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Singer 6038 Mechanical Sewing Machine Questions & Answers
Machine will not go forward
bobbin winder is the little spindle on top usually right side above the flywheel. you need to move it left away from the stop as this engages the bobbin winder and disengages the needle movement. your manual should show this under Winding a bobbin. these machines dont have a clutch on the flywheel, just moving the bobbin spindle declutches
Singer 6038 tension dial not working
there should be small washers ( discs with a tapered flange to direct the thread between the plates ) if they are not under the spring behind the tension adjuster knob then that will be your problem
if they are there then check that the tread is between the plates and not behind them
missing plates are available from a sewing machine mechanic sgop
The thresd gets knotted and it won't stitch
Rethread your machine
Make sure your cotton runs through the two tension plates
Check that your top tension is set on 5
Make sure your bobbin case is threaded correctly
Lastly, make sure there is no cotton stuck between your top tension's plates(take a long needle and remove any fluff)
Will not zigzag or decorative stitches. New to these newer plastic style machines Always used older steel machines. This was given to me my by my sister who used it very little. Could cam be broken?
Hmm, I'm wondering if it has been cleaned and oiled recently. Older mechanicals require frequent TLC. Consult your owner's manual for cleaning and maintenance instructions:Is your sewing machine mechanical (ie, not computerized)??? CAUTION--if your machine is computerized, do NOT proceed with the following suggestions.If it is mechanical, have you cleaned and oiled your machine recently? Most mechanical sewing machine failures are because they have not been adequately and routinely oiled, the old oil has solidified and frozen the mechanics. I recommend Bernina oil or liquid Tri-Flow Synthetic Lube (or similar good quality sewing machine oil) for mechanical machines--do NOT use 3-in-1, cooking oil, WD-40, or the sewing machine oil from your grandmother's sewing basket. (I am not associated with any Bernina dealer.) If it is in fact frozen, pick up a bottle of liquid Tri-Flow Synthetic Oil at the hardware store. Oil one or two drops in every oil hole (see your manual) and also every place where metal rubs on metal. But DO NOT oil any plastic gears, rubber, or belts. If it is still stiff or frozen, direct a hot handheld hair dryer into the top and bottom mechanism of your machine. See if that loosens it up. You may have to repeat. Once your machine is working again, place a drop or two of good sewing machine oil as directed above. Be sure to use a small brush to clean the lint and dirt out of your machine, especially around the feed dogs and bobbin area. (Caution: Compressed air will sometimes force the dirt and lint into areas that cannot be cleaned.) And continue to use good quality sewing machine oil to keep it running. Recommendation: every time you change a bobbin, after 8 hours of sewing, or every six months if it is not in regular use.
What can cause the machine to not make decorative stitches
A number of things, and you need to rule them out one by one. First, if you don't have one, download the user's manual free from the Singer Sewing Machine site and make sure you are doing the procedures correctly, from winding the bobbin, inserting the bobbin, and threading the upper part, then selecting the stitch you want.
Next, check to see if your feed dogs are up at all! It is a lever on the side approximately under the needle plate in the front. If they aren't up, put them up, but a heads-up--on ALL sewing machines, you will ALSO then have to turn the hand wheel towards you (ALWAYS towards you for ANYTHING) at least one and possibly two or three times before it snaps up. You will actually hear it snap into place.
If you have done these things and you still can't get a decorative stitch, it's possible that the cam that controls it is stuck, although that's no likely because if it is the machine usually just sews a couple of stitches and stops.
Why is the bottom stitch straight
Thread tension is a BALANCE between the top tension and the bottom tension. It appears that your bobbin tension is sightly tighter, causing the top thread to be pulled down. Run a zigzag stitch. If your top looks fine, but your bottom looks something like chicken footprint tracks, see if you can adjust your top tension a little tighter to compensate. If, in doing that the stitches are balanced but just too tight, you will need to adjust your bobbin tension SLIGHTLY looser. You will need a tiny screwdriver to do this. Take the case out and locate two screws on the side. Once is a Phillips--leave it alone. The other next to it is usually on the left of the Phillips, and, is a straight-blade screw. Lefty-loosey, righty-tighty. In your case, you want to adjust it a LITTLE looser to match the top tension--no more than 1/4 turn. Put it back and test it again; you should see some improvement. If it still needs a little adjusting, reinsert and repeat, but ONLY 1/4 turn at a time.
DON'T fool with it at all if you can compensate by tightening your top tension, and before you do anything, clean and oil your bobbin area with ONE drop and ONE only of sewing machine oil.ONLY. You might find that just cleaning and oiling will solve your problem right there.
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