Parts of the sewing machine:

Common sewing machine faults

The chart below lists the most common problems of sewing machines, showing what goes wrong most often, beside each problem, a number of possible causes or reasons for it are given, beside each cause there is a solution (what to do). If your machine has one of these faults, try each of the solutions given in turn, the solutions are described on other pages in this book,

Common sewing machine faults and how to fix them

Problem possible cause What to do

a) The machine is not threaded in the right way

Thread the machine in the right way

b) The tension of the upper Loosen the tension of the thread is too tight upper thread ) The needle is bent or dull !ut in a new needle The upper thread breaks (needle thread) ") The cotton is too thick for the si#e of the needle $) The upper thread is not the same si#e as the lower thread use thinner cotton use the same si#e of sewing cotton for both the upper and the lower thread

%) The thread take&up spring !ut in a new thread take&up is broken spring the lower thread breaks (bobbin thread) otton gets caught under the throat plate ') The tension of the lower Loosen the tension of the thread is too tight lower thread () "irt, dust or small threads lean the bobbin case are in the bobbin case The tension of the upper thread is too loose ') The tensions are wrong The cloth puckers or does not lie flat () The bobbin case is not threaded in the right way ) The needle is not threaded in the right way ') The tension regulator is not working The upper thread has no tension () The pin in the tension regulator is worn out or broken The tension regulator got moved when the pin or spring was being changed ') The person sewing was pulling the cloth The needle breaks () The needle is bent ) The needle timing is wrong (the needle comes down at the wrong time The stitch regulator is not working properly Tighten the tension of the upper thread hange the tensions Thread the bobbin case again Thread the needle again %i) the tension regulator !ut a new pin in the tension regulator %i) the tension regulator "o not pull the cloth when sewing * guide it gently !ut in a new needle %i) the needle timing %i) the stitch regulator

The tension regulator does not work properly, that is, the tension of the upper thread is too loose or too tight

The stitches are uneven

The cloth does not move across the machine properly (it does not *feed* through)

') The height of the feed dog is wrong

hange the height of the feed dog

This is difficult to fi), if () The feed timing is wrong possible, ask a sewing machine mechanic for help ') The wheel nut is loose Tighten the wheel nut () The needle bar has worn !ut in a new needle bar out and broken, or is bent

The needle won+t move up and down

a) The bobbin winder screw Tighten the bobbin winder screw The bobbin winder does not stay down has come loose () The rubber is worn !ut in a new rubber

The right way to...

To keep your sewing machine running well, you must work with it in the right way. If you follow these steps when you are using the machine, it will not go wrong so easily. ,ote- these are not complete instructions on how to use the machine. (ut steps to take care with.

Thread the machine

.. Turn the wheel towards you to raise the take&up lever as high as it will go.

/.!ut a spool of sewing cotton on the spool pin, 0.Thread the machine like this-

1. 2ake sure the cotton goes around the tension regulator like this-

Take out the bobbin case

.. 3lowly turn the wheel towards you until the needle is as high as it will go, /. 4pen the cover plate.

0. 5se two fingers to pull the latch of the bobbin case, pull the bobbin case out of the machine. 6hen you let go of the latch, the bobbin will drop out,

Thread the bobbin case

.. 2ake sure there is enough cotton on the bobbin. /. 7old the bobbin case in one hand, use your other hand to put the bobbin into it. !ut the bobbin in with the loose end of cotton hanging down in front (facing you).

0. !ull the thread into the slot in the edge of the bobbin case.

1. !ull the thread under the tension spring and into the small hole on the side of the bobbin case.

5, pull the latch8 and keep it open so the bobbin will not fall out.

Put back the bobbin case .. 7old the bobbin case by the latch. !ut it in place, holding it up this way-

/. Let go of the latch, and press the bobbin case in, until you hear a small +click+. This means the bobbin case will stay in place.

Put in the needle

.. 3lowly turn the wheel towards you until the needle bar is as high as it will go.

/. Loosen the needle clamp screw.

0. 7old the needle with the thick end turn it so the flat side is facing to the right. ,ote- 4n a few machines8 the flat side of the needle must face to the back. 3ee page 9. .

1. !ut the needle into the hole at the bottom of the needle. (ar, put it in as far as it will go, 5. Tighten the needle clamp screw.

Change the thread tensions

.. The tension of the upper thread should be the same as the tension of the lower thread. (oth threads should fasten together in the centre of the sewn cloth. 6hen both tensions are right8 the stitches on both sides of the sewn cloth are the same si#e.

To get the right tensions you musta) (e sure the presser foot is down when you sew b) use the same cotton for both the upper thread and the lower thread.

,4T$- The thickness of the cloth you are sewing may affect the tensions. :ou will then need to change the thread tensions8 as shown below. /. 6hen the tension of the upper thread is too tight, or when the tension of the lower thread is too loose, the sewing looks like this;

To make the tension of the upper thread looser, turn the tension regulator so a lower number is on top, (if the tension regulator is on the side of the machine, turn it backwards or away from you. If it is on the front, turn it to the left.)

To make the tension of the lower thread tighter- take out the bobbin case, find the small screw, use a small screwdriver to tighten the screw.

0. 6hen the tension of the upper thread is too loose, or when the tension of the lower thread is too tight, the sewing looks like this-

To make the tension of the upper thread tighter, turn the tension regulator so a higher number is on top. (If the tension regulator is on the side of the machine, turn it forward or towards you. If it is on the front, turn it to the right.)

To make the tension of the lower thread looser- take out the bobbin case, find the small screw, use a small screwdriver to loosen the screw.

se the right needle :our sewing will look better and your machine will work better if you use the right si#e of needle, this chart shows which needle to use with different kinds of cloth.

!ind of cloth 4rdinary cloth Thick, heavy cloth

"i#e of needle .. .9

<ery thin, soft cloth ..

The thread tensions may need to be changed when you sew with a different kind of cloth. To change the tensions ,4T$= 'lways use the same kind of sewing cotton for both the upper thread and the lower thread.

Taking care of the machine

To keep your machine running well, clean it and oil it after you have done a lot of sewing, and oil it once more before>you start sewing again, be especially careful to clean the feed dog and the shuttle race often.

To clean the machine

To clean the machine, or any parts, do not use water, use kerosene .. 3oak a cloth in kerosene,

/. 5se a cloth to clean all parts of the machine and make them shiny.

0. 6ipe away the kerosene with a clean cloth.

To oil the machine

"o not let the oil on the moving parts get dry. This oil makes the machine run smoothly, and stops it from rusting, .. 4il the machine at all the places shown by arrows, or at all the small holes.

se sewing machine oil. "o not use any other kind of oil. !ut only one or two drops of oil at each hole. Too much oil will get on the sewing.

/. 6hen you have put oil in all the holes take out the needle, and run the machine very fast for a few minutes so the oil will spread to all the places it is needed.

I2!4?T',T- when you are oiling the machine, do not loosen 'ny of the screws underneath the machine.

To clean the feed dog

.. Take off the needle. Take off the throat plate.

/. 5se a small brush to clean away dirt, dust and small threads from the feed dog. 4r clean it with a cloth and kerosene.

0. !ut back the throat plate and the needle.

To clean the shuttle race

.. Take off the needle. Turn the wheel towards you to move the needle bar as high as it will go. /. Tip back the machine. 0. Take out the bobbin case. 2ove the shuttle race ring.

3ee ,eedle Timing steps . , /, 5. Take out the shuttle hook. lean it with a cloth and kerosene or a small brush.

9. lean the other parts of the shuttle race.

@. !ut back the shuttle hook. !ut back the shuttle race ring. !ut back the bobbin case and the needle.

$epairing faults
,4T$= "o not force screws. That will not loosen or you may damage them, instead, hold the screwdriver against the screw, and gently knock the top of the screwdriver a few times with a hammer or something hard. This should stop the screw from sticking. Then try to loosen the screw with the screwdriver.

To fix the stitch regulator

.. Take off the two screws on the stitch regulator plate,

Take off the plate. In some machines: /. !ut the stitch regulator lever up as high as it will go.

0. Tip back the machine,

1, 5se a long screwdriver to reach the screw under the lever, tighten the screw.

5. Take away the screwdriver. !ut the machine down. !ut back the stitch regulator plate, tighten the screws of the plate. In other machines: /. !ut the stitch regulator lever as low as it will go.

0. Take the arm side cover off from the back of the machine.

1. 5se a screwdriver to tighten the screw shown.

5. Take away the screwdriver. !ut back the arm side cover. !ut back the stitch regulator plate. Tighten the screws of the plate.

To put in a new thread take%up spring

%or machines with the tension regulator on the side.. Loosen screw a. "o not take it out completely,

/. Take out the tension regulato by pulling it away from the machine.

0. Take off the old spring.

1. !ut the tail end of the new spring into one of the grooves on the tension regulator.

!ut it in the right groove so that the spring is in this position;

5. !ut the tension regulator back in the machine in this way-

Tighten screw '. 9. 2ake sure that the spring is sitting in about this position-

heck to make sure that you can move it with your finger so that it comes over the thread guard like this-

@. %i) the tension regulator to make the tension right. &or machines with the tension regulator on the front: .. Take off the face plate.

/, Loosen screw (, do not take it out completely.

0. Take out the tension regulator by pulling it away from the machine.

1. Take apart the tension regulator by taking off the parts in this order-

Put the parts down in a line on your work table, 5. Take away the old spring, 9. !ut the new spring in position around these three parts-

@. %it these parts onto part number @.

%it the tail end or the spring into one of the grooves in part number @, so that it will be in the position shown,

The thread guard must be on top.

A. !ut all the other parts back in the right order,

2ake sure the thread guard is on top. B. 6ith the thread guard on top8 check to make sure that you can move the spring with your finger so that it comes over the thread guard, .C. !ut the tension regulator back in the machine in this way;

... Tighten screw (.

!ut back the face plate, ./. %i) the tension regulator to make the tension right.

To put a new pin in the tension regulator

%or machines with the tension regulator on the side.. Loosen screw '. "o not take it out completely,

/. Take out the tension regulator by pulling it away from the machine.

0. Take apart the tension regulator by taking off the parts in this order; !ut the parts down in a line on your work table.

1. Let the old pDn drop out by holding part number A upright.

5. heck to see if the pin is broken or worn down at the end.

9. 2ake a new pin5se a nail that is the same thickness and the same length as the pin was.

ut off the head of the nail, using pliers. &&

5se a hammer to flatten the cut end of the nail.

2ake sure that the pin is the right length by measuring it against the pieces of the broken pin 4? 3eeing that it is a little longer than the worn down pin.

This will be as good as a new pin. @. !ut in the new pin.

A. !ut the other parts back in the right order.

B. 2ake sure that the thread take&up spring is in the right place.

3ee ,ew thread take&up spring, step 1 .C. !ut the tension regulator back in the machine in this wayTighten screw '.

... heck the position of the thread take&up spring. 3ee ,ew thread take&up spring, step 9 ./. %i) the tension regulator to make the tension right. 3ee Tension regulator &or machines with the tension regulator on the front: .. Take off the face plate,

/. Loosen screw (. "o not take it out completely.

0. Take out the tension regulator by pulling it away from the machine.

1. Take apart the tension regulator by taking off the parts in this order;

!ut the parts down in a line on your work table. 5. "o steps 1, 5, 9 and @, ,ew pin in the tension regulator 9. 2ake sure the spring is in position around these three parts-

@. !ut all the other parts back in the right order, and check the position of the thread take&up spring, 3ee here, steps @, A, B. A. !ut the tension regulator back in the machine and finish off following steps .C, .. and ./, here

To fix the tension regulator

.. 6hen the nut on the tension regulator is turned as far as it will go to the left, the C should be on top.

6hen the nut is turned as far as it will go to the right8 the B should be on top.

The nut should make only one turn.

6hen the C is on top, the discs should be loose.

6hen the B is on top, the discs should be very tight.

If your tension regulator does not work in this way, then follow the rest of the steps. /. Turn the nut until the C is on top.

0. 6ith your fingers, press back on the numbers dial, until the nut can turn freely without it.

1. Turn the nut a little to the left. 2ake sure the pin is ne)t to one of the small holes in the numbers dial.

5. Let go of the numbers dial.

Try turning the nut to the left and to the right8 to see if the regulator is now turning in the right way, and if the discs are loose and tight when they should be. 9. If the regulator is still not turning properly- Turn the nut as far as it will go to the left.

!ress down on the numbers dial. Turn the numbers dial without turning the nut. Turn it so the / is on top.

Let go of the numbers dial. Try turning the nut to see if the regulator is now turning in the right way.

@. If it is still not right, keep trying, %or e)ample, if the numbers dial will only go to A when you turn the nut as far as it will go to the right (that is, A, not B, is on top), then>. Turn the nut as far as it will go to the left.

!ress down on the numbers dial, turn it without turning the nut, turn it so the . is on top.

Let go of the numbers dial. Try to turn the nut from C to B.

The tension regulator should now be working in the right way,

To fix the needle timing

.. Tip back the machine so you can see underneath,

/. Take out the bobbin case.

0. 2ove the shuttle race ring, In some machines: 2ove the clasps. Lower the shuttle race ring.

In other machines: Loosen the screw. !ull down the spring, take out the shuttle race ring.

1. 3lowly turn the wheel towards you to lower the needle until it is as low as it will go.

5. Look under the machine. The hole of the needle should be below the hook, and to the right.

Turn the wheel a little until the hook and the needle seem to be touching. The hook should seem to touch the needle at the hole.

If the needle and the hook come together at the hole in this way, you do not need to change the needle timing. If the hook seems to touch the needle at a point above or below the hole, then follow the rest of the steps. 9. 2ake sure the needle is as low as it will go, then use a short screwdriver to loosen the needle bar screw.

@. Turn the wheel so the hook again seems to touch the needle.

A. 7olding the needle clamp screw with your fingers8 raise or lower the needle until the hole is ne)t to the point of the hook.

B, 2ake sure the groove on the needle bar is facing the left,

,4T$- 4n a few machines the groove should face the front (see page 9.).

7old the needle bar firmly in place with one hand and tighten the needle bar screw.

.C. heck the position of the needle as in step 5, ... !ut back the shuttle race ring, put back the bobbin case. !ut back the face plate.

,4T$= In some machines there are timing marks on the needle bar. To change the needle timing on these machines, follow these steps:

.. Take off the face plate.

/. 3lowly turn the wheel towards you to lower the needle until it is as low as it will go,

0. 5se a short screwdriver to loosen the needle bar screw.

1. 5se your fingers to move the needle bar up or down so that the two timing marks are here(the top mark is even with the bottom of the tube.)

5. 2ake sure that the groove on the needle bar is facing the left,

7old the needle bar firmly in place with one hand, and tighten the needle bar screw.

9. heck the timingTip back the machine, take out the bobbin case. 2ove the shuttle race ring. Turn the wheel towards you until the bottom timing mark is even with the bottom of the tube.

The hook should now seem to touch the needle at the hole.

If it does not, try to change the timing again.

To put in a new needle bar

.. Take off the face plate.

/. Take off the needle, the needle clamp, the cotton holder, and the presser foot.

0. 3lowly turn the wheel towards you until the needle bar is as low as it will 9C.

1. Loosen the needle bar screw.

5. !ush the needle bar up. The needle bar will push out the needle bap cap. !ull the needle bar the rest of the way out from the top.

9. !ut in the new needle bar. !ut back the needle bar cap.

@. !ut back the presser foot, the cotton holder the needle clamp, and the needle. A. %i) the needle timing. ,4T$- In some machines there is no hole for the needle bar to come out the top of the machine. To put in a new needle bar in these machines, follow these steps: .. Take off the face plate,

/. Take off the needle8 the needle clamp, the cotton holder and the presser foot.

0. Take off the throat plate.

1. Tip back the machine so you can see underneath.

5. Take out the bobbin case.

9. Take out the shuttle race.

@. !ut the machine down,

Turn the wheel towards you to move the needle bar as high as it will go.

A. Take off the feed dog by unscrewing the two screws shown.

B. Turn the wheel towards you until the needle bar is as low as it will go.

Loosen the needle bar screw.

.C. Tip back the machine, pull the needle bar down, until it comes out the bottom of the machine,

... !ut the new needle bar in from the bottom.

./. !ut the machine down. Turn the wheel towards you until the nut is as low as it will go. Tighten it.

.0. !ut back the feed dog. !ut back the shuttle race, put back the presser foot, the cotton holder, the needle clamp and the needle. .1. %i) the needle timing.

To change the height of the feed dog

.. %or ordinary sewing, the feed dog should be set so that when it is as high as it will go it is in this position'll the top points are above the throat plate. 'll the bottom points are below the throat plate.

Turn the wheel until the feed dog is as high as it will go, then check the height, if the height of the feed dog is wrong, then follow these steps/. Take off the needle. Take off the presser foot.

Take off the throat plate.

0. Tip back the machine.

1. Loosen this screw.

5, 2ove this part with your fingers To make the feed dog move up or down. To make the feed dog move up, push it back (away from you). To make the feed dog move down, push it forward (towards you).

9. Tighten the screw.

@. !ut the throat plate back on.

A. Turn the wheel towards you until the feed dog is as high as it will go, then check the height of the feed dog, as in step ., If the height is still not right, then- take off the throat plate again. Loosen the screw underneath the machine. 2ove the feed dog again until it is at the right height.

B. 6hen the height is right, make sure that the screw underneath the machine is tight.

!ut back the presser foot and the needle. ,4T$= if your machine has no drop feed knob to let you do darning, lower the feed dog until the top points are all below the throat plate.

6hen you have finished your darning, put the feed dog back at the right height for ordinary sewing.

,4T$- If the height of the feed dog is right, but the cloth is still not moving through properly check the feed timingThe feed timing is right if: ') The feed dog comes out of ,a the throat plate after the n needle comes up above the top of the throat plate. 'nd

() The feed dog starts to move away from you at Dust the same time as the needle starts to move down, 'nd

) The feed dog goes below the throat plate when then needle has come down to Dust above the throat plate,

Turn the wheel towards you to see if the needle and the feed dog move together in this way, if they do not, then the feed timing is wrong. This is difficult to fi). Try to ask a sewing machine mechanic for help.

To tighten the bobbin winder screws

If the bobbin winder does not stay down when you want to wind the bobbin, follow these steps.. Take off the handle.

/.Loosen this screw. Then loosen the wheel nut.

0. Take off the washer. Then take off the wheel,

1. Tighten these two screws, 5. !ut back the wheel, put back the washer,

9. !ut back the wheel nut and tighten it. Tighten the screw,

@. !ut back the handle.

To put in a new bobbin winder rubber

.. If the rubber is worn, take it off the bobbin winder by pulling it towards the wheel,

/. !ut a new rubber onto the bobbin winder by pushing it gently over the edge and into the groove.

'ifferences in machines
"ifferent kinds and models of sewing machines are built in different ways. :ou will probably find that parts of your machine do not look e)actly like the drawings in this book. To help you follow the instructions anyway, here is a list of the most important differences among sewing machines. "ome machines (ther machines

6hen you look at the tension regulator from the back of the machine you can see the screw that holds it in place. "ome machines

To find the screw that holds the tension regulator in place, you must take off the face plate and look at the machine from the side (ther machines

The thread guard for the tension regulator is a bar attached to the face plate, and not a part of the tension regulator. "ome machines

The thread guard for the tension regulator is a part of the tension regulator itself, it is a bar or curved piece that sticks out from one of the pieces of the tension regulator. (ther machines

In these machines the tension regulator has .C pieces. "ome machines

In these machines the tension regulator has .. pieces. (ther machines

The shuttle race lies flat under the cover plate. The bobbin case is attached to the shuttle race, you cannot take it out of the machine. "ome machines

The shuttle race stands straight up under the throat plate, you can take the bobbin case out of the machine. (ther machines

The bobbin is long and fits into a long bobbin case. "ome machines

The bobbin is round and fits into a round bobbin case. (ther machines

In most machines the groove in the needle bar faces left (when you are looking at the front of the machine), and the flat side of the needle faces to the right to fit into the groove. "ome machines

In a few machines the groove in the needle bar faces to the front and the flat side of the needle faces to the back to fit into the groove. (ther machines

The shuttle race ring is held in the shuttle race with clasps, the shuttle race ring is attached to the shuttle race. "ome machines

The shuttle race ring is held in the shuttle race with a screw and a spring. The shuttle race ring is not attached to the shuttle race. (ther machines

The needle bar has no timing marks. To fi) the needle timing you must change the position of the needle by sight. "ome machines

The needle bar has timing marks. These make it a little easier to fi) the needle timing. (ther machines

The needle bar cannot come out the top of the The needle bar can be taken out from the top of machine. :ou must take it out from the bottom. the machine. "ome machines (ther machines

Turning the drop feed knob to the left lowers the There is no drop feed knob, instead, you can feed dog so you can do darning, it moves the change the height of the feed dog from under the feed dog out of the way so the cloth will not machine. catch on it.