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From: Rowdy Girl
Date: 08-31-2006, 11:46 PM (1 of 14)
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I recently bought a machine at a garage sale, and of course, it has no manual. I was wondering if anyone can help me out with finding one, or telling me how the bobbin winder works on this thing. It's an Alco, model 302L De Luxe Zig Zag, serial number 301655 and here are some pictures. I can take more if seeing something else would be helpful. I've done all kinds of internet searches and can't come up with anything. http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k205/RowdyGirl420/alcosewingmachine.jpg http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k205/RowdyGirl420/bobbinwinder2.jpg http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k205/RowdyGirl420/bobbinwinder4.jpg http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k205/RowdyGirl420/plate1.jpg http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k205/RowdyGirl420/plate2.jpg |
User: Rowdy Girl
Member since: 08-29-2006 Total posts: 5 |
From: keljo60
Date: 09-01-2006, 09:26 AM (2 of 14)
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Hey Rowdygirl, the pictures didn't show. Can you list them again?
Kelly
Do not meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and good with ketchup! |
User: keljo60
Member since: 07-30-2006 Total posts: 154 
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From: paroper
Date: 09-02-2006, 11:27 PM (3 of 14)
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Hi, Rowdygirl! Glad to see you could make it over!!!!
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: Kylnne2
Date: 09-04-2006, 04:52 PM (4 of 14)
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I have never owned this type of machine but have sewn on similar ones. One of the guys on this site will be able to help you more than I because I cannot see the picture very well and my post might seem like a bunch of jibberish. Normally you would turn the inner knob on the hand wheel to disengage the clutch. The top thread is threaded through the bobbin tension disk on the top left of the machine and brought over to the right side of the machine then either wrapped around the bobbin or if your bobbin has a hole put the thread from the inside of the bobbin to the outside. Open the latch on the bobbin winder (the silver mechanism on the right of the machine by the hand wheel and put the bobbin on the spindle. I forget if you then close the latch and step on the foot control to wind the bobbin or leave the bobbin latch open then wind and close the latch afterwards. I believe you close the latch to hold the bobbin in place while winding. After winding I think you close the latch again and when finished turn the knob on the hand wheel to engage the clutch again. Sew4less on line has manuals for older model machines and if not the exact model of machine will probably have a generic manual. Good luck..I hoe this helps a bit but if not..I hope someone else can give you better advice. |
User: Kylnne2
Member since: 07-10-2004 Total posts: 629 |
From: keljo60
Date: 09-04-2006, 09:33 PM (5 of 14)
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Kylnne, you are mostly right. My 50+ yo White machine winds like this one. After you put the bobbin on the spindle, you close the silver latch. When the bobbin is full it (the latch) should pop out by itself. I'm pretty sure that you don't close it when sewing because this will probably keep the needle from going up & down. Hope this helps.
Kelly
Do not meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and good with ketchup! |
User: keljo60
Member since: 07-30-2006 Total posts: 154
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From: Rowdy Girl
Date: 09-05-2006, 12:42 AM (6 of 14)
| Okay. This seems to work, all except when I put the bobbin in the latch mechanism, the edge of it rides on the belt that conects the hand wheel (illustrated in the middle picture). Does anyone think that will cause a problem? It sort of seems like that might wear out the belt, and I really don't want to have to try to find another one. Also, this machine has a very unique needle, the eye goes through the needle sideways instead of front to back, has anyone ever seen any other machine with needles like that? |
User: Rowdy Girl
Member since: 08-29-2006 Total posts: 5 |
From: Kylnne2
Date: 09-05-2006, 02:22 AM (7 of 14)
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Yes, a needle that is inserted sideways and threaded from left to right ususally has the bobbin on the left side of the needle instead of the bobbin being in front. In other words ..the threading direction sort of follows the direction of the bobbin. Rowdy it has been so many years since I have seen a bobbin winder like that and I don't know what to say about the belt..did you disengage the clutch on the handwheel by turning the center know toward you? Sorry I could not help more in the matter. Kelly what does your belt do when you wind the bobbin on your machine? I think the techs on this site could help you in a quick minute..maybe they will see this thread and reply. |
User: Kylnne2
Member since: 07-10-2004 Total posts: 629 |
From: paroper
Date: 09-05-2006, 05:51 AM (8 of 14)
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Kylnne2, this is where my problem was with her machine. There is wear on the paint beside the belt that seems to indicate that the winder has ridden there...but I can't seem to figure out how it got over that far. I, too was hoping that Tom or Bill would respond quickly to her plight. If they don't respond in a day or so we may have to go wake one of them up with the holiday weekend, there is no telling where they are right now.
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: Rowdy Girl
Date: 09-05-2006, 12:31 PM (9 of 14)
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Pam- Is this the wear that you're talking about? I took some more photos of it because it's not worn all the way around the wheel, just around part of it. http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k205/RowdyGirl420/wheel4.jpghttp://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k205/RowdyGirl420/wheel3.jpghttp://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k205/RowdyGirl420/wheel2.jpghttp://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k205/RowdyGirl420/wheel1.jpg Anyone have any ideas on what might have caused that? |
User: Rowdy Girl
Member since: 08-29-2006 Total posts: 5 |
From: paroper
Date: 09-05-2006, 05:54 PM (10 of 14)
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That's what I was looking at. Most of the machines that I have used have a wheel or a moving part that rides on that portion of the hand wheel, not the belt. That was why I was wondering if your bobbin winder moved up instead of down. You have a little plastic or rubber piece above it with a little bit of a ridge in it and a screw going through it. That piece, from the picture looks like there is a portion of rubber of plastic missing so that it is "C" shaped instead of round. I had wondered if you pushed your bobbin winder up, if it would extend to that portion of the hand wheel and perhaps part of the problem was that it was no longer round because a portion was missing. If that should be the problem I would think that it could be replaced easily if not by that particular part, by something that would certainly work.
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: Tom Land
Date: 09-05-2006, 11:12 PM (11 of 14)
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Okay. This seems to work, all except when I put the bobbin in the latch mechanism, the edge of it rides on the belt that conects the hand wheel (illustrated in the middle picture). Does anyone think that will cause a problem? It sort of seems like that might wear out the belt, and I really don't want to have to try to find another one. Also, this machine has a very unique needle, the eye goes through the needle sideways instead of front to back, has anyone ever seen any other machine with needles like that? When you engage the bobbin winder the friction ring (little tire looking thing) should ride on the handwheel where the rubber marks are on it in the last picture. Those marks are from the friction ring. I can't really make out from the pictures if your ring is there or not. The way it is engaged is by pressing the large chrome lever in. When the bobbin is full it will pop back out. On that model the clutch is released by unscrewing the screw in th center of the handwheel (It only unscrews about 1/4 turn ). After winding the bobbin you must then tighten the screw. The needle is inserted with the flat side to the right. The needle then threads from left to right. I think I may have an old owners manual for that machine I will check in the am. Have fun or don't do it, Tom
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User: Tom Land
Member since: 09-21-2005 Total posts: 514 |
From: Rowdy Girl
Date: 09-06-2006, 01:07 AM (12 of 14)
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That's what I was looking at. Most of the machines that I have used have a wheel or a moving part that rides on that portion of the hand wheel, not the belt. That was why I was wondering if your bobbin winder moved up instead of down. You have a little plastic or rubber piece above it with a little bit of a ridge in it and a screw going through it. That piece, from the picture looks like there is a portion of rubber of plastic missing so that it is "C" shaped instead of round. I had wondered if you pushed your bobbin winder up, if it would extend to that portion of the hand wheel and perhaps part of the problem was that it was no longer round because a portion was missing. If that should be the problem I would think that it could be replaced easily if not by that particular part, by something that would certainly work. Pam, I don't really understand what you mean by the bobbin winder moving up instead of down. The big latch that covers the bobbin in the 3rd picture only pulls out and pushes back in, does that make sense? to put the bobbin on the little notch, the latch has to be pulled out and then pushed back in to hold it against the hand wheel.... I'm starting to think that there is definately a missing part. I really hope Tom has an old manaul so this can be figured out. |
User: Rowdy Girl
Member since: 08-29-2006 Total posts: 5 |
From: paroper
Date: 09-06-2006, 07:13 AM (13 of 14)
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Tom or Bill will hold the key. That's why I brought you over here. The second picture shows the putty colored piece that I was questioning. The reason I thought that you might be pushing your bobbin the wrong direction is because it is above your bobbin. I've messed with some that you could engage it by pushing it up toward the wheel or down toward the wheel. 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: Rowdy Girl
Date: 09-06-2006, 12:11 PM (14 of 14)
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Pam- Thanks so much for showing me this message board, it has been very very helpful 
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User: Rowdy Girl
Member since: 08-29-2006 Total posts: 5 |
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