My mom just had her Singer 750 Touch and Sew cleaned/serviced after it had been sitting unused in her basement for 20 years, and gave it to my daughter. It worked great for a few days and now it won't go more than a few stitches before the bobbin case loosens out of the seating and pushes up the plate! Which of course then jams everything up. What can I do to get the bobbin case to stay in place?
By Kim
Suggest you contact the repair service for help as they serviced it recently.
Since it's been serviced so recently, the best thing is to return to the tech and stay with him/her while it's being checked but first ask yourself - 'Am I using the correct bobbin for this machine?'.
If you're sure the bobbin is correct (the Touch&Sew uses a very specific bobbin, it's not interchangeable with any other bobbin class and using the wrong one can cause the problem you're describing) it's definitely time to return to the repair tech and insist on being in-shop when it's looked at.
The Touch&Sew has a bit of a reputation for the bobbins being pesty to properly seat, and for being quick to fail - it's not the greatest or most popular Singer ever built. The things are so pesty I won't work on them at all for any of my sewing students who bring one to class, and I LOVE Singer machines of any vintage. Except the Curvy and the Touch&Sew models - I don't love those at all owing to the bobbin and other issues.
Make sure the tech watches you or your daughter load the bobbin, and sew at least 20 seam line tests - if the bobbin is going to act up it will do so within 20 seam lines and the tech will be able to see what's happening - if possible to be overcome, he/she will show you how.
If they balk, insist on your money back for the initial servicing. Your mum should have been warned this is a difficult model when she brought it in for servicing and as she wasn't, the onus is on the repair tech to make this right without trying to extract more money - he/she knew the Touch&Sew is notorious for bobbin problems and should have said something in the first place!
If you're in the US (or UK where I am), you do have rights and should insist on them. And to be honest, as a sewing teacher, I have to say you also should consider replacing this machine if possible with a new model that comes with a warranty. Be sure to buy one with the top drop-in bobbin system that uses either the 66 or 15J or 15K bobbins for frustration free sewing - be sure to read the manual, and be sure to use only the correct class for the new machine.
Here are the questions asked by community members. Read on to see the answers provided by the ThriftyFun community.
I took the shuttle for the bobbin case out of my sewing machine and now when I put it back in the machine it won't stay put. So I took things apart, and now nothing fits properly! (I just starting using a machine again so I don't really know the right words, tho I have the directions in front of me.) I have the bobbin threaded, put it in the case, pulled the thread thru the slot and under the tension spring. The case fits fine in the shuttle I guess it's called, but the thing won't stay snug in, where it goes, you know under the machine.
OMG I don't know what I'm doing. Everything else works fine, just this thing isn't fitting anymore since I took it out! Oh and I'm a single mother trying to start this home based sewing business since a very good friend of mine gave me some of her and her mom's clothes to mend, hem, and repair. Unfortunately I don't have the time or money to go taking this to a repair shop. I'd really like to see if this problem can be fixed myself. Please help.
By Morgan
Because you aren't mentioning contacting the manufacturer to honour a warranty I'm assuming you are sewing on a vintage machine (older than ten years).
How old is the machine? If you are using a 'vintage' machine it may be that the parts are more worn than you realise and just the action of removing the bobbin case caused a 'one last time' reaction on the worn out part.
The best thing to do is go to the manufacturer's website and find a free download of the user guide - these little booklets frequently have an exploded view of the machines inner workings and will be able to guide you re troubleshooting why the case now won't stay in.
There are also sites that give free repair advice for vintage machines, a good one (and he stocks parts at a very reasonable price) to try is:
www.tandtrepair.com/
You can also find a lot of really good information at:
www.sewitworks.com/
And finally, the following is your ultimate guide to all things vintage sewing machines:
www.ismacs.net/
I have sewn on, taught on, and repaired vintage machines but finally gave up on using the electrified ones owing to scarceness of newly milled parts. A lot of repair techs are forced to use salvage parts that wear out or break quickly and the disappointment is too much - it's really awful when the machine quits in the middle of a project and finding parts is going to take weeks or months!
I do highly recommend the non-electrics (treadle and hand crank) because parts are easily salvaged (all metal so after a little rust removal - VIOLA, machine is up and running!). But to use a reliable electric machine, the best thing is to purchase a new one with a warranty. Not easy when on a tight budget, I know.
If you do buy a new machine (a basic one with enough power and stitch features will run you around $150USD and is a very good investment!), look for one with a 'top drop in bobbin' system. Saves a lot of trouble!
Those side and front load models are really difficult to get the hang of. I've been sewing off and on since 1962 and actually was off sewing from the late 70s to the mid nineties because of those fiddly side/front load things. I found a cheap Singer top load at Walmart in Jan 1994 and have been sewing steady ever since - I now teach sewing because of the ease of those top load systems:)
