Please help me with this machine! Broken threads, loose stitching, bundles around the bobbin...

[revrat]

Hello again guys.  It's been a while since I've been on here bothering you with my machine issues, but I'm back and looking for some advice.  I was able to get through some boat seats last time, but now I'm looking at doing some nice upholstery for my daughter's first car (64 Comet) and I don't want the machine to mess up on me.  The problems I'm having are:

Top thread breaking. It was working fine today for about 2 feet before the top thread broke, now I have these other issues

Bottom thread building massive loops of thread in the bobbin area

When it does sew and not just bunch up thread on the bottom, the bottom switch is very loose

 

Singer 111w101

needle goes to bottom and then raises up 3/32 of an inch, as best I can see

Hook meets needle at 1/16 above the eye

Hook is almost touching needle

Top and bottom thread feel like the same tension when I pull them

Timing belt is in great shape

Everything has been oiled

 

Top stitch

 

Bottom stitch

Bobbin thread routing

Top thread routing

 

I was having trouble before with the tensioner for the top thread, couldn't get it to hold mild tension without keeping the thread from passing through, so I replaced it.  The new one is grabby too if I seat the thread in it, so for now I just have it laid in there as sort of a guide.

 

This part is new

 

Any guidance you guys can offer would be greatly appreciated.  I was going to sell it and look for one that's not going to make me crazy, and also that has reverse, but the market is really high right now so I'm going to have to just figure this one out.  I will call in a pro if I can't get it.

 

Thanks in advance!

[Northmount]

2 hours ago, revrat said:

I was having trouble before with the tensioner for the top thread, couldn't get it to hold mild tension without keeping the thread from passing through, so I replaced it.  The new one is grabby too if I seat the thread in it, so for now I just have it laid in there as sort of a guide.

Not enough top tension.  You need to resolve that.

[Wyowally]

Between the discs on top, not just laid across them. Make sure threaded correctly the rest of the way.

[toxo]

Every part of the process has to be right and in tune with all the other parts. The machine needs all parts working together. 

Needle size right?

Bobbin wound properly and evenly?

Is the thread installed correctly?

Is the check spring releasing the thread at the right time so the thread can form a loop at the eye?

You can't judge tension by pulling on it. Tension is about right when you can's see the knot on the top or the bottom. Use a different colour on one to see this easily.

Is the timing right? That includes when the presser foot holds and releases the work. Is the hook meeting the needle at the right time and is it meeting the needle on the rise?

If you don't get on top of this lot you'll likely get in the same trouble with whatever machine you buy.

[AlZilla]

On 2/19/2025 at 7:30 PM, revrat said:

The new one is grabby too if I seat the thread in it, so for now I just have it laid in there as sort of a guide.

what happens if you wind that top tension in? It looks like it's unscrewed pretty far and the look of the stitches seem to confirm it.

[ljk]

I've been through this with a 111w155 and a 111w100   Both had the same issues.   Chewed up feed dog and fluff under  the hook.

[shoepatcher]

ok   Your thread controller disc is off.  It is just below the tension.  Loosen the black screw and make sure it is in the center of the slot.  Unwind the tension nut and take the beehive spring out  Stretch the spring out grabbing each end of the spring.  That will increase the tension in the spring when you put it back on and tighten it.  By hand, turn the balance wheel and let us watch the hook pick up the top thread from the needle and let it come out the feed dog.  Video needed of this.  This will tell us if the bobbin case opener is set correctly.    We can then tell you what we noticed is wrong.

glenn