews and with the cams makes the patterns. But when the cam follower gets to the high parts of the cam the machine bogs down as if something is binding. And there appears to be way to much pressure on the cam follower. When I've used it there is always white debris on the end of the follower from the cams.
I've not had the time to really work with it. Way to many things getting pushed up to the top of the "to do" list.
Joe
Nancy
11-14-2012, 06:30 AM
Super Member
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Rescue, California
Posts: 4,585
Originally Posted by jennb
I talked to Jan yesterday. She was in good spirits. She told me her husband just got so so sick at the very end. I think she's a bit relieved he's no longer in pain, but probably still a little bit shell shocked. We had been planning to meet up again for some show and tell of our respective collections. She's such a sweet lady 
She even joked asking if I was calling her to tell her she could have one of my machines she had drooled over.
She even joked asking if I was calling her to tell her she could have one of my machines she had drooled over. Nancy
11-14-2012, 06:52 AM
Super Member
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 8,091
Nancy,
I wouldn't be surprised. This machine is moderately grungy. Not really bad. I think it's just one of those machines that needs a lot of TLC and some parts (face plate a few screws) if it is to be a functional machine. I've got to see if I can get it to work before I decide if Miriam gets it or not.
Joe
I wouldn't be surprised. This machine is moderately grungy. Not really bad. I think it's just one of those machines that needs a lot of TLC and some parts (face plate a few screws) if it is to be a functional machine. I've got to see if I can get it to work before I decide if Miriam gets it or not
.Joe
11-14-2012, 07:42 AM
Super Member
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Rescue, California
Posts: 4,585
Originally Posted by BoJangles
Joe, I know you said you used Tri-Flow to clean/oil the machine, but do you think maybe some service repair guy used that "self-oiling" crap that Viking came out with? They put that on their machines claiming the machines were "self-oiling" and didn't need to be oiled. That stuff messed up so many machines after it hardened and gummed up. Even though your machine is not a Viking, there were service people using that crap to oil machines - ruined a lot of machines! That gave Viking a bad name for a time because so many of their machines got ruined from the stuff, but it wasn't the machine that was defective - it was their "self-oiling" crap.
Nancy
Nancy
Nancy
11-14-2012, 08:14 AM
Junior Member
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: New Orleans area
Posts: 164
Does this look like a green Featherweight S/N...15H613 18?
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