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From: blackie
Date: 05-11-2006, 06:56 PM (1 of 16)
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My old Kenmore is skipping stitches on the bobbin side. I am going nuts. I replaced the needle and rethreaded and it's still doing it! Arggggh! I don't want to have to take it in for a $70 repair. Does anyone have any suggestions for troubleshooting? The bobbin I am using is slightly, SLIGHTLY a different size than the one that came with the machine. However, it sewed very well - no skipped stitches - with that particular bobbin in there. Any help would be appreciated. This is my favorite machine. see the mundane life of a housewife.
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User: blackie
Member since: 03-31-2004 Total posts: 594 |
From: GreenDragonLady
Date: 05-11-2006, 07:36 PM (2 of 16)
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What did you sew last? If it was linty you might need to take the bobbin case out and clean underneath it. Everytme I have a problem like that it's usually what it is.
photos.yahoo.com/greendragondesigns
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User: GreenDragonLady
Member since: 07-29-2004 Total posts: 495 
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From: blackie
Date: 05-11-2006, 07:40 PM (3 of 16)
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Oooh, good idea. It is one of those hateful metal-helmet bobbin things (where the bobbin is stored "upright", like a wheel). Last time I took it apart, I spent most of my kids' naptimes putting it back together! Attempting a good cleaning now... see the mundane life of a housewife.
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User: blackie
Member since: 03-31-2004 Total posts: 594 |
From: wghmch
Date: 05-11-2006, 08:02 PM (4 of 16)
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"My old Kenmore is skipping stitches on the bobbin side." I don't understand what you are trying to say. There is no way a lock stitch machine (type w bobbin) can skip on just one side. The top thread and the bobbin thread interlock with each other, so if it skips on one side, it has to skip on both. Bill Holman |
User: wghmch
Member since: 03-04-2003 Total posts: 249 |
From: esrun3
Date: 05-11-2006, 08:16 PM (5 of 16)
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Besides cleaning, have you tried changing the bobbin? I know, you said it sewed ok before but you know, sometimes it only takes one tiny thing to make these machines go haywire-at least in my opinion. I wouldn't take it in until I tried everything! Hope you get it working again soon!!
Lyn
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User: esrun3
Member since: 12-02-2004 Total posts: 2345 |
From: Kylnne2
Date: 05-12-2006, 06:58 PM (6 of 16)
| Rather than skipping stitches, do you mean you are getting little knots on the bottom that look like dots with no stitches in between? If that is what is happening..it is probably the tension that is off. |
User: Kylnne2
Member since: 07-10-2004 Total posts: 629 |
From: LeapFrog Libby
Date: 05-12-2006, 07:30 PM (7 of 16)
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You are truly living dangerously if you use a bobbin that is not made for your machine.. I would never do such a thing.. Maybe that is why I have never had to have a machine repaired...We were taught that in Home Ec I and she made her point so clearly that I don't think any of us would ever go against her teachings in that respect... LOL.
Sew With Love
Libby |
User: LeapFrog Libby
Member since: 05-01-2002 Total posts: 2022 
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From: blackie
Date: 05-13-2006, 01:00 AM (8 of 16)
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Wow, very dire warnings, LeapFrogLibby. I don't know that this is the wrong size of a bobbin. It is almost 100% identical except for a hair's width in height. Regardless, I put the "correct" bobbin in, and now things are worse! I haven't got to the bottom of it. Kylnne2, it isn't just bad tension, I know what that looks like. Unless it's SEVERELY bad tension that results in something else entirely. It's more like the threads aren't connecting / twisting at all! Bill, I'm not sure how what I said (about the "bobbin side" skipping stitches) is technically true because, yes you are right, each stitch is interlocked... but somehow, I *am* telling the truth. I feel like the bobbin workings are the problem... ... Maybe I need to put my webcam to work... It is getting worse and jamming up. Maybe there is something about the bobbin helmet that I don't understand. I am about to cry. It is my favorite machine and I'm really floundering here! I will keep plugging away, and send prayers up to the Gods of Sewing Devices... thank you all for your help... see the mundane life of a housewife.
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User: blackie
Member since: 03-31-2004 Total posts: 594 |
From: wghmch
Date: 05-13-2006, 02:16 PM (9 of 16)
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"I'm not sure how what I said (about the "bobbin side" skipping stitches) is technically true because, yes you are right, each stitch is interlocked... but somehow, I *am* telling the truth. I feel like the bobbin workings are the problem..." If I'm understanding correctly, yours is the older style with a "15 class" oscillating hook underneath. If so, the Sears source number or model prefix is likely 158. On 15 class shuttles, it is not uncommon for a deflected needle to create a burr on either the area immediately behind the hook or on the little finger below it that points in the same direction as the hook. Try removing the hook and inspect it for burrs, and if you find any, polish them out. The only thing you need to watch out for is damaging the point of the hook itself. Once buffed smooth, carefully wipe off any metal shavings and reoil the shuttle when you put it back in the machine. Bill Holman |
User: wghmch
Member since: 03-04-2003 Total posts: 249 |
From: blackie
Date: 05-15-2006, 06:53 AM (10 of 16)
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If I'm understanding correctly, yours is the older style with a "15 class" oscillating hook underneath. If so, the Sears source number or model prefix is likely 158. On 15 class shuttles, it is not uncommon for a deflected needle to create a burr on either the area immediately behind the hook or on the little finger below it that points in the same direction as the hook. Try removing the hook and inspect it for burrs, and if you find any, polish them out. The only thing you need to watch out for is damaging the point of the hook itself. Once buffed smooth, carefully wipe off any metal shavings and reoil the shuttle when you put it back in the machine. It is actually a 148.531, for which I can't find a manual (and am not sure what "class" of bobbins to order, either). Does that make it a Class 14? I have no idea. Your knowledge of sewing machines is impressive. It does have an oscillating hook and finger like you described. The finger you spoke of did in fact have a very small burr. I polished it as best I could. The maching is still running funky. I have re-threaded and oiled (as best I could figure out where to oil) and it no longer skips stitches. However, it makes a slight, very slight "thunking" noise and seems to be running sluggishly. While we're on the subject of my machine, I am not sure which direction to put the needle in. It fits a couple different ways, with the flat part of the needle head facing either the left or right of the machine. Short of a manual (which I am still seeking), do you have any idea which way it should be going? Thank you for your help! see the mundane life of a housewife.
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User: blackie
Member since: 03-31-2004 Total posts: 594 |
From: GreenDragonLady
Date: 05-15-2006, 08:23 AM (11 of 16)
Blackie, I'm sorry that site didn't have your manual. I don't know why they would tell me they did if they didn't. And I'm sorry you're still having problems 
photos.yahoo.com/greendragondesigns
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User: GreenDragonLady
Member since: 07-29-2004 Total posts: 495
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From: blackie
Date: 05-15-2006, 08:40 AM (12 of 16)
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Blackie, I'm sorry that site didn't have your manual. I don't know why they would tell me they did if they didn't. And I'm sorry you're still having problems Oh no! I haven't spoke with anyone from the site you recommended yet - I was chasing other leads. I've just struck out with three other places. I'm sure your recommendation will work out well. And I obviously need a manual, look at what an arse-clown I am with this thing. Thank you! see the mundane life of a housewife.
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User: blackie
Member since: 03-31-2004 Total posts: 594 |
From: GreenDragonLady
Date: 05-15-2006, 09:40 AM (13 of 16)
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I really dislike vertical bobbins because they always give me fits putting them in. But I read somewhere that when they work well, they stitch better than the horizontal bobbins. And I suppose you could change a bobbin in the middle of a project without taking your project off the machine.
photos.yahoo.com/greendragondesigns
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User: GreenDragonLady
Member since: 07-29-2004 Total posts: 495
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From: wghmch
Date: 05-15-2006, 10:44 AM (14 of 16)
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"It is actually a 148.531" I believe that is a Soryu mfg machine. (Not certain of the exact name) This was another Japanese mfgr that Sears used for their lesser machines during the period that Maruzen (158 source #) was making their higher end machines. "and am not sure what "class" of bobbins to order, either). Does that make it a Class 14?" No. It is also a class 15 machine and uses the same very common bobbins. "However, it makes a slight, very slight "thunking" noise and seems to be running sluggishly." On these machines, there is a "half moon shaped" device that drives the shuttle. Mounted on this driver is a cushion spring, held on by two tiny screws. One end of the cushion spring wraps around the end of the driver and the other just ends parallel with it, but it is not uncommon for either end to get broken off and this will cause a clicking sound and the possibility of catching the upper thread. If it is broken, you can usually tell that the place where it is broken off is ragged. "While we're on the subject of my machine, I am not sure which direction to put the needle in. It fits a couple different ways, with the flat part of the needle head facing either the left or right of the machine." On all machines, the side of the needle on which the hook/shuttle passes should be the side away from the long groove. In the common type like yours, this is the side that has the flat shank. If your bobbin case goes in from the left, that means that the hook is passing to the right of the needle, so the flat side should go to the right and it threads left to right. If the needle was put in backwards, it would throw the loop of the thread to the left instead of to the right, and it would skip stitches and break thread constantly. "Thank you for your help!" You're welcome. Bill Holman |
User: wghmch
Member since: 03-04-2003 Total posts: 249 |
From: paroper
Date: 05-15-2006, 02:06 PM (15 of 16)
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I think my old Kenmore, although a 158 was from the same era as that and I always pictured my needle being turned to one side. I think that it threaded from right to left but it has been about 14 years since I have used it. Since they weren't made by the same company, I don't know if the threading standards would have been the same or not.
pam
Bernina 200e, Artista V5 Designer Plus, Explorations, Magic Box, Bernina 2000DE & 335 Bernette Serger, Bernina 1530 Sewing Machine, Bernina 1300 DC Overlock (with coverstitch) |
User: paroper
Member since: 02-03-2004 Total posts: 3775 |
From: plrlegal
Date: 05-15-2006, 08:37 PM (16 of 16)
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Blackie I owned a Kenmore for over 20 years with that type of bobbin assembly. First of all, if I remember correctly, the needle goes in with the flat side to the right and it should thread from the left to the right; second, at the metal bobbin case and if, as you are holding the case in front of you looking into it like you're going to put a bobbin into it, if the thread slit is facing up, you bobbin should go in with the thread hanging down on the right side of the bobbin when you hold it up in front of you and pull back through the thread slit from left to right; if the thread slit in the bobbin case is facing down, the bobbin thread should go in with the thread hanging down on the right side of it and thre thread pull back through the slit from the right to left. In other words, depending on how the thread path in the bobbin case is positioned, your bobbin thread should would off either clockwise or counter-clockwise. Also, be sure you pull the bobbin thread under and through the black solid looking piece of metal on the side of the bobbin where the adjust screw for the bobbin tension is. I wish I were an artist, I would draw you a diagram of how the bobbin should be threaded. Every Kenmore I have ever sewn on has the same sensitivity to how the thread winds off the bobbin and how the bobbin case is threaded. Patsy Patsy
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User: plrlegal
Member since: 05-19-2001 Total posts: 318 |
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