Monday, August 27, 2012

Complete the circle

I had an email from a reader who has a Kenmore 158.1561281. It's jammed.  It sounds like a thread lock.  It occurred to me that perhaps folks don't know how to get the hook out of this type of machine. 

When I bought my mid arm Bailey (http://www.baileyssewingcenter.com/homequilter.html) Mr. Bailey taught me how to take the hook out and put it back in.  This step is necessary every time the bobbin is changed because so much lint can build up and he recommends oiling the race every bobbin change.  "Complete the circle" was his way of explaining how the hook goes back in.  Perfect.

First you have to get the hook out.

On the free arm it is easy. 

Open the door
Remove the bobbin case
Identify the two tabs that hold the race cover in place
They simply turn outward to release the race cover
Pull on the stem of the hook and everything falls out.  Unless it is really gummed up or there is thread caught around the hook
This is the time that I clean the race and the hook.  I check the hook for burrs and hone any rough spots.  You have to be careful to gently hone any burrs.  The hook must have a sharp hook so that it can pick up the thread.

When putting it all back together, complete the circle
Replace the race cover making sure that the tab on it matches the notch in the race assembly.  It really won't go in easily any other way. (That isn't dirt in there; it is artifact from the "Smart Fix" in Photo Shop)
Then just put the tabs back over in place 

And replace your bobbin case.  Be sure that the bobbin case finger fits into the notch in the race cover.  It won't work otherwise.

12 comments:

  1. Hook is clean and sharp, no evidence of debris. Back to the drawing board!

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  2. one of my tabs got broken where can I purchase a new one?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kevin, contact me at mysewingmachineobesseion@gmail.com and I can help you.

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  3. I bought a Singer 2932 two years ago. After a horrible thread jam, I decided that, since I've had industrial machines and was able to fix them myself, this would be a piece of cake compared to them! So I took the bobbin shuttle apart... and was not able to put it back together, of course! Thanks to you, my machine is working again! (And I feel so dumb, it could have not been simpler! lol)

    Thank you, thank you, thank you :)
    Cristina

    ReplyDelete
  4. I bought a Singer 2932 two years ago. After a horrible thread jam, I decided that, since I've had industrial machines and was able to fix them myself, this would be a piece of cake compared to them! So I took the bobbin shuttle apart... and was not able to put it back together, of course! Thanks to you, my machine is working again! (And I feel so dumb, it could have not been simpler! lol)

    Thank you, thank you, thank you :)
    Cristina

    ReplyDelete
  5. SAVED ME! I am teaching a girl to sew using her mom's (unfamiliar to me) old machine, and the assembly tumbled out when we were changing the bobbin.

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  6. Thank you so much! The screen shots helped me set the shutter back into the machine and saved me a trip to the repair shop. Thanks again!

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  7. This is outstanding! It's the best tutorial I have seen for working with a vintage machine, with the clear photos, the arrows, and the explanations. Thank you so much!

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  8. Thank you so much! You’re a life saver!

    ReplyDelete