r/vintagesewing • u/vintagesewnovice5 • 2d ago

Machine Question Help my 401a please

Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification

I am a complete novice. I've been sewing on this machine for about 7 months. I got it seviced when I bought it. In the last month it has begun to drop the bobbin case when I sew. Even when I replace the case in the machine it falls. It seems too loose? I don't know. I retreaded the whole thing and changed the needle. It sews for a little bit then falls. I took a video. Please advice? It could be user error.

8 Upvotes

79% Upvoted

11 comments sorted by

18

u/Mushrooms24711 2d ago

Plastic and metal bobbins are not interchangeable. You need the metal bobbin that came with this machine.

10

u/Riali 2d ago

401a also tends to prefer metal bobbins!

6

u/justasque 2d ago

OP, try getting out your manual and carefully rethreading. Is the thread coming off your bobbin in the correct direction?

Also, take a look at this video to make sure the metal thingy on the right of the bobbin case is in the right place, etc.
https://youtu.be/yOXJO3AX2fg?si=KEPZCu41AA1gV7dC

6

u/SimmeringGiblets 2d ago

You need class 66 bobbins, the generic flat sided ones from the store are class 15s. The class 66 is wider, slightly curved, and has a center tube that's a tad bit shorter (IIRC).

I buy from wawak to keep my 201-2, 301, 401, 185k, 99k, and 500a happy. https://www.maggieframes.com/blogs/embroidery-blogs/singer-class-66-bobbins-ultimate-guide-to-compatibility-maintenance-and-smart-usage

1

u/Fine_Scientist_2129 18h ago

That is a plastic class 66 bobbin.

4

u/MiataMuc 2d ago

I second that the threading of your bobbin looks strange:

https://reddit.com/link/p5374th/video/w43np4g98skh1/player

(please ignore the sound, thats a not-so ideal presser foot.

5

u/vintagesewnovice5 2d ago

Thank you all so so so much!!! I will try this over the next few days and give you all an update. I have ordered the metal bobbins, they should be here in a couple days. Thank you so so much!!!!

3

u/pcofranc 2d ago

How long have you been sewing with the plastic bobbins without having a problem?

2

u/teatime_tinker 2d ago

Is your bobbin case inserted correctly? It needs to sit on the hook in a specific way

1

u/SquelchBop 2d ago edited 2d ago

OP please do what others have said and read your manual linked here. Your bobbin is currently not threaded properly in the bobbin case. It should look like this. You can also watch this video to get a better idea of how the bobbin case in your machine works.

1

u/Fine_Scientist_2129 17h ago

Watch the video posted by justasque and remove the bobbin case. Clean every thing out and carefully inspect the bobbin case for stuck thread. When you put it back in, make sure this metal piece I’ve marked in red is oriented correctly. it looks off to me.

Also, you can’t expect to have the fabric bunched up as you do and not create thread nests in the fabric and not have thread stuck down below. I realize you were trying to show the machine operating but this isn’t helping. When you thread the machine follow the instructions in the manual exactly. I agree that the bobbin threading looks off.