Consew 206RB-5: Not picking up bobbin thread

[MtlBiker]

I'm fairly mechanically inclined, but not with sewing machine mechanics, unfortunately.  At least not yet.  My Consew 206RB-5 isn't picking up the bobbin thread.  And I don't know how to fix that, or even to figure out what the problem is.  I have had thread jams a few times, usually caused by the bobbin holder popping out.  Which seems to happen more often than I think it should.  I always insert the bobbin holder until it clicks in place and even pull on the thread a bit to make sure the case is properly inserted.  Yet from time to time it still pops out causing a jam.

I've had the rotating hook out a few times to clear out threads and have always managed to put it back together properly, and this time I just can't see what's wrong or how to fix it.

Could it be hook timing?  (What would make that go out of adjustment?)  Is there a way to check that without removing the needle plate, feed dog etc?  What's the most common cause of not picking up the bobbin thread?

Thanks for any help.

[SARK9]

25 minutes ago, MtlBiker said:

What's the most common cause of not picking up the bobbin thread?

Around these parts, its:

1. Working on other machines, getting distracted, and threading the needle right-to-left

2. Not noticing the needle is installed backwards.

3.Make sure the safety clutch didn't trip out....

4. Aftermarket bobbin cases.

IF you have had the hook out, and the simple stuff all checks good, you probably can't get out of double checking your hook timing and needle position by the numbers. Mine has always been extremely forgiving. It DOES prefer that you insert the bobbin case when the dot on the handwheel is aligned with the dot in the main casting.

The 206RB5 was promoted as a machine you could just pop a new bobbin in and start sewing, without the usual ritual of drawing the bobbin thread up first with the needle, so yours should be as forgiving as mine if its all healthy. Habit occasionally forces me to draw it up and hold back the needle thread tail for a couple of stitches anyway, just because.

-DC

Edited July 5, 2021 by SARK9

[kgg]

51 minutes ago, MtlBiker said:

Could it be hook timing? 

Yes it could be but I would suspect that since you are having this problem with the bobbin popping out more often that it has more to do with the mechanism that keeps the bobbin case in place is worn or misaligned. I would check out the video on "How to fix a Juki DNU-1541S that is jammed or stuck" ( youtube.com/watch?v=6PGPtkjsqus&t=68s ) even through it is for a Juki it may help you see how the bobbin assembly is kept in place for your machine. Also it could be as simple as when replacing the needle in a hurry it wasn't installed all the in or backwards. Done that a couple times.

kgg

Edited July 5, 2021 by kgg
wording

[MtlBiker]

1 hour ago, SARK9 said:

Around these parts, its:

1. Working on other machines, getting distracted, and threading the needle right-to-left

2. Not noticing the needle is installed backwards.

3.Make sure the safety clutch didn't trip out....

4. Aftermarket bobbin cases.

IF you have had the hook out, and the simple stuff all checks good, you probably can't get out of double checking your hook timing and needle position by the numbers. Mine has always been extremely forgiving. It DOES prefer that you insert the bobbin case when the dot on the handwheel is aligned with the dot in the main casting.

The 206RB5 was promoted as a machine you could just pop a new bobbin in and start sewing, without the usual ritual of drawing the bobbin thread up first with the needle, so yours should be as forgiving as mine if its all healthy. Habit occasionally forces me to draw it up and hold back the needle thread tail for a couple of stitches anyway, just because.

-DC

I'd never heard that before, nor had I ever even noticed those dots.  I had to go looking for them and at first thought there weren't any as the only way to see them is to peek through the little oval opening in the belt cover.

All the other things you mentioned check out, so I'm now in the middle of trying to check and adjust the timing, thanks to the YouTube maintenance video.

I'm attaching a small video... I blackened the scarf with a sharpie to make it easier to see, but would you say I'm right that this looks like bad timing?  Should the point of the hook be higher up centered on the scarf?

@kgg - Thanks, that video was helpful earlier on when I had to remove/reinstall the hook to clear a jam.  But now it seems the issue is that the timing is off.  Could the timing get changed by having a jam?

 

[SARK9]

29 minutes ago, MtlBiker said:

Should the point of the hook be higher up centered on the scarf?

 

My impression is the needle bar is too high at the point the hook rotates past the needle...sort of common on other machines if your needle has had an impact with something solid. If you have the manual for the 206rb5, page 13 and 14 pretty much line out the procedures for verifying or recovering the correct adjustments.

-DC

Edited July 5, 2021 by SARK9
included scan

[CowboyBob]

These hardly ever go out of time,you should double check the safety clutch & make sure you can see the BB in the hole of the clutch.

Edited July 5, 2021 by CowboyBob

[MtlBiker]

51 minutes ago, CowboyBob said:

These hardly ever go out of time,you should double check the safety clutch & make sure you can see the BB in the hole of the clutch.

Thanks @CowboyBob If the safety clutch has activated, the machine wouldn't turn, right?  It's turning and running fine, so if I understand correctly, the safety clutch is fine.

I'm so lost with this at the moment.

@SARK9 Thanks for that scan.  Following the maintenance video, I've got the needle bar height adjusted correctly.  And the clearance between the point of the hook and the needle is just like a sheet of bond paper.  It looks to me that timing of the hook is also correct (although I can't say I'm 100% certain it is).  But still I cannot pick up the bobbin thread.  Dumb question time (again!)...  is it the rotating hook that's supposed to catch the bobbin thread?  It's not happening.  The bobbin thread just hangs there, sticking out from the bobbin holder like it always has and like threading videos show.  Something (whatever it is) just isn't catching hold of the bobbin thread.  Or does the hook catch the top thread to form a loop to catch the bobbin thread?  Neither is happening.

 

[MtlBiker]

Progress... of sorts.

I can now pick up the bobbin thread, and can turn the wheel by hand or power, but when I try to sew something it's not forming stitches.

[CowboyBob]

19 minutes ago, MtlBiker said:

Thanks @CowboyBob If the safety clutch has activated, the machine wouldn't turn, right?  It's turning and running fine, so if I understand correctly, the safety clutch is fine.

I'm so lost with this at the moment.

@SARK9 Thanks for that scan.  Following the maintenance video, I've got the needle bar height adjusted correctly.  And the clearance between the point of the hook and the needle is just like a sheet of bond paper.  It looks to me that timing of the hook is also correct (although I can't say I'm 100% certain it is).  But still I cannot pick up the bobbin thread.  Dumb question time (again!)...  is it the rotating hook that's supposed to catch the bobbin thread?  It's not happening.  The bobbin thread just hangs there, sticking out from the bobbin holder like it always has and like threading videos show.  Something (whatever it is) just isn't catching hold of the bobbin thread.  Or does the hook catch the top thread to form a loop to catch the bobbin thread?  Neither is happening.

 

Yes,the machine will turn & so will the hook unlike the 111w type machines,but when the clutch kicks out it will appear to be out of time like your machine is.

 

[MtlBiker]

8 minutes ago, CowboyBob said:

Yes,the machine will turn & so will the hook unlike the 111w type machines,but when the clutch kicks out it will appear to be out of time like your machine is.

 

Thank you!  You were right (it seems) because when I held the little button on the top for the safety clutch and turned the hand wheel, I did hear/feel a sort of pop.  It must have been out.  And now it looks like I've really messed things up... I can pick up the bobbin thread but the machine isn't forming stitches.  When I try to sew, everything is working perfectly but no stitches are formed.

A little knowledge... is a dangerous thing.  SIGH

 

Edited July 5, 2021 by MtlBiker