441 bobbins 30mm long too long for Cobra Class 4 problem

[carolem]

Hi, I was going to buy the $4 bobbins from Cobra directly , but the shopping cart check out put $19 in for shipping and it kept increasing the number of bobbins I put in by a lot, so there was no point I felt it was worth it. 

When I saw a posting recommending Gold Star tools for some items, I saw that they offer the bobbins.  I was very happy with their bobbins as they worked.  Price is $3 and shipping is fixed and low.   They also sell on Ebay with free shipping.  I contacted them about the size change and showing the picture. He said the 30mm is standard 441 size.

I was disappointed and worried to learn that 441 clone parts vary in size even among the top brands recommended.  I love my machine. It has been great from day 1.  I found it a power house. So much so, I accidentally sewed through my thumb in the first year.  So , I don't want to sound like a whiner.  I appreciate you taking the time to educate me.  

Edited December 6, 2017 by carolem

[CowboyBob]

When some places get parts they don't know how long they are supposed to be.They order the part it comes in for the # they gave & they ship them out.It has happened to us so we try to check parts before we ship.I've NEVER heard of any 441 type of machine taking a bobbin any longer than standard.The 441 bobbins are all the same length from Cowboy,Cobra,Techsew & Juki.

[carolem]

Thank you Cowboy Bob for letting me know.  What is the standard length?

 

[Big Sioux Saddlery]

I measured the ones I got from Cowboy Bob, they are about 27-28 mm

 

[RockyAussie]

15 hours ago, Wizcrafts said:

There are many differences between 441 clones. There are only a handful of top tier brands (see the ads on top of our pages), but lots of lower quality brands (mystery brands on eBay, or Alibaba). For instance, if you bought your bobbins from a company that supplies them to a lower quality 441 brand manufacturer, they might be using hooks that require 30mm bobbins. Or, that brand might use bobbin cases that do not incorporate an ejector spring., which itself takes up room inside the case. Without that spring, the bobbins can be longer and hold a few turns more thread. Those companies won't care if their bobbins don't fit inside a Cobra, Cowboy or Techsew machine. Competition is as competition does!

That will explain why I have been able to use either size in mine... it does not have an ejector spring in it. I had not seen an ejector spring in the Juki or Cowboy parts lists so I just didn't know they should have one. I guess I never get up any sort of serious speed with mine so as long as it keeps on stitching good for now I will keep it in mind if I ever need to get it up a bit faster. Thanks Wiz

[Gregg From Keystone Sewing]

These bobbins can be a real problem.  I usually like to sell genuine Durkopp Adler steel bobbins.  Bobbin dimensions are important, but also important are where the holes on the side of the bobbin are located and the size.  The reason is that many bobbin winders will not work with the bobbins if the hole is not made in the correct location and with the correct size hole.

[Wizcrafts]

38 minutes ago, Gregg From Keystone Sewing said:

These bobbins can be a real problem.  I usually like to sell genuine Durkopp Adler steel bobbins.  Bobbin dimensions are important, but also important are where the holes on the side of the bobbin are located and the size.  The reason is that many bobbin winders will not work with the bobbins if the hole is not made in the correct location and with the correct size hole.

Amen! I have taken a drill or strand of round Emory cord to elongate one of the holes on some of my 441 bobbins to get them to fit over the bobbin winder pin. I imagine it is possible that the pin itself could vary in position from the top of the shaft, from brand to brand, or batch to batch.

[CowboyBob]

We always use the notch that runs from the center instead of the hole.

[Big Sioux Saddlery]

2 hours ago, Gregg From Keystone Sewing said:

These bobbins can be a real problem.  I usually like to sell genuine Durkopp Adler steel bobbins.  Bobbin dimensions are important, but also important are where the holes on the side of the bobbin are located and the size.  The reason is that many bobbin winders will not work with the bobbins if the hole is not made in the correct location and with the correct size hole.

 

2 hours ago, Wizcrafts said:

1 hour ago, CowboyBob said:

We always use the notch that runs from the center instead of the hole.

Amen! I have taken a drill or strand of round Emory cord to elongate one of the holes on some of my 441 bobbins to get them to fit over the bobbin winder pin. I imagine it is possible that the pin itself could vary in position from the top of the shaft, from brand to brand, or batch to batch.

I've gotten steel bobbins that had NO hole at all, just the notch, which was when I learned to align the notch with the bobbin winder instead of the hole.  I use the hole to tie the thread end through and then cut the knot and end when I'm done winding.  Of course the nicer bobbins have a hole on both sides plus the notch, so when you slip the bobbin on the winder if you turn it a little it'll catch one of them.

[Gregg From Keystone Sewing]

Here are two bobbin winder winders that will not work unless the hole is there, this is from An Adler 266, as one example.

This bobbin is used all over the place on many machines, and this one is my standard.  I'm quite sure you can get other off brands that will work correctly as well.  These are not magic bobbins.