UNCLE

I officially give up. I cannot get it to work correctly. I know it's a timing issue, but I'm not sure it's JUST a timing issue. Perhaps the hook is damaged or the bobbin case is damaged? I'm really not sure but I am sure I cannot make this puppy run. So back to the Salvation Army it will go. And I will keep an eye out for the 'next big thing'.
While I didn't get an operating sewing machine for $10, I DID learn a big, huge bunch about how a sewing machine works. And, in the process of 3 posts, assembled a nice collections of timing information.

Timing, as they say, is everything

Thanks to Pina on SG and a very patient and nice woman at JoAnn's Viking sales area, I have now determined that the hook is not picking up my top thread as the needle starts back up. JA's showed me the problem was what the machine was not doing to the top thread rather than the bobbin thread. Pina gave me a link to How a Sewing Machine Works that explained why. My one time the bobbin thead did come up was a one time thingy where there was just enough play/tension in the top thread for the hook to catch it once. It never made a stitch because it only did it once, not on every cycle.
Look here and you can see:On this one, a little blurry, but the hook has passed the eye and the thread is ust above the hook. Here, I have forced the thread down below the hook with tweasers and the thread pulled around and would have brought the bobbin thread up and/or made a stitch. Couple of other shots of this. Well after the thread should have caught and a very clear photo of what it should have looked like if it HAD caught just as the eye passed the hook. If you're not sure what you're looking at or for, see the sharp point on the round metal? That's the hook. The needle is down in every shot, though at different points on the cycle. In some shots you can see the thread through the eye. When the needle goes down and starts back up it makes a loop like any string being held in 2 places from above. If it's timed correctly, that sharp hook will snag the loop and spin the thread around across the top of the bobbin case (removed for this photo along with the feed dogs). It does this every stitch. Or should.
Next is the solution. Is it the needle? Are Schmetz' a different length than Singer needles and does it make a difference in this Vintage of a machine (early 70's - 19 that is)? Or is it truely the timing? And is there anything I can do about it, myself?
Back to the internet to see.

Later that same day.... I ran by JoAnn's and bought some Singer needles. I have no photos, but there is a slight difference. Not in length but eye placement - the Singer is just a thread higher on the needle. But anyway, it didn't help. The hook still isn't picking up the thread and it still isn't making a stitch. So I think I'm done. I may try to alter the needle bar to fix the timing. I found this site that may get me there. Not sure it's worth the effort.

PFTTT.

After tinkering off and on for a week, dismantling and cleaning the entire bobbin area, watching every sewing video on YouTube and swearing like a drunken sailor, I still can't the Merritt to make a stitch. The bobbin thread will not pull up, turning the wheel spins the hook assembly but nothing moves the thread off the bobbin and into the path of the needle. It just sits there looking all bobbiny. I don't **THINK** it's the timing, the hook meets the eye of the needle as it rises.

It's cleaner than it started, though not overly icky. A little oily and rusty. Since this photo was taken it has been dismantled, cleaned and reassembled.

It moves smoothly with no noises or skipping.




I'll give it the weekend to think about it's behavior and for the magic free sewing machine fairy to come and fix it. And if it's still misbehaving on Monday, it will go back to where it came from. Along with a patio table and old bicycle. And I will continue my search for the dedicated buttonholer. Ah well.

working on the merritt

Off and on today I worked on the Merritt. To no avail. I now know that it is a class 66 bobbin. That the bobbin in it was wrong. The top thread is ok. But it won't make a stitch. I got the bobbin thread up once, but it still didn't stitch. And the bobbin thread hasn't pulled up again. I can't get the throat plate off, I think the set screw is frozen -either rust or just too much old oil. I'll give a few more days, but I'm starting to think I can't get it going. Ah, well. We'll see, I'm not done yet.

I went shopping.

My son was discharged today, a couple of days ahead of plan. He's actually doing very well, pretty mobile, eating well. So after we drove home, stopped at McDonald's for some "real" food, dropped off his prescriptions, unloaded the car, and watched an episode NCIS I went back out and picked up a FedEx at the apartment office, went by Salvation Army, dropped off my carry bag to get repaired, picked up the prescriptions and stopped by JoAnn's. All in 2 hours, including NCIS and the drive from Royal Oak. Now, the $64M question. In that list, what stands out? Hmmmm? What did you see that you liked? Walgreens? Nah. Apartment office? Not hardly. Give up? Salvation Army? Yep!

When I was here a few weeks ago there was a nifty little Brother sewing machine there for $20. I talked myself out of it and regretted it. I went back to see if was, by any chance, still there. And no, it was not. But there was this, a Singer Merritt 8102. It runs smoothly, isn't too dirty, has the power cord and foot pedal and all my short shank attachments will fit it. A peek inside showed it wasn't very dirty and is more than adequately oiled (read: greasy). It was $9.99, worth it? I guess we'll see. I can't get it to make a stitch. I think it's threaded correctly. But I'm not sure I have the right bobbin in it. There was a plastic one in it, but I don't know if it's the right one. I found a threading guide and a bobbin insertion guide but not directions on bringing up the bobbin thread (though it looked "up") or what direction to put the needle in. I have it flat to the back, as my threading guide said to thread the needle front to back. But I have one real question. What are these? They are falling out of the foot pedal. A little shinier than the photo shows. Do they matter? Should I worry?

Back on the home front, we have borders. We didn't advertise room for rent and I suppose that's ok, since they are PAYING any rent. But they have moved in. We've taken it down a number of times, but if we leave the garage door open for even a few minutes Robin starts working on it again.

I feel really badly. She's found, in her opinion, the perfect spot. No cats can reach it. It's warm, no need to obsess about sitting on the eggs.
Oh, and one more photo. Sweet..... (from DC Cupcakes, as seen on TLC - tastes as good as it looks, um looked)