triage1998 Report post Posted October 15, 2014 I have had my Cobra Class 4 stitching machine since late spring and love it. The issue lately has been the machine now has a really loud squeak. The last couple weeks it was a light squeak now it is really loud and annoying. It seems to be internal and only when the needle is halfway in its down stoke. I took off the face plate and tried to oil areas that I never oiled before with no joy. I have been oiling the machine every 12 hours of use since I bought it. Maybe I am not oiling in the correct areas? Anyone have this issue before? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wizcrafts Report post Posted October 15, 2014 It could be the needle itself, squeaking due to friction inside the leather. This can be caused by very dry or dense leather, or by a needle that has material stuck onto it (glue, basting tape, leather particles). Change the needle (Leather point only) and try again. Also, make sure you are using the best size needle for the thread combination. For #277 thread, that would be a #25 needle. If #207, use a #24 needle. If the noise persists with the thread removed, but only with the needle in, dethread the machine, remove the faceplate. then sew empty holes. Try to locate the source of the noise inside the front face of the machine. Maybe it is the presser foot parts slightly out of perfect alignment. Dink with the pressure screw on top to try to fix this. Oil everything inside the head, then leave a drip cloth under the foot. It will really help if you can actually isolate what parts are squeaking. I had some squeaking in my speed reducer at one time. Oil helped. If it turns out that your thread or leather is too dry, you should get a lube pot to mount on top of the machine. Then load it with liquid sewing silicon and run the top thread through it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
triage1998 Report post Posted October 19, 2014 Thanks for the response Wizcrafts. I will give the suggestions a shot this week and see if I can locate the noise. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
FirebrandPaul Report post Posted May 20, 2022 I can't believe that this is the only post that describes my current issue but is NOT any of the recomended things to try to alleviate the issue. I have narrowed it down to the needle bar area. At the beginning of the downstroke it sqeak's. It started today, slightly and not every stitch, but has got worse regardless of being properly lubed, with or without thread. There were no accidents and the machine is tuned to the same as the day I got it. I have tried everything I know to do (and I'm not new to sewing on these machines) but it has me stumped and hoping the good folks here have a recommendation to point me in a good direction. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kgg Report post Posted May 20, 2022 (edited) 28 minutes ago, FirebrandPaul said: I have narrowed it down to the needle bar area. Is the needle bar showing any sights of rubbing. Maybe try wiping the oil of the needle bar and coat it with something like a permanent marker and run it to see if it rubs off in an area. kgg Edited May 20, 2022 by kgg missing word Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Garyak Report post Posted May 21, 2022 Definitely different machines, but my cobra 29-18 started squeaking a month after I started using it. In the needle bar. Kept oiling it and after awhile it went away. Annoying while present, but I just turned the radio up louder to drown it out. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Constabulary Report post Posted May 21, 2022 (edited) could be the friction between leather and needle. The thicker the leather and the thicker the needle the more friction you have. Try sewing some other material like webbing or thinner leather and to check if it is still squeaking. A titanium coated needle (like GEBEDUR) may reduce the friction - maybe worth trying. Edited May 21, 2022 by Constabulary Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RockyAussie Report post Posted May 21, 2022 8 hours ago, FirebrandPaul said: I can't believe that this is the only post that describes my current issue but is NOT any of the recomended things to try to alleviate the issue. I have narrowed it down to the needle bar area. At the beginning of the downstroke it sqeak's. It started today, slightly and not every stitch, but has got worse regardless of being properly lubed, with or without thread. There were no accidents and the machine is tuned to the same as the day I got it. I have tried everything I know to do (and I'm not new to sewing on these machines) but it has me stumped and hoping the good folks here have a recommendation to point me in a good direction. If it is not the leather making it squeak then something that seems to get overlooked in video instructions is a LOT inside the end cover but more to my surprise is the large oil hole up on top which often has a rubber cover over it. It is not marked around with red paint so I guess it gets overlooked. Take the rubber cap off if it is there and you can look down in and see the top of the needle bar where it rides in its guide. If you take the needle down to the bottom you can then put a few drops down the tube to lubricate the needle bar there. Same a bit with the presser bar, it has a funnel shape at the top and no paint but if you want to oil that presser bar guide you put a few drop there as well. On 10/16/2014 at 2:18 AM, Wizcrafts said: I had some squeaking in my speed reducer at one time. Oil helped. I spent about 2 hours going over one machine oiling ever little thing I could find only to find out the the speed reducer pulley had an over tightened Allen head bolt. The squeak stopped when I loosened it. Had to replace its bearings. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
