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From: Michelle Bederk
Date: 10-25-2004, 08:12 PM (1 of 12)
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Alright, this one may prove to be a toughie. I have done a fair amount of sewing and used primarily Singer and Baby Lock machines. Unfortunately, use of those machines is no longer available to me and I'm stuck using something of a hand-me-down. I've got an old 60s or 70s Zeng Hsing sewing machine with a side-loading bobbin--not something I'm familiar with at all. It has no manual and the previous owner has no clue as to its operation whatsoever. I'm pretty sure I managed to thread the upper portions of the machine correctly, but I can't seem to get the needle to pick up the bobbin thread. There are several ways, it seems, to insert the bobbin case into the spot it goes in...and no matter which I choose, it's just not working. I took a peek at a site one of you folks recommended for someone else having bobbin-related issues, and it had -nothing- for Zeng Hsing machines. I'm on a serious time crunch here and it's just not looking good. 
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User: Michelle Bederk
Member since: 10-25-2004 Total posts: 4 |
From: wghmch
Date: 10-25-2004, 08:53 PM (2 of 12)
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I don't know specifically what machine you have, but a high percentage of these "unknown brands" are just common HA-1/15 class machines. If so, it will have the tension on the left rear corner, facing left, and there is an instruction book available that I put together and posted in the files of the wefixit (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/wefixit/) site. Bill Holman |
User: wghmch
Member since: 03-04-2003 Total posts: 249 |
From: Michelle Bederk
Date: 10-25-2004, 09:51 PM (3 of 12)
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Bill, Indeed, it's similar to what you've got in the diagrams, and the side-loading bobbin stuff is dead-on...although my machine is high-shank and the top-threading is quite different. At least I know I was doing the bobbin stuff correctly, then. So...I'm doing everything right and my bobbin thread still isn't getting picked up. Could this possibly be caused by poor needle alignment? 
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User: Michelle Bederk
Member since: 10-25-2004 Total posts: 4 |
From: wghmch
Date: 10-25-2004, 11:53 PM (4 of 12)
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Basic threading principle is always the same. Off the back of the spool, thru the corner thread guide, between the tension disks with the presser foot raised, catch the check spring and guide bar or slot, back up to the take up lever, down to the needle. On these machines, the flat side of the needle goes right, and they thread left to right. Bill Holman |
User: wghmch
Member since: 03-04-2003 Total posts: 249 |
From: Michelle Bederk
Date: 10-26-2004, 02:40 AM (5 of 12)
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The problem with that is that I don't understand the terminology you're using. I've used a number of other sewing machines and took a course, so I understand where the thread on top goes. The top threading is fine. The problem is that it will not catch the bobbin thread. The bobbin is threaded and loaded properly, the top is threaded properly...so what is the problem? And COULD it be the needle alignment? It was adjusted recently because the needle was sitting so far left that it was clipping the plate. |
User: Michelle Bederk
Member since: 10-25-2004 Total posts: 4 |
From: Kylnne2
Date: 10-26-2004, 06:56 AM (6 of 12)
| Do you have the needle hole facing sideways instead of the hole facing you to thread front to back? On the side loading bobbins the needle hole usually faces the side direction so you have to thread it with your left hand and thread left to right. |
User: Kylnne2
Member since: 07-10-2004 Total posts: 629 |
From: Kylnne2
Date: 10-26-2004, 06:59 AM (7 of 12)
| Whoops, I see Bill already said what I just posted. I should read other posts first before I post. |
User: Kylnne2
Member since: 07-10-2004 Total posts: 629 |
From: wghmch
Date: 10-26-2004, 08:56 AM (8 of 12)
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"The top threading is fine. The problem is that it will not catch the bobbin thread." Generally, when you cannot pick up the bottom thread, the problem is on the top. "And COULD it be the needle alignment? It was adjusted recently because the needle was sitting so far left that it was clipping the plate." That depends on how the needle was "aligned." If someone moved the needle bar who did not understand how it is synchronized with the shuttle, the answer would be yes. However, from your description, it is more likely that the needle bar (and needle) was moved upward to put it out of time with the hook/shuttle. Bill Holman |
User: wghmch
Member since: 03-04-2003 Total posts: 249 |
From: Michelle Bederk
Date: 10-26-2004, 02:39 PM (9 of 12)
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Hmmm...well, I've got the needle facing front-to-back so that the flat side of the needle is flush against the flat slot for the needle. I.E., the flat part of the needle is facing right. I'll try switching it around, but it doesn't seem like that's the way it's supposed to fit. As for the needle alignment thing, the needle was too far left so the bar was moved to the right to get the needle a bit more centered. I was told by a friend that it is common for timing and alignments to get knocked off-kilter if someone tries to sew something too thick/dense for the machine; it's entirely possible that the state of the machine is the reason why the original owner discarded it. Bleh. It'd be cheaper to go buy another machine than to get the timing and everything fixed on this one. 
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User: Michelle Bederk
Member since: 10-25-2004 Total posts: 4 |
From: wghmch
Date: 10-26-2004, 02:50 PM (10 of 12)
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On an "end loader" ZZ machine (bobbin case and hook/shuttle stand vertically, facing left) the shuttle assembly must ZZ with the needle bar. Whenever one is moved right or left, the other must be aligned with it. However, you may be assured that the needle should go in with the flat side facing right. (I am assuming that the needle bar was not turned when it was "adjusted." This would also cause problems.) Bill Holman |
User: wghmch
Member since: 03-04-2003 Total posts: 249 |
From: Kylnne2
Date: 10-29-2004, 06:23 AM (11 of 12)
| It was mentioned that the needle was sitting so far left..on some of the side loaders the normal needle position is left of center and if the machine has no needle postion dial the only way to center the needle is to have a straight stitch foot for that model. Ask me how I know..LOL. My first machine..was like that. |
User: Kylnne2
Member since: 07-10-2004 Total posts: 629 |
From: wghmch
Date: 10-29-2004, 10:42 AM (12 of 12)
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It was mentioned that the needle was sitting so far left..on some of the side loaders the normal needle position is left of center and if the machine has no needle postion dial the only way to center the needle is to have a straight stitch foot for that model. Ask me how I know..LOL. My first machine..was like that. Absolutely correct! This is very likely what you have, and if the needle bar was moved right in one of these, it would no longer line up with the hook/shuttle. If this is the case, it can be moved back, using the same adjustment that was used to throw it off. Just remove the needle plate and move the needle bar to the left until the needle comes down just left of and almost touching, the shuttle. Bill Holman |
User: wghmch
Member since: 03-04-2003 Total posts: 249 |
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