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From: bobbintamer
Date: 10-23-2006, 03:34 PM (1 of 10)
 Novice here~It's a Singer Stylist 457, I've been sewing some unbleached muslin covers with it and doing OK for the most part, but then the needle broke. I bought a new needle with the same little number, plugged it in, and now it won't pick up the bobbin thread. At the same time I replaced the needle, I put in some new thread which is just a tad heavier than what I had before. Put the same thread on the bobbin. It's Coats & Clark polyester/cotton. Also, when I was playing with the tension the knob fell off, and I put it back on, along with a little washer-type thing. I don't have a manual. It seems to be adjusting the tension OK though. I've looked up diagrams for proper threading on the internet, and I seem to have that right. The little metal thing around the bobbin is going around, it's just not catching the bobbin thread. Now what should I do (before taking it to the repair shop)? Thanks. p.s. Is it possible to have too much thread on the bobbin? If it's not wound evenly, could this cause it not to catch? |
User: bobbintamer
Member since: 08-07-2006 Total posts: 4 |
From: paroper
Date: 10-23-2006, 03:48 PM (2 of 10)
|
The uneven bobbin can cause problems but that isn't one of them. Chances are that you just wrapped the thread around the bobbin guide. It goes around from the front to the back, crossing over itself. For some reason, the bobbin usually threads evenly if you do this (don't ask me...mysterious). As for the other issue, my guess is that you didn't use a Singer needle or you didn't use a needle of the correct length. The Singer needles are usually a little bit different in scarf (the slit at the back) and in needle length (longer I think...it has been a while). You also might just not have the needle in correctly. It needs to be put back the the needle in the same position it came out. On MOST machines that is with the flat side to the back, but I'm not sure about Singer in particular (long time since I've used one.) The other thing is that the needle might not be in all the way. Any of these needle issues could cause the thread not to meet correctly at the hook. The tension...you might be lucky there. I had a machine once where the screw holding the tension disks wouldn't hold and I'd just pick up the dial, slide it back in and screw it down and it would hold for a while until it fell out again. Keep your fingers crossed. 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: bobbintamer
Date: 10-23-2006, 03:56 PM (3 of 10)
| You're right - I didn't use a Singer needle. It was another brand. I'll try to find a Singer and see what happens... |
User: bobbintamer
Member since: 08-07-2006 Total posts: 4 |
From: wghmch
Date: 10-23-2006, 11:40 PM (4 of 10)
|
The brand of needle should not really matter. The tiny difference in length that people mention is usually below the eye, and the only thing that matters is the "timing length," which is from the top to the eye. The 457 is famous for the plastic gear at the top of the verticle shaft breaking. Usually, they will break completely, and the hook will not turn as you described, but it is not uncommon for them to just lose a couple of teeth and get out of time. Turn the handwheel while you watch the hook rotate, and see if there is a spot where it stops or hesitates. Bill Holman |
User: wghmch
Member since: 03-04-2003 Total posts: 249 |
From: paroper
Date: 10-24-2006, 11:14 AM (5 of 10)
|
All I know is that Singer needles made a nasty sickening scrunch noise when I accidentally tried one in my Bernie..of course, the Bernie takes a shorter needle and that could have been the problem whereas if the needle is longer it might not be as big an issue.
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: wghmch
Date: 10-24-2006, 01:37 PM (6 of 10)
|
"All I know is that Singer needles made a nasty sickening scrunch noise when I accidentally tried one in my Bernie..of course, the Bernie takes a shorter needle and that could have been the problem whereas if the needle is longer it might not be as big an issue." Hi Pam, Actually, the Bernina calls for the same needle, which is a 705H (European) and a 15X1 (US). More likely is that you got hold of a Singer yellow band, which is their designation for a "stretch needle." The yellow band needle has a rounded point similar to the universal point of the Schmetz 705H, but additionally, the blade of the needle is moved toward the flat side of the shank. They did this because many cheaper machines do not have the hook set close enough to the needle to pick up stitches on light weight knits, and this is supposed to compensate for this instead of properly adjusting the hook, which cannot be done on many "cheap" machines. The problem is that when a machine (like your Bernina) is correctly adjusted so that the hook tucks in nice and close to the needle's scarf with a standard needle, it will strike/glance off of the blade of the offset yellow band needle. This has been a problem ever since the days of the Singer Touch-N-Tangles and Stylists, and as a result, if you have a good quality, well adjusted machine of any brand, and you want a rounded point needle, you need to avoid the Singer yellow band. Incidentally, the same thing can happen if you try to use a Schmetz 705H-S, which has the same offset blade. Bill Holman |
User: wghmch
Member since: 03-04-2003 Total posts: 249 |
From: bobbintamer
Date: 10-24-2006, 06:50 PM (7 of 10)
| Thanks to all for your replies. Know what the problem was? I bought overlock needles. They had the same #, but the word "overlock" was meaningless to me and went unnoticed. I purchased the correct needle, I reassembled the tension assembly (uh, correctly this time...I think). The bobbin thread is picking up now. On to my stitching problems... (new post) |
User: bobbintamer
Member since: 08-07-2006 Total posts: 4 |
From: paroper
Date: 10-25-2006, 04:48 AM (8 of 10)
|
Oddly, my 200 made the same nasty noise when I first got it if I used a size 90 titanium needle. I kept complaining to my dealer who kept ignoring me...so I took that sucker down to the dealer with a pack of needles because I knew I should be able to use them. He fixed it. I guess it was adjusted too close? Sometimes it pays to check the needle before you start sewing.
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: 11-04-2006, 01:47 AM (9 of 10)
|
I am shocked that it turned out to be the needles. Like Bill said that machine is notorious for the top veritcal gear breaking. I would have bet money on that one. Bill, I've heard the "Touch and Go" called a lot of things but I think "Touch and Tangles" is a first. Pam that is interesting about the Titanium needle hitting. As Bill expained a 130/705 (or 15x1) is a 130/705 unless they modify it for a specific application like the Singer Yellowband or Schmetz 705H-S. I must look into that to make sure they're not doing something different with that needle since we do recommend it so often but so far we haven't had any problems. The fact that the yellowband "crunched" in your machine is a credit to your service tech. Some will not take the time to make sure that the hook is as close to the needle as is possible. Hang on to him. Have fun or don't do it, Tom
|
User: Tom Land
Member since: 09-21-2005 Total posts: 514 |
From: paroper
Date: 11-04-2006, 06:03 PM (10 of 10)
|
I probably shall. He and his wife own the shop where I trade.
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 |
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