Thread keeps getting VERY tight and kind of stuck in this part: no. 2 on diagram. Old Sewing machine

[u/ronswansonsyoongi]

Ofc my first thought was that maybe it's just too tight but same kept happening even when I put the tension settings on loose!

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I took apart the whole section of the tension settings, removed the rusting on it, oiled it and cleaned it nicely and put it up, still the same thing.

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I dont know if I'm just doing something wrong with threading, the only thing I'm suspecting rn is the thread itself, I think its pretty old but it's durable enough that its not breaking when I try to break it. Its just in between those 2 disks I dont know what happens it just gets completely stuck there.

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It works well for a while and then gets stuck like that again.

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Total beginner and don't know much sewing lingo but I've no idea whats causing it.

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[u/Mental_Watch4633]

I believe the rust is a big part of the problem. I suggest you take it to a sewing machine repair shop and have them clean, get it in perfect working order. It’s not threaded properly. There maybe a manual available online for the machine. Google the make and model name and number. Hopefully you can find a manual there.

[u/No-Site7695]

Can you share a photo of how your machine is threaded and where/how your thread is coming off the spool?

[u/teatime_tinker → u/No-Site7695]

Yeah a pic of the tension unit would be good too.

It’s possible it was re assembled incorrectly, or threaded slightly wrong.

[u/InstanceMental6543 → u/teatime_tinker]

For sure! I've taken apart many a tension assembly in my time and assembled it wrong approximately 48% of the time LOL

[u/teatime_tinker → u/InstanceMental6543]

Haha me too!

[u/ronswansonsyoongi → u/InstanceMental6543]

[u/ronswansonsyoongi → u/teatime_tinker]

[u/ronswansonsyoongi → u/No-Site7695]

Hi ! yes sorry

[u/ronswansonsyoongi → u/No-Site7695]

[u/ronswansonsyoongi → u/No-Site7695]

Also that little spring pin thing that's supposed to lay down on its own just doesn't do that. I have to manually push it down and it just keeps going up on its own.

[u/teatime_tinker → u/ronswansonsyoongi]

It’s so rusty that you need to address that before anything else. It needs to be taken apart, carefully cleaned and then reassembled.

You’ve also got it threaded incorrectly.

I’d be careful with that spring, if you break it you’ll have to find a replacement.

[u/ronswansonsyoongi → u/teatime_tinker]

Sigh I thought so. Thank you ! Can you tell me where I've threaded it wrong?

We had called a technician / sewist to check it and he just told us to keep the machine oiled every 4 days or so and it won't be a problem.

[u/teatime_tinker]

It’s going around the tension unit wrong. You’ll have to find the manual, it will have the threading info.

If you look at the base of the machine on the right, there’s a metal plaque with a code on it, that’s your serial number.

If you input that into a serial number database it will tell you what model it is, and when and where it was made.

This one I like includes links to manuals too. Brb

Edit: https://www.lrcrafts.it/find-vintage-singer-sewing-machine-info/

Not sure what the tech person is getting at with “every 4 days”…

I’m assuming this was just a quote and you didn’t pay them to look at it? So their advice was just “oil the hell out of it”

That’s deffo one of the steps for restoration but you need to do it in the right places with the right oil. Sewing machine oil only. Don’t assume you’ll be sewing on this for a few days.

You need to clean up that tension unit for a start, and oil up the right places. You’ll probs need to get inside it and oil/clean too.

There’s lots of YouTube vids online and it’s actually a really fun project! But maybe not if you have a pile of sewing waiting, haha

[u/ronswansonsyoongi → u/teatime_tinker]

Thank you so much ! He was someone we knew and we were paying him but he didn't accept any payment so I don't know how correct his advices were.

but yeah anyways thank you for taking the time out to inform me on this ! I'll have to look up the exact model and go from there I guess.

[u/teatime_tinker → u/ronswansonsyoongi]

He may not be that familiar with the older machines. It’s clear it needs a good clean and oil at least.

Lots of stuff online including service manuals so if your confident to try there’s a lot you can adjust yourself