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Old singer sewing machine advice: breaking thread.
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Hairyloon



Joined: 20 Nov 2008
Posts: 15425
Location: Today I are mostly being in Yorkshire.
PostPosted: Sun Aug 23, 15 8:08 pm    Post subject: Old singer sewing machine advice: breaking thread. Reply with quote
    

We have here an old Singer sewing machine which had a spate of breaking needles, but has now moved on to breaking threads. Obviously, that is a significant improvement, but is still no good for sewing.

Sewing machines are entirely outside of my realm of experience, so does anyone have any suggestions?

Spider



Joined: 17 Apr 2013
Posts: 129
Location: Rhondda Valleys....Welshland
PostPosted: Sun Aug 23, 15 8:40 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

It could be the way that the thread/cotton is being threaded in the machine or possibly the tension to cause either problem

sean
Downsizer Moderator


Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 42207
Location: North Devon
PostPosted: Sun Aug 23, 15 8:44 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Frewen's yer perkin for old Singer questions. You could try a PM to get her attention.

Cathryn



Joined: 16 Jul 2005
Posts: 19856
Location: Ceredigion
PostPosted: Sun Aug 23, 15 8:47 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Breaking threads suggests a tension problem. Have you checked that? If it was running correctly before don't touch the bottom tensioner unless you have eliminated everything else. There are lots of You Tube clips that can help. How well maintained is it? Has it been thoroughly cleaned and oiled recently?

dpack



Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 45374
Location: yes
PostPosted: Sun Aug 23, 15 9:54 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

i was about to suggest a thorough clean and oil the bits that need oil

the top tensioner can get a bit clagged with fibres/rust/muck etc(if it is pitted you might need to either repolish it or replace it)

sometimes the spring is just too "baggy"to keep an even pressure on the plates but usually there is enough spring in it to get the required "grip"

the bottom one probably just needs a good clean,tis a bit more technical to adjust it than the top one

both need to be working well to prevent both the problems you have had

as above plenty of video tutorials.

broken needle is often top tensioner issues

gz



Joined: 23 Jan 2009
Posts: 8576
Location: Ayrshire, Scotland
PostPosted: Mon Aug 24, 15 9:52 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

bottom tension is a usual culprit, I have the same problem on Singers old and new

If it is any consolation, I've found that parts are still available even for very old Singers...when in South Wales the Singer machine maintenance place just off the ring road in Newport was great. trying desperately to remember where it was...not the turning by Coleg Gwent/Nash, but the next one over...

Hairyloon



Joined: 20 Nov 2008
Posts: 15425
Location: Today I are mostly being in Yorkshire.
PostPosted: Mon Aug 24, 15 11:26 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

He's reasonably confident that it isn't bottom tension because it still breaks the thread without the bottom spool.
Current theory is that the thread is not properly finding its wayaround the shuttle...

dpack



Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 45374
Location: yes
PostPosted: Mon Aug 24, 15 11:43 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

a good fettling is the best next move , clean and polish all the bits the thread touches between reel and needle and underneath as well

Cathryn



Joined: 16 Jul 2005
Posts: 19856
Location: Ceredigion
PostPosted: Mon Aug 24, 15 1:24 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

You don't say how old but this might help.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bidpJsAzc2A

Lorrainelovesplants



Joined: 13 Oct 2006
Posts: 6521
Location: Dordogne
PostPosted: Mon Aug 24, 15 2:12 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

photo of model?
threading the needle the wrong way or replacing the needle in the wrong way have been the issues with my old machine. 1927 and still going strong.

Hairyloon



Joined: 20 Nov 2008
Posts: 15425
Location: Today I are mostly being in Yorkshire.
PostPosted: Tue Aug 25, 15 12:00 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Lorrainelovesplants wrote:
photo of model?

Good idea. I'll see what I can do.

Mistress Rose



Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 15539

PostPosted: Tue Aug 25, 15 6:35 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

I was going to suggest the same thing Lorraine. Most machines will only take needles one way round as there is a flat on the needle top, but threading the machine the wrong way will often result in problems.

Hairyloon



Joined: 20 Nov 2008
Posts: 15425
Location: Today I are mostly being in Yorkshire.
PostPosted: Tue Aug 25, 15 9:18 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

He may have broke the first needle by putting it in the wrong way, but I think he's been more careful since...

dpack



Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 45374
Location: yes
PostPosted: Tue Aug 25, 15 9:39 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

a quick thought about needles,blunt ones are more prone to breaking as they tend to bend round threads rather than piercing through them.

i usually sharpen them on a smooth fine grain whetstone from new and every few hours in use.

it only takes seconds and seems to make a difference.

Hairyloon



Joined: 20 Nov 2008
Posts: 15425
Location: Today I are mostly being in Yorkshire.
PostPosted: Tue Aug 25, 15 9:54 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

dpack wrote:
a quick thought about needles,blunt ones are more prone to breaking as they tend to bend round threads rather than piercing through them.

I assume the second and subsequent needles were new, and therefore sharp.

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