Standard Class "P" help, please
#1
Standard Class "P" help, please
I've been lurking lately, trying to get back into sewing machines, and I picked up a pretty little Standard Class "P" treadle. The table and irons were in great shape, but the head was filthy. I got it cleaned up, but it won't sew. Or rather, it won't as long as there's fabric under the foot. Testing it without fabric and the shuttle picks up the top thread from half to most of the time; try to test sew on fabric and it's none of the time.
It looks like, when the needle starts to rise, the thread doesn't make enough of a loop (or any, with fabric) for the shuttle to pick up. The shuttle fits tight against the slide, so it's not missing the thread, the thread just isn't coming out of the thread groove on the needle far enough to be picked up. As far as I can tell there's nothing to adjust (although I may be wrong about that), so now I'm at a loss. What am I missing, or what should I adjust?
It looks like, when the needle starts to rise, the thread doesn't make enough of a loop (or any, with fabric) for the shuttle to pick up. The shuttle fits tight against the slide, so it's not missing the thread, the thread just isn't coming out of the thread groove on the needle far enough to be picked up. As far as I can tell there's nothing to adjust (although I may be wrong about that), so now I'm at a loss. What am I missing, or what should I adjust?
#2
Super Member
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: dallas tx.
Posts: 5,172
I don't know much about these, but I have 3. Sometimes my thread is too big, and I polished the bobbin holder, and I used 0000 steel wool to polish the slide part, so it's just try and try. Sometimes the thread doesn't slide over the bobbin holder when it should too.
#3
Member
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: US
Posts: 5
I don't know anything about that machine specifically, but here are the first things I would check:
Is your needle inserted correctly?
Is your needle threaded the correct direction?
If your machine is a vibrating shuttle machine, maybe the needle and thread go the same way as in my Singer vibrating shuttle machines. On Singer vibrating shuttle machines, the flat part of the needle faces to the right, and the needle is threaded from left to right.
Other things to try:
Make sure you are using high quality thread like Coats & Clark or Gutermann, since it will form better loops than cheap thread. Try a size 14 needle, if you weren't already using that size. Also make sure you are using a new needle - a bent needle would cause problems.
Is your needle inserted correctly?
Is your needle threaded the correct direction?
If your machine is a vibrating shuttle machine, maybe the needle and thread go the same way as in my Singer vibrating shuttle machines. On Singer vibrating shuttle machines, the flat part of the needle faces to the right, and the needle is threaded from left to right.
Other things to try:
Make sure you are using high quality thread like Coats & Clark or Gutermann, since it will form better loops than cheap thread. Try a size 14 needle, if you weren't already using that size. Also make sure you are using a new needle - a bent needle would cause problems.
#6
I don't know anything about that machine specifically, but here are the first things I would check:
Is your needle inserted correctly?
Is your needle threaded the correct direction?
If your machine is a vibrating shuttle machine, maybe the needle and thread go the same way as in my Singer vibrating shuttle machines. On Singer vibrating shuttle machines, the flat part of the needle faces to the right, and the needle is threaded from left to right.
Other things to try:
Make sure you are using high quality thread like Coats & Clark or Gutermann, since it will form better loops than cheap thread. Try a size 14 needle, if you weren't already using that size. Also make sure you are using a new needle - a bent needle would cause problems.
Is your needle inserted correctly?
Is your needle threaded the correct direction?
If your machine is a vibrating shuttle machine, maybe the needle and thread go the same way as in my Singer vibrating shuttle machines. On Singer vibrating shuttle machines, the flat part of the needle faces to the right, and the needle is threaded from left to right.
Other things to try:
Make sure you are using high quality thread like Coats & Clark or Gutermann, since it will form better loops than cheap thread. Try a size 14 needle, if you weren't already using that size. Also make sure you are using a new needle - a bent needle would cause problems.
Why a size 14 needle though? I thought you were supposed to test with what you typically sewed with?
Ooh, thanks! I didn't know about that site! I'll definitely see what they have to say!
#7
Member
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: US
Posts: 5
I remembered reading somewhere that size 14 needles were the most common needle size used in the past, so vintage sewing machines were designed to work best with that size. I can tell you that my Singer 328 skips stitches like crazy on knits unless I use a size 14 needle, regardless of the fabric weight. Different sized needles are slightly different lengths, so I just thought it was worth a try.
#8
Banned
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Victorian Sweatshop Forum
Posts: 4,096
#9
Member
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: US
Posts: 5
I checked the three brands I have, and I guess the needle length only changes with size for some brands. Singer needles are the same length regardless of size. A Schmetz size 10 needle is 0.7 mm shorter than a Schmetz size 14. An Organ size 11 needle is 0.7 mm shorter than an Organ size 14. The tops of the eyes are all approximately the same distance from the upper end of the needle for all sizes and brands, so the difference in length is down below the eye. Singer needles are 0.3 mm shorter than Organ and Schmetz size 14 needles. I know some sewing machines work better with one brand of needles over another, but I don't know if the length is a factor - maybe it's just the slightly different needle shapes.
#10
Banned
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Victorian Sweatshop Forum
Posts: 4,096
Hmm. I knew that there's a slight difference in length between Singer and other brands but I've never used Singer needles and never had a reason to measure my needles so I never gave it any thought.
Cari
Cari
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
bearisgray
General Chit-Chat (non-quilting talk)
65
02-01-2024 09:04 AM
LindaLyon
For Vintage & Antique Machine Enthusiasts
10
05-16-2021 07:26 AM
elizamaggie
For Vintage & Antique Machine Enthusiasts
1
10-08-2018 04:35 AM