When you set your vintage Singer sewing machine into bobbin winding mode, by cranking the stop-motion wheel counterclockwise, the needlebar is supposed to stop running. This is to save unnecessary wear-and-tear on the machine, and prevent you from having to unthread the needle to wind a bobbin.
However, if a few crucial parts of your machine are dirty, the needlebar will continue to move even though you are in bobbin-winding mode. This is easy to fix, and I've made two relevant videos, below, to assist you.
This first video explains the parts of your machine involved in engaging and disengaging bobbin-winding mode. If you are not interested in the mechanics of how your machine works, you can skip this first video (though some of you may find the "X-ray" part that starts at 3:15 in the video to be informative).
This second video, below, is where I show you how to actually fix the problem. The video may seem long, since I'm over-explaining things; but once you understand how to fix this, you will be able to fix this problem in mere minutes.
Note: If your stop motion clamp washer doesn't look like the one in the video, but looks like this one below...
...then click here to see how it goes on.
The oil I'm using in the video is Tri-Flow oil, my favorite. If you cannot find it near you (it's often sold at bicycle shops), here's an Amazon link:
Happy fixing!
Excellent! I don't remember you having such a NYC accent. But love the videos!
ReplyDeleteHaha. I tone it down when out-of-town, at work, or on the phone with customer service. Better results!
DeleteP.S., I quoted you in the first vid!
DeleteVERY well done!
ReplyDeleteThe x-ray shots are particularly useful. Excellent tutorial.
ReplyDeleteIf you are totally new to this, please note: don't wipe the Sharpie dots with the alcohol, you'll clean them right off.
Thanks, Rain. I no longer dread removing those pieces. Although the bit about using the q tip as a holder would have been good to know before I let the eared piece fall out.
ReplyDeleteLillian
I don't know what I did as mine works like you showed until I set the bobbin tire into place. Then the needle bar starts moving again.
ReplyDeleteI will be taking it apart and recleaning it as I may have *blush* over oiled it like you said not too.
I love that you take the time to make these tutorials for novices like me! I love my machine and am very scared to ruin such a fabulous antique.
Same problem. I have worked on all 3 of my 15-91's, cleaned, put back together, they work correctly until the bobbin tire is put into place and then the needlebar goes up and down.
DeleteI've heard that from a couple of people, but have not been able to recreate the problem myself. I have plenty more machines to get through, so if I am able to recreate the problem, I'll work on how to solve it and revise the post.
DeleteIn the meantime, if either of you figure out what it is, please do let the rest of us know.
Thanks for the informative videos. They were very clear, concise and easy to understand.
ReplyDeleteGreat videos, thank you!
ReplyDeleteCould you do a video of the oiling points for an everyday sewer? My wee manual is a bit hard to decipher on some of it. And I'm never sure how many of them to oil how often, and with what?
I was totally able to get the handwheel to spin and the screw to stand still, but as soon as I engaged the bobbin winder tire the needlebar went up and down. Any suggestions?
ReplyDeleteSee my response, three comments up.
Delete