Adjust Old Sewing Machines.

When you need to Adjust Old Sewing Machines, what do you think about?

So you think of treadle sewing machines?  Do you think of hand crank sewing machines?  Or do you think of sewing machines from the 1920’s through 1950’s?

How old is old?  Before 1950, home sewing machines were almost all single or straight stitch sewing machines.  Among these sewing machines were hundreds of different models.

Most of these sewing machines were made of cast iron or heavy metals.  They had little or no plastic parts.  Machines dating prior to about 1900, were either hand crank or treadle driven.  Later old sewing machines commonly had external AC motors.  Many of the older sewing machines used shuttles instead of the more modern bobbin carriers.

When you need to Adjust Old Sewing Machines, what needs to be adjusted?

It is not difficult to Adjust Old Sewing Machines, but it does require specific settings.      Adjust Old Sewing Machines for dependable operations.  Adjust Old Sewing Machines whenever you see faulty stitches.   Adjust Old Sewing Machines whenever you do periodic service.  Adjust Old Sewing Machines to keep it clean, well lubricated, and operating at peak performance.  

Adjust Old Sewing Machines for ten critical settings.   Here is a list of ten critical settings that will need to be maintained.   These ten settings may be grouped into three groups.   There are tension settings.  There are timing settings.  And there are positioning settings.

Adjust Old Sewing Machines for tension settings.   This is one of the most common sources of problems on old and new sewing machines alike.  The sewing machine has thread from the top of the sewing machine, and thread from underneath.  Each thread has tension or resistance on it.  Balancing this thread resistance is  the essence of tension.  

The upper tension  or the resistance on the upper thread depends on proper threading.   If the stitches suggest tension problems, the first thing to do is rethread the top of the sewing machine.   While threading the upper thread, keep the presser foot in the up position.  Make sure the thread is threaded through all thread guides in order appropriately.   Check that the thread slides between the tension discs and the tension spring.  Make sure the thread goes through the take up lever.  Double check to make sure the needle is properly installed, and threaded properly.  Test the resistance on the thread with a slight tug with the presser foot up (little or no resistance) and with it down (obvious resistance).

The lower tension depends on proper thread of the bobbin.  Make sure the bobbin thread is wound smoothly.  It should not be too tight or loose.  When the tension is placed into the shuttle or bobbin carrier, carefully guide the thread under the tension spring.  Test the resistance on the thread.  The thread should flow smoothly with slight resistance. 

When sewing, the tension from the top and bottom must balance each other.   The stitch connection should be hidden inside the fabric.  If there is excess thread on the top, the upper tension is pulling harder than the lower tensions.  If there is excess thread on the bottom, the bobbin tension is tugging harder than the upper tension.  To Adjust Old Sewing Machines tension, rotate the upper tension dial to the right to  increase tension or to the left to decrease upper tension.

The second set for Adjust Old Sewing Machines relates to timing.  The needle must move in harmony with the hook.  As the needle rises, the point of the hook must slide precisely behind and through the scarf of the needle to pick up the upper thread.  The needle must be as close as possible to the hook without actually touching.  This is called hook needle timing.

A second part of timing considerations has to do with the feed system.  The feed dogs must rise as the needle rises out of the sewing machine.  As the needle proceeds to its highest position, the feed dogs must move from front to back.  As the needle falls and drops back into the sewing machine, feed dogs must also drop under the needle place and rotate to the front.

The third group of Adjust Old Sewing Machines has to do with positioning.  The needle bar must be properly set for height and centering.  The presser foot must be properly positioned vertically and horizontally.   The presser foot must also be adjusted for the amount of pressure it applies.  The final positioning consideration has to do with the stitch length adjustment.   Inside the machine is a slide adjustment that controls the length of stitches.

Adjust Old Sewing Machines is very similar from one sewing machine to another, but the settings must be properly set to insure proper sewing machine operation.

Adjust Old Sewing Machines.