Sugarkryptonite

Hi guys, I have a Singer 111w153 machine and need to sew something that is over 20ft long. I was wondering if anyone knew how much I could sew with 1 bobbin on 5 SPI with this machine. I believe it is a class G bobbin.

Thanks I didn’t look at those, thought they were the same one I have. The one I have looks like the original Singer manual for the machine with a green cover.

Hi Wyo. Yes you're right, I am asking about the "bobbin case opener" as you called it. I looked in the manual I have but didn't see it's name mentioned anywhere or how to set it. Have any advice for setting? I got the machine running again. I think the screw holding the needle bar is worn out...where to get new ones? eBay?

Hi guys, Have my Singer 111 that has been working great for years. A few days ago I tried to sew something pretty thick (3/8"). I was turning the hand wheel by hand, not using the motor, and the needle/hook timing went off. I timed it back, it sewed ok on a couple layers of vinyl, tried it again on something thicker (a zipper with some 18 oz vinyl coated polyester tarp), and again, out of time. Timed it again, tried it AGAIN...AGAIN! Out of time. What's going on here? I have a feeling that maybe there is oil on the lower shaft and the set screws aren't holding tight enough? Or maybe the set screw for the needle bar is not gripping enough? Starting to get pretty frustrating... Also, on another subject; the little hook that sticks out next to the bobbin case...what is that for exactly? How is it suppose to be set?

Yes I have. But I threaded the overlocker thread and the stretch thread the same ways, stretch thread still always gave a better result, even when not threading through the holes meant for it.

An update to this...thanks for your help trash treasure. The machine has been working decently, but I cannot get a nice thread formation on the top spreader unless I am using wooly nylon type thread that spreads apart easier. If I try using regular overlocker thread like I have in the needles, no luck in getting a nice pattern. Anyway on a side note, I have finally gotten some adjusting information from a Siruba rep in Miami, who very kindly gave me this information. I had asked many dealers for this information, and they straight up refuse to give it to me. I believe my machine is adjusted pretty well at this point, so for everyone here and anyone in the future, I am attaching it to this post so you can adjust your machine as well. The English writing isn't that great, but you get the idea. I am also attaching an album of pictures with adjusting information for different models (different needle spacing). Sorry, the order of the pictures might be wrong. Siruba Coverstitch F007/C007: Adjusting information: https://imgur.com/a/C5bnOE3 Powerpoint showing pictures how to adjust each detail (refer back to the above images for exact adjusting numbers depending on your machine): https://mega.nz/#!afojAATA!IKxGQ5Q1fjecPlIIbprzyDr5Ez-IKyE68J1udVq6a2w

Sorry just to add something...can't edit my post...I did manage tonight to get the spacing back as shown above by continuing to increase the spreader tension. If I increased it even one tick too much, though, the right needle thread would start to get pulled almost to the path of the middle needle. Any idea for that as well? All of the needle thread tensions seem to be okay, in relation to the looper pattern on the back.

Hi again trash. Hope you had a nice weekend. You're right about the thread guides. I initially had them the way in my pictures, then I switched them to being all even height, and then I switched them to being like yours. To be honest I don't know what way is the right way. For example, Juki MF7900 coverstitch machine has them the same way mine came from the P.O. Here is also a picture I got from a local classifieds site, where another machine like mine is for sale, as you can see, she has all of them even height (she obviously used the machine, set up with a binder and everything, and says it works perfectly): So I cannot say for sure which way is right...I know that if I put them the way the machine CAME to me, the right needle thread will slightly touch the take up arm when it is down all the way, which is why I initially changed it. My take up arm is mirrored compared to yours where the threads go through. The pages in the manual I got sent from Siruba didn't have that piece of information...I have asked them if they could send me the full copy of it. No response yet. Stitches are slowly getting better, but I'm still having a hard time, especially getting the left side of the spreader thread to "open up" like you showed in your pictures. I had gotten it to work, and then I changed out some threads and tensions and now I can't get it to look like that anymore. Not sure what the trick is. I've tried loosening the left needle thread, tightening it, loosening and tightening spread thread until my mind went numb, not sure what I'm doing wrong. Even just now, I had it stitching decently on a piece of navy supplex, and then I switched to a piece of gray, same thickness and all, and the spreader thread was all loose between the middle and right needles...I don't get it. The one thing I'm really curious about would be the "steps" for adjusting the thread settings on the machine. At this point I just feel like I'm changing random settings to see what happens, but it has me burning through pieces of material just with all test lines on them. If you could ask your wife I would be curious (and very grateful) to see what she says. For example, when setting up the machine for a piece of fabric and new threads: 1) What are the "steps" in order? Is it adjust the differential feed first? Then presser foot tension? And leave the thread tensions for last? Or another order of those steps? 2) When adjusting the differential feed, how do you know when it's "right"? 3) When adjusting the presser foot tension, how do you know when it's "right"? I had some supplex pulling a bit to the left when going through the machine, so I tried tightening the presser foot tension and it did seem to help, but still not sure. Much appreciated again.

Hi trash, Before this post, i just want to thank you again for keeping on responding to my thread, you're the only help I have Even if you don't know the answer, I appreciate it anyway. I have adjusted the looper take up mechanism, which was set all the way to the bottom, I put it back to the marks they have listed in the manual... Although maybe I shouldn't have adjusted that? Since it says if using elastic thread, to move it all the way forward. Up to this point I was just using regular overlocker thread, but today I tried the stretch thread that came with the machine (that they were obviously using with it). Anyway the change didn't seem to make any difference. After looking at it closer, it's hard to say whether or not the spreader is hitting the needle threads. I tried moving the small thread guard back so the threads would be held back away from the spreader even more, and it still made the noise. It sounds like part of it is the spreader thread coming OFF the spreader, and more noise from all the threads being tensioned as the spreader goes back towards the right. Does yours do that? Yup needle bar heght is good, atleast what from Siruba sent me...7.6mm roughly from tip of left needle to top of the needle plate. And you're right, I am using supplex actually for this project, trying to make some leggings actually I've also tried regular overlocker thread, and now fuzzy or stretch thread in the loopers. The top stitch is almost perfect now, but the backside...wow...such a pain in the ass. There are almost always loops in the needle threads, even if they're sitting flat on the top. I've tried increasing the needle thread tension more and more and more, doesn't seem to help much. How tight are yours exactly? Like pretty damn tight? You're right, having the manual is definitely important... I took some videos of the machine in action, as well as the pinging noise I was talking about. You can clearly see it happens as the spreader thread comes off the spreader itself, as well as when the threads are tensioned... Note the pictures below are all strips of test lines that I did on a piece of supplex, not all the tensions are the same on them...but one thing is usually in common, the right needle thread (white) is always messed up on the back side...like it doesn't have enough tension...but feeling the tension knobs by hand, it feels exactly the same as the other two needle threads...Changed threads, same deal. On these industrial machines, there's no way to tell how "tight" the tension knob is, or even how many turns it has gone around...how do you do it trash treasure? Just by feel, or another more accurate method? It's almost as if the right needle thread is getting pulled too much, causing it to loop, but I checked all the paths it goes through, and it's the same as the other 2 needle threads And when I mentioned adjustments in my last post, I was referring to adjustments of the thread tensions, and in what order you do it personally? Do you do loopers first, and then needles? Or needles first, then loopers? etc.

Thanks for your help, once again. Yes I have the thread going through the small "tension" unit. Threads all seem to be the same size, the numbers on the spools seem to match, hard to tell as I did not buy them, they came with my overlocker machine. I'm not quite sure I understand the differential feed numbers on the machine; the settings go from 0-4. I'm guessing that that might be the ratio between the front and back feed dogs, for exmaple 1:0, 1:1, 1:2, 1:3, 1:4, but for some reason, "neutral" where the feed dogs move at a similar speed, seems to be in the "2" position... I was able to get the spreader thread to lay nicely, similar to yours, but the backside is a different story...sometimes loops on the needle threads, sometimes not (threading is correct, I triple and quadruple checked it), I was able to get a decent stitch like yours, but it took A LOT of fiddling, is that normal? I've seen videos online of a guy using a machine, and just throwing in different thickness fabric, stretch, not stretch, and the machine stitches perfectly every time. For some reason my right needle thread will sometimes make loops half way through stitches, and sometimes not, tension unrelated, not sure why...threading seems correct in all the proper holes, no hangups anywhere...tried different threads, same problem. I will have to see about the spreader timing adjustment. I don't think the person who owned the machine ever used the spreader at all, as it was in a small case along with the set screw, but I could be wrong. Also, as the spreader is moving backwards, from left to right, it seems to catch very slightly on the needle threads and creates a small pinging noise as if you're stringing a guitar string when it's tight, if you know what I mean. Is that normal? For example I tried on a piece of supplex (stretch type fabric a lot of athletic wear is made from), and then fabric would pucker along the length of the stitches, wihch leads me to believe the needle threads were too tight, so I backed them off, but then get loops on the back side, tried adjusting the looper thread tighter, but the adjustment on the looper and spreader are very slight...at one point I even had the tension all the way tight, but backed it off because I didn't want the thread to break, and even then it wasn't helping very much. Is that a point where differential feed must be used? Also, what is your routine for adjusting the machine? Is it looper, then spreader, then 3 needle threads? They don't say in the manual at all what should be adjusted first.

Wish this site didn't remove the "edit" button after so much time...anyway, I have an update. I messed around with the spreader adjustments a tiny bit more and I think it's better now. This is the best I could get the stitches. Hopefully you can help trash treasure or anyone else who knows something about coverstitch machines. Top: Bottom:

Hi again. I contacted Siruba with the machine serial # and model, and they sent me service manual pages, not sure if it's for my machine or not 100%, but it seems like it could be. I spent the evening tweaking all the small settings to match what was in the manual they sent me...the machine seems to work well...but only going slowly. If you try to go faster, it will start to skip stitches. Hard to tell what it is, but it looks like the spreader thread. I'm pretty sure I have the spreader set up almost perfectly, with it catching the thread every time, and moving to the left of the left needle the perfect amount (or maybe not...? Could be causing it). The problem I see is that the manual states 5.0-5.5mm to the left of the left needle at it's furthest travel. If I set it like that, then when it moves back to the right, I need to adjust the spreader thread guide to be close in line with the spreader notch, but if I adjust the spreader thread guide to be above the notch when it's at its furthest right point, the spreader thread guide will hit the machine foot, so it literally cannot move to the left any more...I verified the spreader "travel", which is 17mm roughly, like they state in the manual. Pictured in orange below is where it contacts the foot when I try to move it further to the left. Not sure to be honest. Also, in regards to the top spreader thread, Mine seems to be tight on one side, and looped on the other, crappy diagram to follow. Any ideas on that? Do you have a second tension disc above the spreader thread guide for the spreader thread? It's a small one on mine, not sure how to adjust it exactly...or what its function is (pictured in red)

Perfect thanks so much. I'll try more tonight. Hard to tell from the pictures since the threads are all the same color, but the needle threads don't have any small loops in them, is that correct?

Thanks trash. I threaded the entire machine tonight and it seemed to work. The upper spreader would not grab the thread properly, so I took that thread out just to test the machine. Not sure why...need to investigate more. Having a hell of a time adjusting the tensions, though. I rechecked all the threading of the machine and it looks good, it stitches well, just the tensions are not great. The needle threads seem to have loops in them, but if I tighten them up slightly, the material starts to create a ridge on the left or right side of the needle thread path. The lower looper thread is almost at the least amount of tension possible. Where did you learn to set the tensions properly? Was there a guide or pictogram you used? Another question, in this video here, they are able to continue stitching off the garment, stitches keep being formed perfectly...I tried doing that with mine and all the threads got cut and bunched up. Is there something special about that machine? Can you do that with your machine as well? Thanks again, Wiz.

Thanks Wiz. Much appreciated. Knock on wood, but I think I got the oil leak figured out (so far so good). I took it apart this morning and didn't see anything wrong with any seals, etc. Then it occurred to me that maybe the float was broken, and I believe it is...I tried putting it in a bowl of water to see if it would move up and it doesn't on its own very well...maybe it has a leak in it or something. I ended up cleaning everything & putting it back together, after I measured the correct amount of oil that would be needed in the pan to be lower than the gasket, while still being about 0.5" above the oil pump, so there is plenty of lubrication (if anyone needs this information in the future for this machine, that amount was around 850ml). I also managed to get a replacement oil filter today so put that in as well. I believe what happened was yesterday I filled the machine up with oil, and because the float wasn't working, I ended up putting a whole pint in, while there was still some in the oil pan to begin with, but I didn't know how much. Not knowing myself how much oil the machine actually takes (again, not written in the manual), I figured I would just keep filling it until the float started to move, which it never did...but then oil started leaking everywhere. When I took the pan off today to inspect it, I noticed there is a notch in the oil pan underneath the gasket (factory made for sure). I don't quite understand the function...maybe a vent/overflow...or if oil is leaking from the machine on the outside, it will end up back in the pan? I'm not quite sure, anyway I took some pictures of everything to show everyone here who is interested what these machines look like inside. But this is definitely why they say to drain the machine before transport, because the oil will absolutely come out of the small notch and go past the gasket, leaking all over the place. 1) On another note, trash treasure I believe I have gotten the upper spreader in place correctly, but the lower is still confusing me a bit. It is touching the left & right needles (right more than the left), but if I try adjusting it so that it touches them less, then when it goes around to the other side of the needles on its other side of stroke, it will end up touching them on that side! Sort of a catch 22. I'm not sure where to proceed from here. In your above post you said "on the Kansai, the point should be about 1.5mm above the LEFT needle eye, when it's at the needle center". Could you explain what "point" you are talking about exactly? Also what did you mean by "when its at the needle center"? 2) Also was hoping you could just verify my threading of the lower looper thread in the rotating thread take up mechanism (only had time to thread one of them, geez I wouldn't want to rethread 5 threads on this thing very often). I just threaded it right through the the hole in the right side, through the slot, and back through the hole on the other side. I noticed there are also holes in the rotating assembly, but I wasn't sure if the thread was suppose to go through there? I was recording with one hand and turning the wheel with the other, so I couldn't put tension on the thread with my 3rd hand 3) What's the difference between the 3 holes at the top of the tension assembly, and where am I suppose to put the threads? 4) On the upper spreader, does the thread just sit in that sharp notch that we had talked about before? What holds it in there? Oh and a video of the gear oil pump, just for fun

Thank you. I really wish I could find a proper manual for this thing... Also really hope the mods leave it up, otherwise I don't know where else to go, don't know of any other sites with the expertise people have here.

Found out where the oil was coming from...went to go check the machine again tonight just to make sure, and sure enough, oil is all over the place. Seems to be leaking out of the pan, not sure from where, maybe one or two of the bolts that go through from the bottom, the seal around the edge, or who knows where. Guess I have to take it all apart, this will be fun

Thanks again, I'll try to get it figured out tomorrow. Wish i could find a service manual for the machine...seems to be very little information about this model online. I cleaned the whole machine today, came out pretty decent. I put 1L of oil into the reservoir, which is all I had on hand, and the float indicator didn't even move...I'm guessing it will take more than that to bring it up...thankfully the oil comes out as a steady flow out of the top tube now. Not sure why the machine was empty...or near empty...I doubt it was emptied for transport as it was still in the same house where it had been used for the past years. A few more things I noticed: 1) In the manual for the newer looking machine (C007 instead of F007), it states to fill the oil holes in the bottom compartment of the machine After looking more closely at my machine, there are no holes like in the manual for the newer machine. No info about this in the manual that came with the machine (again, very lacking in detail). I put a few drops of oil where the bushings are on the shafts, and it seemed to seep in, but there are no actual oiling holes I can tell. Do these self oiling machines also somehow oil the bottom part of the machine, or is it just the top head of the machines where the main shaft is? Or do I need to somehow oil the bottom manually? I filled the little oil reservoir shown in the picture above, which feeds towards the needle area...not sure if the felts are even positioned correctly. 2) I noticed as the bottom spreader goes across the machine, both of the needles rub against it and are moved out of the way slightly. Is this by design, or is there something wrong somewhere? I've included a short video clip of it, hopefully it is visible. Thanks everyone

Thanks. I haven't looked that deep into it but I hope I can take some covers off on the bottom of the machine under that point to help clean it out. Thank you, when you say "all the way to the left", you mean with the needles up or down? Thanks, I'll try to test it out like that. A bit confused when you say "the right, inner point clears the LEFT needle by about 0.5 - 0.8mm, as it travels past from right to left on the needle downstroke", but then "At the end of it's leftward travel, the same inner point should wind up 4.5 - 5.5mm to the left of the left needle, just before it reverses travel." When you say "clears the left needle by about 0.5-0.8mm", you mean front to back clearance? That would be adjusted by messing with the screws on the spreader bar itself to change the angle, right? And when you say "right inner part", you're talking about this, correct? You're right I do, but as I said in my OP, I did not find any information about it in the manual. There is info about spreader thread take up, but nothing about the spreader itself. The manual for this machine is extremely lackluster compared to some other industrials I've seen. Thx!

Very interesting, thanks Bob. I guess I should update this thread. I ended up contacting the guy who was selling the coverstitch machine again after he said it was reserved for someone else; long story short, I ended up picking up the machine yesterday. Price was $420. Looks to be in very good shape, other than being low on oil in the reservoir, seems it had leaked out on the table at some point (machine hasn't been used in many years, but still turns very well), there's still oil in the reservoir, as can be heard when shaking the machine around, and if you run the machine, can still see it coming out the top in the viewing port. 1) In the manual it says to use "Mobil #10 or ESSO #32 or its equivalent pil". Anything normal that I can use? Will regular sewing machine oil work? Or is this a special type of oil? It also seems to have an oil filter on the side of the machine, which I will try to get from somewhere... 2) Any tips for cleaning out all the old lint in the machine? I've never had a machine that was this dirty, so not sure what to do. 3) Lastly, this machine has the ability (I believe) to do a coverstitch on the top and bottom at the same time, it came with this little arm that was not being used by the previous owner. It seems to attach to another rod at the back of the needles that turns slightly back and forth when the machine is running. Do any of you know how to time that part of the machine? There's nothing in the manual about it.

Interesting so it replaces one of the loopers? Or is it just to make a 2 thread stitch? Also, can anyone confirm if the "L1" designation means it has no differential feed?

Another question I had about a Siruba overlocker, 2 needle 5 thread, safety stitch machine. Can these machines produce the "normal" 4 thread overlocker stitch that most of us use from day to day? Or are they only capable of producing that 5 thread safety stitch? There is a machine for sale insanely cheap (like giving away cheap), but I don't want that 5 thread stitch, just the normal 4 thread. Model is Siruba 757 516L1-35. I can't find the manual online anywhere for it, unfortunately. EDIT: It seems from this manual for a similar (although I think newer model), they have different model numbers for different machines, which leads me to believe this machine cannot do a 4 thread stitch.

You're right about that.

Geez, thanks for the heads up guys. Unfortunately the deal seems to have fallen through, after having made a deal already with the seller, it seems as though he has done a deal with someone else instead. Such a piss off

Yikes, thanks. I'm not doing any sort of crazy production type sewing, just for my own hobby use in my house. Automatic thread trimmer would be nice for sure, but not sure I can justify that. Is it standard on the Kansai, or is it an option that was added?