Escapement

I worked on the 328K some more today and finally decided that I would just live with whatever was making that "whisper" in the bobbin case.  I put the machine all back together and cleaned it all up.  But the tension assembly was filthy and I just couldn't live with THAT.   I could not find the set screw to release the tension stud so I just took the parts off with the stud still in the machine.  I found the set screw once I had all the parts off.  You must access it from above.  I decided that I could just reassemble the thing without all that bother.  The check spring isn't quite right, but.....

Once I had the machine all back together, I tested the stitch.  Omigosh.  There was an awful racket from below.  I was sure that I had not pushed the position bracket back into place.  Nope.  All was fine.   The top tension felt terribly tight.  I took it apart, AGAIN, honed the discs and reassembled it. (Which is why the check spring isn't quite right, it was perfect the first time).  Still no better.  I took the slide plate and the needle plate off and watched the thread as it made its journey.  It was catching in two places.  First just along the bobbin case  and again in the back. 

Work with me here,  imagine that there is a bobbin in the machine and there is thread catching along that path.  The answer to the problem is in this photo.  The clue is in the title of this post. 

In order for me to see where it was catching in back  I had to remove the feed dogs.  which I did .  Then I figured it out.

I had tightened the bobbin case position bracket too tightly and there was NO ROOM for the thread to escape along its journey to making the stitch.  In this photo there is some space space between the bobbin case and the position bracket.  I took this photo yesterday before I started messing with the machine.   This space is the escapement.  There MUST be space there, or thread will catch.

I thought that the bobbin case sounded too rattly so I tightened it up.  Too much. There was NO SPACE there after I made the rattle go away.   I moved it back and the machine stitches.  Yes, it is noisy.  It is not as quiet and smooth as the 401 or the 301 or the 201 or even the Janome 2212 (Omigosh I am comparing a Vintage Singer to a plastic modern machine.  Blasphemy!)  But it makes a very nice stitch.  Tomorrow I will adjust the tension and find a zz cam for it and post it for sale.  Or not. 
(No, the whisper was not the noise of the position bracket rubbing on the bobbin case.  Those two pieces are stationary)

Singer 328 bobbin case

A reader asked for a photo of the bobbin case position on a 328.  Fortunately I still have one of these machines and was able to photograph the bobbin case for her.

I, therefore, became distracted by this machine and neglected my other duties of the day.  Sort of.  I did get the top coat of paint on the bases and the treadle top.  But I did not vacuum the house or weed the garden.

It occurred to me that a little photo tutorial on how to remove the bobbin case of these types of machines might be helpful.  The 401, 403 and 404 all work the same way, basically.  So does the 337 and I imagine the 338.  I don't have a lot of experience but I think most of the newer top loading class 66 machines might work this way.  Not the 201.  That bobbin case is totally different and if you want to learn more about it   go to The Vintage Singer Sewing Machine Blog  http://vssmb.blogspot.com/2011/07/how-to-remove-201-bobbin-case.html

First remove the needle plate.  It merely lifts off.

 Raise the feed dogs to the highest position and lift the position bracket up and to the right.

Shift the bobbin case to the right as well and it should lift out.  I had to jiggle this one.

When replacing the bobbin case be sure it is sitting just so and don't forget to move the position bracket back into place.

If the bobbin case is loose in the hook, it is possible to adjust the position bracket so that the bobbin case sits more snugly.   I loosened both screws a quarter of a turn and gently moved the bracket toward the bobbin case until it felt snug.  Then I tightened the screws. 

This bobbin case has a bit of a rasp to it somewhere in its cycle.  I don't think it is because I tightened the bobbin case.  It was pretty raspy before I did that.   The machine turns smoothly when the case is out.  But when it is in place, it whispers. If there isn't any oil on the thing it grinds.   The whole machine does need servicing and I suppose that will be on the agenda for tomorrow.  The forecast is for rain, so I won't have to weed the perennial bed.  Oh darn.

Singer 328 K

I know that Bill Holman does not like these machines.  He is a very famous sewing machine guru who owns a couple of the sewing machine Yahoo groups.  I do like this machine.  It makes a pretty nice stitch and is strong and fast.   I bought it this past spring and cleaned it all up and oiled it.   Today I loosened the belt and adjusted the tension and now it is sewing just perfectly.  I think it is the perfect machine for a beginner sewist.

So I guess it is off to Craigs List now.