Singer 153k103 stitch length adjustment

[Lugubrious]

Hello all and good day, I am trying to adjust the stitch length on my 153. I’ve visited an older forum about the issue but haven’t been able to find a solution. The knob doesn’t work and tightening or loosening the small screw where you can see the 0s up top aren’t doing much. Right now it’s set at a low stitch count and would like to get longer stitches. Are there any other alternate suggestions? The photo is the screw I messed with, underneath there is no second screw.

[Lugubrious]

4 minutes ago, Lugubrious said:

Hello all and good day, I am trying to adjust the stitch length on my 153. I’ve visited an older forum about the issue but haven’t been able to find a solution. The knob doesn’t work and tightening or loosening the small screw where you can see the 0s up top aren’t doing much. Right now it’s set at a low stitch count and would like to get longer stitches. Are there any other alternate suggestions? The photo is the screw I messed with, underneath there is no second screw.

Underneath the set screw I can see the stitch adjustment rod turning whenever I turn the wheel. Could it be that I’m missing the screw that adjusts the stitch length? 

[Lugubrious]

1 minute ago, Lugubrious said:

Underneath the set screw I can see the stitch adjustment rod turning whenever I turn the wheel. Could it be that I’m missing the screw that adjusts the stitch length? 

Photo of said screw

[Constabulary]

I have this extract from a 153w manual maybe it helps

[Lugubrious]

8 hours ago, Constabulary said:

I have this extract from a 153w manual maybe it helps

So I don’t have that second screw “cc” I assume that one screw is “bb” I wish the photo was clear to see what these screws exactly looked like. From your experience are these screw pretty proprietary?

[Constabulary]

I think the screw you show in your picture is the screw CC which comes in contact with the spindle. What is missing is screw CC.

This is from a Singer 153 parts list. So your screw with the long unthreaded end is CC / # 13069 and what is missing is screw BB / # 10764 which locks the screw CC.

Make sure the parts 13066, 13067 13068 are present as well and noting in the mechanism is gummed and everything is well oiled.

EDIT:

Also check the threaded end of the top shaft (where the spindle goes in) if it is undamaged and the small pin on the inside of the spindle knob is present and is following this thread when you change the the stitch length.

 

Edited November 26 by Constabulary

[CowboyBob]

By turning screw CC & the stitch length knob both in all the way should give you a long stitch length.You might also check the feed dog height to make sure it rises above the needle plate when it feeds.We do have both screw BB & CC in stock,BB is used to keep CC locked in.

[Lugubrious]

13 hours ago, Constabulary said:

I think the screw you show in your picture is the screw CC which comes in contact with the spindle. What is missing is screw CC.

This is from a Singer 153 parts list. So your screw with the long unthreaded end is CC / # 13069 and what is missing is screw BB / # 10764 which locks the screw CC.

Make sure the parts 13066, 13067 13068 are present as well and noting in the mechanism is gummed and everything is well oiled.

EDIT:

Also check the threaded end of the top shaft (where the spindle goes in) if it is undamaged and the small pin on the inside of the spindle knob is present and is following this thread when you change the the stitch length.

 

So I do have the set screw and spring, I’m confused where you speak of the spindle I hope this photo is the the spindle. I can see some threads on the tip but it looks pretty flat. I’ve heard of people grabbing a dremel using that to get the spindle right. I’m just not sure if I’d be sanding it down 

Edited November 26 by Lugubrious
Added more information

[Lugubrious]

6 hours ago, CowboyBob said:

By turning screw CC & the stitch length knob both in all the way should give you a long stitch length.You might also check the feed dog height to make sure it rises above the needle plate when it feeds.We do have both screw BB & CC in stock,BB is used to keep CC locked in.

So when I turn the screw all the way and the stitch length knob. I can feel the stitch length knob feel like it’s locked in, not stuck or anything more as if it’s set. The dog feed looks flush with the plate it isn’t rising above the plate.

[CowboyBob]

1 hour ago, Lugubrious said:

So when I turn the screw all the way and the stitch length knob. I can feel the stitch length knob feel like it’s locked in, not stuck or anything more as if it’s set. The dog feed looks flush with the plate it isn’t rising above the plate.

Ok,if they both are all the way in try raising the feed dog so it can lift the leather off the plate,also check that feed dog doesn't have any play in it by pushing it front to back,try the needlebar too,sometimes parts in the feed system get loose & need to be tightened or replaced.

[ljk]

I've had 2 of those, one my first upholstery machine and 30 years later picked up at a auction for a few bucks. I used on the bike circuit, was great because I could see very well what I was doing. Here's what I did. Bought a narrow Teflon foot, got a narrow feed dog to match, set tension moderately. Good machine until you can afford a 206rb.

[Lugubrious]

3 minutes ago, ljk said:

I've had 2 of those, one my first upholstery machine and 30 years later picked up at an auction for a few bucks. I used on the bike circuit, was great because I could see very well what I was doing. Here's what I did. Bought a narrow Teflon foot, got a narrow feed dog to match, set tension moderately. Good machine until you can afford a 206rb.

It’s a great machine, if I could figure out the stitch length issue it’ll be my golden goose! 

5 hours ago, CowboyBob said:

Ok,if they both are all the way in try raising the feed dog so it can lift the leather off the plate,also check that feed dog doesn't have any play in it by pushing it front to back,try the needlebar too,sometimes parts in the feed system get loose & need to be tightened or replaced.

Would those things get in the way of the stitch length adjustment? 

[Constabulary]

10 hours ago, Lugubrious said:

So I do have the set screw and spring, I’m confused where you speak of the spindle I hope this photo is the the spindle. I can see some threads on the tip but it looks pretty flat. I’ve heard of people grabbing a dremel using that to get the spindle right. I’m just not sure if I’d be sanding it down 

 

Yes that is the spindle. But don´t mess the tip with a Dremel. What you see on the tip are traces of part # 13066 that pushes against the tip when changing the stitch length.

Not sure if you got me right. There is a short coarse thread on the end of the top shaft (red circle) and there is a small pin inside the knob of the spindle (red arrow). And this little pin has to follow the thread when you turn the knob for changing the stitch length.

[Lugubrious]

14 hours ago, Constabulary said:

Yes that is the spindle. But don´t mess the tip with a Dremel. What you see on the tip are traces of part # 13066 that pushes against the tip when changing the stitch length.

Not sure if you got me right. There is a short coarse thread on the end of the top shaft (red circle) and there is a small pin inside the knob of the spindle (red arrow). And this little pin has to follow the thread when you turn the knob for changing the stitch length.

Looks like a broken pin to me, the threads at the end of the top shaft look good. So this pin must be the culprit. Looks like a tedious piece to replace. Would you just recommend replacing the whole knob itself? 

[Constabulary]

The broken pin is the problem as it seems. I´m not sure if you can replace the pin, the knob may be hardened. And I do not know if the spindles are still available. I have one but I´m in Germany and it is from a Singer 111 machine not sure if the stitch numbers are the same.

Anyway, I would check with Bob Kovar from Toledo Sewing Machines. He replied in this thread as CowboyBob (see above). He may have some old stock parts. If he has none we maybe can talk.

[Lugubrious]

4 hours ago, Constabulary said:

The broken pin is the problem as it seems. I´m not sure if you can replace the pin, the knob may be hardened. And I do not know if the spindles are still available. I have one but I´m in Germany and it is from a Singer 111 machine not sure if the stitch numbers are the same.

Anyway, I would check with Bob Kovar from Toledo Sewing Machines. He replied in this thread as CowboyBob (see above). He may have some old stock parts. If he has none we maybe can talk.

Okay cool! I’ll shoot him a message. Hopefully I can figure this out. I’m okay with the stitch setting it has right now but would like to get longer stitches for decorative stitching. Will shoot Bob a message thank you for clearing all of this up for me and narrowing down the issue.

[Constabulary]

Please let us know if and how your problem got solved. Always good to have a feedback just in case someone else will have a similar problem.

[Lugubrious]

On 11/29/2024 at 11:04 AM, Constabulary said:

Please let us know if and how your problem got solved. Always good to have a feedback just in case someone else will have a similar problem.

Haven’t figured it out yet

[Constabulary]

just yesterday I looked at the spindle on my Singer 108w and it looked like the pin is replaceable. I cross checked another 153w pats list and pound the pin as spare.

Parts # is 202443

And I found it online:

https://parts.jacksew.com/pin-generic-202443/

[shoepatcher]

I would drill the pin out and replace it with a roll pin cut to length the roll pins are hardened.

glenn