Another Rat's Nest Problem With The 211G155

[miaoreo]

Hello all I am new here, been reading the forum trying to solve my problem.... I recently purchased a 211G155 to sew purses and leather with. I am not new to sewing but this machine has me baffled.

I too have this thread tension issue resulting in a rat's nest on the bottom of the material... I have checked and double checked my threading, there is a killer video on youtube about how to tread thru the tension disks. So I am pretty sure I have that correct.

Wizcrafts wrote " A thread rat's nest under the material is usually caused by a total lack of top tension. However, the bobbin thread is usually picked up in those situations; it's just tighter on the bottom than the top my a magnitude." And this goes along with sewing machine common sense. What I cannot figure out is HOW or HOW TIGHT the tension should be.. There are no markings or adjustment indicators on the tension disks. It seems that there is quite a bit of tension on the thread, it is hard to pull so I know it is not an issue of no tension at all.

The machine seemed to work perfectly when I bought it. It was set up and sewed a sample of my material just fine. All I have done is brought it home and wound new thread on a bobbin and threaded it with new #92 nylon thread and have a singer 130 needle properly installed.

So I guess my question(s) would be, how tight is enough tension? How hard should it be to pull the thread thru the tension disks/spring? Do I just keep cranking the knurled nut down? Or does anyone have another opinion of what I am doing wrong?

Thanks a bunch.

Mia

[dirtclod]

Try some different thread and see what happens. I have had some thread that i just couldn't use. It skipped stitches and frayed really bad, one night i got so agverated after picking stitches out for the third or forth time i just cut the piece up and threw it away. The next day i put some thread on that never had been a problem and the problem was solved.

[miaoreo]

Thank you Dirtclod... I will try another spool.. Although this is a brand new spool of thread.. and I don't have the original spool that was on it when it was demo'd for me.

[Anne Bonnys Locker]

The whole tension assembly might occasionally be out of whack. When you have the foot down on the work is there any tension on the top? The tension may have been set for thin work so you may need to loosen the screw that holds the tension assembly and move the whole assembly out to the point where you have tension.

[miaoreo]

The whole tension assembly might occasionally be out of whack. When you have the foot down on the work is there any tension on the top? The tension may have been set for thin work so you may need to loosen the screw that holds the tension assembly and move the whole assembly out to the point where you have tension.

I don't quite understand what you mean by " When you have the foot down on the work is there any tension on the top?" The machine sewed my material perfectly when I purchased it. We were very careful with it in transport (I thought) so nothing should have been jarred loose. The only thing that has changed is the thread, and my tinkering around with the upper tension. I do think I read a post somewhere here about the timing? And that getting a thread jammed in the bobbin can upset the timing?

[Anne Bonnys Locker]

Try pulling the thread when the foot is down. If it comes through easily then you need to adjust the tension assembly.

[CowboyBob]

• IF your sure it's threaded correctly,pulled down in between the tension discs,then look to make sure the tension discs aren't sticking open when you try sewing,I think that's what Darren is saying,try pulling on the thread with the feet down because when you p/u the foot the tension realese opens the dics.
  
• HTH
  
• 
  

[Anne Bonnys Locker]

Thanks Bob, I am a relative newbie to the industry but when it comes down to it there are only a very small number of things that can really go wrong with a machine.

• IF your sure it's threaded correctly,pulled down in between the tension discs,then look to make sure the tension discs aren't sticking open when you try sewing,I think that's what Darren is saying,try pulling on the thread with the feet down because when you p/u the foot the tension realese opens the dics.
  
• HTH
  
• 
  

[miaoreo]

Thank you both.... and we may be on to something now... the Chain that runs from the knee lever mechanism that raises the pressure foot had to be unhooked when we transported it. I may have that hooked improperly and not allowing the pressure foot to come all the way down... I will check that tonight when I get home. that could certainly cause my problem It never dawned on me until you both mentioned having the foot all the way down.

Mia

[miaoreo]

Well things are a little better but not perfect. New needle, new bobbin, new thread... the machine will sew for about 6-8 inches and then the Upper thread tension seems to "relax" ??? and I get the loose stitches on the bottom, then usually the thread breaks near the needle. I discovered I was (also) missing the thread guide on the needle bar and the thread guide up on top of the machine. Those have been ordered. But I am beginning to think I might need a new upper tension assembly. Any thoughts?

[Wizcrafts]

Problem: top thread lifts out of center of top tension disks, causing thread knots and loops to appear under the bottom layer..

Solution: You might want to try what I did to keep the thread inside the top tension disks, if they have a pin on the right side holding them in position. Take your top thread out of everything on the machine. If you have a top post, ur a 3 hole guide, loop around it as needed to get a smooth pull off the thread stand and spool. Then feed the thread under the pin on the right side of the disks, then bend it sharply up and around the center of the disks (raise the presser foot to relieve the tension). Then feed it down to the check spring and through the take-up and guides.

You will need to reduce your tension spring setting to compensate for the sharp turn, but the thread should stay inside the disks from now on.

Edited March 17, 2013 by Wizcrafts

[miaoreo]

Wiz! you are a Genius! That worked! It sews! Thank you! But.... and don't you hate buts....

only with the original needle that was in the machine. Soooo it took it out and with a magnifying glass read the tiny tiny print on the shank. it says "SINGER 130/21" My new needles won't pick up the bottom thread. Same size, same everything, except brand. These are ORGAN brand needles.. I laid them side by side and the ORGAN brand needles are 4mm SHORTER! They won't pickup the bobbin thread. OH GOOD GRIEF! Is this some evil plot to save 1/100000 of a bit of metal? Or is there some secrect code for "LENGTH" of the needle? I cannot find anywhere it says they come in different lengths. I ordered them as SINGER 211 needles.

just sign me "Totally Frustrated"

[CowboyBob]

They should of asked you the rest of the model# the 211 w/needle feed take shorter needles(135x5)11/2" long than the 211 w/walking foot that take 135x17 or 135x16 leather point 13/4" long

[miaoreo]

Thanks Bob.... and I just spent about an hour on the phone with Cut and Sew Services in L.A. who handle vintage singer parts and they are sending me the correct needles. Very Very nice folks.

I should have asked here first and ordered from someone here. my bad.

Edited March 18, 2013 by miaoreo