I have posted A LOT about the tension assembly. In all of those posts, I have not shown how the check spring fits into the tension stud. So here it is. I have removed the tension assembly from the machine. To do so, find the set screw just behind the thread guide and loosen it. If you are lucky the tension assembly will pull out. If it is stuck, loosen it with some tri flow or LW (liquid wrench) and wait.
The parts.
Please note that the tension release pin must be placed into the stud as shown. I recommend that you do so AFTER you have placed the check spring, tension discs and thread guard on the stud. You will be less likely to lose it.
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| tail of the check spring |
Sandwich the tension discs (flats facing eachother) and the thread guard in between the coil of the check spring and the eyelet.
Place this onto the stud so that the tail of the check spring nestles into one of the grooves on the tension stud. If the check spring has too much bounce, you must move the tail to a different groove. If it doesn't have enough, move it to a groove the opposite way.
(Don't forget the tension release pin. It must go into the tension stud before you put the indicator on.)
Next comes the indicator. Place it on the stud with the flat side next to the thread guard.
Now place the tension spring onto the stud so that the first half coil of the spring straddles the lower half of the stud.
Next comes the stop washer positioned on the stud so that the extension sits above the tension stud.
Now place the numbered dial on the stud positioned so that the Number 2 is oppositethe stop washer extension.
Compress the numbered dial against the spring as you thread the thumb nut onto the tension stud with the pin toward the numbered dial. Guide the pin into one of the holes on the numbered dial. Place the whole assembly on the machine, making sure that the extension on the thread guard fits into the hole on the machine. The presser foot must be DOWN when you out the tension assembly back on the machine. Position the check spring so that it rests on the extension on the left side of the thread guide.
Make sure that the + and - are positioned on top and tighten the set screw.
Just simply AEWSOME close-up pics. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteRick Engel
Thanks for writing, Rick.
DeleteHi! I happend across your blog the other day looking up "tension posts" . I spontaneously took apart the tension on a singer industrial, when all I've heard is NEVER touch the tension dial! I'm not a professional, but I love figuring out how things work. Following your blog from now on, and thanks for writing informative, to the point, sometimes funny posts.
ReplyDeleteI imagine that the tension on an industrial machine is very similar to a domestic, right? My 31-15 looks very much like an old Singer 27 tension assembly. Hope you got it back together
DeleteWow! You have great pictures! So clear and detailed.
ReplyDeleteI have a pre 1950 Necchi BF machine. Would these pieces be the same on my machine?
Thank you.
I don't know Necchi at all. Probably not the same, but similar.
DeleteVery proud that I did. It's not a numbered dial either!
ReplyDeleteYay for you!
DeleteYour closeups are SO great! What type camera and model#?
ReplyDeleteI love my Canon Power shot A4000 IS HD. I use it on low light and close up and then I crop and re-size with Photoshop Elements. I had the same camera with a touch screen. I dropped it too many times. Now I wear this one around my neck on a lanyard.
Deleteexcellent photos and super helpful! Thanks much and God Bless, Ann from KY
ReplyDeleteLove this post - very useful!!
ReplyDeleteThank you for taking time to prepare and post your tutorial.
ReplyDeleteThe close up photos are awsome.
-Phyllis in Iowa
Thanks for this great tutorial! I took my tension assembly apart on a 201-2 I got last weekend. I was having a difficult time with the manual and getting every thing back together but your tutorial really did the trick for me. I really appreciate the effort and time you took to post clear close up photos and great descriptions. :)
ReplyDeleteYou are welcome! Have a blast with your 201-2. I used my 201-3 as a treadle today. Such a nice machine. So smooth.
DeleteAfter two years, I finally got my tension assembly to work properly on my Fashion Mate 237 because of your instruction to put the presser feet DOWN while putting it back together...thank you so much for this tutorial!
ReplyDeleteClaire - from Belgium
After spending umpteen days with a magnifying glass and 2 pairs of glasses, This was the most helpful----thanks a million
ReplyDeleteYou are most welcome. At 60, I need lots of magnification and more light. I like to take a photo and then use the zoom in feature on the camera.
DeleteThanks to your step by step instructions and wonderful photos, I've replaced the wonky check-spring in my 201 quite painlessly. Thanks for providing such a valuable resource.
ReplyDeleteCindy T in MN
Happy to help
DeleteI was most afraid of this task- even after rewiring the motor- but between you and the wonderful man at the Vintage Sewing Machine Blog I got it all apart and all back together. It keeps consistent tension much better after those tufts of fabric and that chunk of pencil lead were out! I did have to fiddle a lot at the end of reassembly- it would only turn from 0 to 5 or 6 for a while. I was aligning with 2 at the top before tightening the last of the screw. I moved it to 5 and voila! Tension smoothly turns from 0 to 9 on the dial and correctly tightens or loosens the thread (with presser foot down, of course) and the pretty pretty stitches issue forth without sudden jam ups anymore.
ReplyDeleteAnd here's tomorrow's job! My check spring is sitting wrongly and puts no tension on the thread, creating a loopy mess when sewing.
ReplyDeleteWould problems with the tension cause skipped stitches? I got a 201-2 that is skipping stitches. I just started working on it.
ReplyDeleteI suppose it is possible. Skipped stitches could be due to dirt or thread caught in the bobbin case. If there is damage to the hook, I guess that could be a problem. Perhaps the bobbin is wound too loosely. Many possibilities.
DeleteI have read pages after pages and several videos on the upper tension parts, but I can't find anyting on how to set a starting point for the bobbin tension. I have a 201K from 1951 need to get going. I am making a pair of jeans :- )
ReplyDeleteAsk Lady Google about bobbin tension. I found it easily
DeleteMy husband is a "compulsive disassembler" everything is always being "fixed" i got a kenmore model 1341 and a bernina 334ds serger that have been shelved for awhile now, i will be following your blog from now on!!! Your pictures and instructions are so clear! Thank you!!!
ReplyDeleteI have a 201 1951 and now have maybe 60 hours trying to fix the tension assembly. I know the problem has to be mounting the check spring. It has spring when it is forward on the stem, but as soon as the plus minus disc is mounted, it is tightened down an unable to move. I think the eyelet coil end gets stuck in the stud. I have tried the six o'clock hanging down position with the coil tail at 11 oclock...No difference. I have tried the vertical mount as suggested by the nice folks in England who send machines to Africa...No luck. I have tried another check spring, no luck. I have taken the stem out and tried putting it together off stem, no luck. The problem is always that, unless, the eyelet is way forward, spring is lost. And, of course, mounting the rest of the assembly, forces it back. I am certain that the beehive is mounted correctly as well as the finger piece. Any ideas would be appreciated.
ReplyDeleteI accidentally deleted the above post so I copied and pasted it and posted under my name. In reply, I wonder if the cross piece on the + - disc needs to be adjusted. After time, it can get "warped " from the tension release pin and you may need to change the shape. Good luck
DeleteThanks for your post. It helped me to figure out how this thing is put together and hopefully my machine, singer AK216... will stitch again.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing, very enlightening !
ReplyDeleteJust used your photos and description to assemble the top tension on a friend's 301a. She had taken it apart for some unknown reason. Your help was perfect for me. Many thanks.
ReplyDeleteThanks for all the great info! I still have a tension issue. It's all or nothing. Frustrating for sure. Think it's time to call a real repair person.
ReplyDeleteMy tension stud is not in the same position as your or any other tension stud I have seen online. The groove is vertical where yours is horizontal. Is that a problem? I just bought my 201 a few weeks ago and have just started checking it out. I appreciate your blog greatly because I didn't even know what to call it other than doo hickey.
ReplyDeleteI don't think that matters. If the tension is working, then the position of the grove is irrelevant. If you want to learn about your own machine and intend to communicate with others, it is important to know that names of the parts. You can learn them by studying parts lists which are available on line, probably. The adjuster manual for the 201 is likely also available on line. While I haven't been a member for a long time, the Facebook group Vintage Sewing Machines is public group and the files are available to you to search for such manuals. Good luck
DeleteWould anyone be kind enough to tell me what this plus minus indicator is for ? I mean what job does it do ?
ReplyDeleteI know I am being dense here but I have a singer machine, starlet 287 , it too has this plus minus indicator but I don't know what it is supposed to do.
Thanks in advance.
It adjusts the tension on the upper thread.
DeleteThank you for this post and all of your posts. I have found them to be very helpful and have saved my sanity many times.
ReplyDeleteI have a question regarding tension assemblies in general. Do you know if parts may be interchangeable between some models? I have a Singer 237 that I love, but the spline on the tension stud is plastic. It cracked and I was able to fix it but would rather replace with an all metal one. Is this even possible?
Hi sorry to bother, ehm I was wondering if the tension stud has the groovy piece that is free to spin... Because mine did😅 and messed up the stitches... but after re assembly, it seams to have stopped...
ReplyDelete