Singer 7462 Mechanical Sewing Machine - Page 6 - Answered Questions & Fixed issues

Please TRY the solution BEFORE giving your considered rating.
Specific detail on bobbin case adjustment (with picture) near halfway down reply, the remainder will help you achieve a balance of top and bottom tensions.

Ensure that all is clean and free of lint and jams, this is the most likely cause....now for tension troubleshooting .......

This solution is for tension problems...if you cannot form any sort of stitch, the issue is quite different, so please let me know if you need a different problem solved.....

It is quite long, but just work through each section in order.
The "knotting up" can reveal a lot. If you have loose threads on one side or the other, the tension on the opposite side will be the culprit.

QUICK SUMMARY FIRST:
Ensure sharp new needle,
Thread guides and Bobbin are Clean & Clear of lint
Set Top Tesion to 4 ....then....
Balance Bobbin to suit.

TOP THREAD TENSION:
If the looping threads are on the underside as you sew, it is the top tension. Top tension ought to be between 4 & 6 (this variation to allow for the different weights of fabric in your projects).

IS YOUR NEEDLE SHARP ?
If you are using a needle that has seen quite a deal of work, or you suspect it may be blunt, change it for a new one !

TOP TENSION & GUIDES:
Make sure that when you thread the machine the presser foot is up so the thread goes between the discs and not to one side, top tension between 4 and 6, and that you have threaded through all the guides, including the last one, usually on the needle arm, just above the needle clamp.

It may be there is lint trapped between the discs, this will keep them slightly apart and reduce the actual tension, sometimes dramatically.

If tensions appear correct, and the thread is definitely in the channel between the discs, but still too loose and looping, try raising presser foot and remove your thread.

Now, with a 2" (50mm) wide strip piece of fabric 8 - 10" (20 - 25cm) moistened with methylated or denatured spirit, gently insert the fabric strip and clean between the discs with a see saw / to and fro action.

In the worst cases, gentle use of a needle to pick & remove the jam may be necessary, but be very gentle and make sure the tension is set at Zero and the presser foot is raised, (to disengage tension plates).... do not gouge or score the plates, they need a polished surface to work correctly.

BOBBIN TENSION:
Far less common, but if the loose threads are on the top, it is bobbin tension that is loose, it too may have lint in the spring and be giving a "false" tension.

I would not recommend fiddling with bobbin tension without good reason, it may end up with missing small screws and spring pieces, however, you can take the needle plate off to clean
the hook race area (where bobbin case sits)

...this is just good housekeeping, my wife does this every time she replaces the bobbin....

just take it out and clean the bobbin case and the fixed metal hook race with a small brush to remove lint. If there is a significant amount of lint, use a vacuum and small brush to get the worst.

Then wipe all this area with a cloth or cotton bud (Q tip) moistened (not soaked) with methylated spirit, especially if there appears to be fine dirty deposits....oil and lint combine to conspire against you.

If it seems likely that you ......really ....do .....actually .....need .....to adjust the bobbin case, first check there is no lint trapped in the metal spring where the thread is tensioned.

TOP LOADER:
Drop-in Bobbin case will look similar to this image with the tension screw in the middle of the metalwork....

...the other screw at one end is holding it all together, so beware....it is not a tragedy to undo the whole lot and clean it, but very gingerly and lay the bits out in sequence and orientation, or you risk tearing your hair out !

FRONT LOADER:
....this is a bobbin case from a front loading machine and works in a very similar fashion to the top loader with drop in bobbin, again, if you dismantle it, take care so you can put it all
back properly.
FINISHING UP
GETTING THE BALANCE RIGHT:
When you are certain there's no trapped lint in top tension or bobbin, set the top tension to 4 and the bobbin tension to a point where you just begin to feel resistance.

Try using good quality thread of contrasting colours so you can more easily spot the changes.

Set your zigzag to one width less than maximum (eg. 5 of 6 ...or... 4 of 5 etc) and sew a sample for a few inches and check the result.... adjust the bobbin tension screw very little at
a time, perhaps 1/16 of a turn.

You may find you are playing with this balance for some little while and if you are putting the needleplate on and off each time begin to think it cannot be correct to do this.....BUT....it is,
and eventually, you do get a "feel" for the correct tension and then it happens quite quickly.....as a user you won't be doing it very often unless there is lint built up (or are there small hands at work around the house !?!?!)

OTHER ISSUES:
If you live near the ocean as we do, salt air can play havoc with metalwork inside and out, so to help minimise this, keep a few small packets of dessicant (silica gel) in your machine
case....no case ? then make some sort of cover !

Same applies in any damp or humid environment, keep your machine dry and dust free.

Budget for a proper full service every couple of years (more often if heavily used) and if you don't use your machine for a few years, be aware that old oil will dry out and combining with
dust and form a "clag" like glue (another reason for some sort of cover, even a teatowel !)

FINALLY, A WORD ON THREAD:
If it is worth spending the time, energy and money on making something that you would like to give lasting enjoyment......use quality thread, .......it may seem to cost a little more at the
time, but the results, ease of use and added longevity will be worth the extra, and as a bonus, your tension troubles may be fewer and further between, because there is a more consistent diameter with good thread, and less compensating to be done by your tension plates and less thread breaks
bargainbox.com.au

Here ya go!

http://www.singerco.com/support/serial_numbers.html

Hi, check that the thread tension knob makes only one rotation from 0 to 9 and stops at each ends, see that it moves in and out as you increase or decrease the tention, see that the small tension wire to the left of the knob is still in place, in any of these fail you need to replace/repair that assembly.

Here is a link that will take you to the site where you can download the manual that you need, right to your computer. I hope that this helps!

http://safemanuals.com/user-guide-instructions-owner-manual/SINGER/7462-_M

I think it's your needle it's to long. find the right . size Try taking your needle out and see what happens . If your machine moves it's the needle.

mat becho

Hi, I suspect you wrote the serial number wrong. Here is where to look at the serial numbers and machines years.
http://singerco.com/support/serial_1letter.html
The number you wrote is too high for the machines that start with a V. Check again.
Rick

F4 means that the machine is losing a disconnect from the foot control which could mean a main pc or new foot control

problem can't be diagnosed with just this info. could be motor, cord, plug, where the cord attaches to the machine, need more info.

hi there,

on internet type the website www.singerco.com you can find
there what you want,manudacturing manuals,instructions service parts..etc.or you can enjoy watching on www.youtube.com type on search box singer sewing machine repair there are actual training on threading,bobbins winding,sewing and repair maintenance of sewing machine,have a nice day,regards

check the local phone book for a singer dealer near you , if you dont have one . try singer sewing machines on google , then when you get to singers web pag enter the model number and see if u can download the instruction manual , most if not all are posted in a PDF format (adobe format) online.

It's a loud machine.
If you have kids or you simply don't want anything that's noisy, then you better look for another one. This equipment produces noise than may annoy you.

Get the bobbin case fixed, and find a sewing machine store that takes trade ins.

When a machine does an "automatic buttonhole the feed does not move for a few stitches and maay jam if there are too many stitches made in this position. Is it an automatic buttonhole or can you choose how many stitches for your bartack? You ask about 0.5 well that is halfway between 0 and 1 on the stitchlength and this is indeed the recommended setting for buttonholes. If you are doing a manual buttonhole set your machine to this for the sides and zero for the bartacks but you only need about 6-10 stitches on the bartack. Fininsh it off securely by setting to straight stitch and stitch length zero for about 4 stitches to lock the thread in.

Sounds like you may have a blockage somewhere in the bobbin area that needs cleaning as this is normally what happens when it gets jammed. Reverse sewing can sometimes cause jams. Remove bobbin area and reassemble.

get in touch with your salesperson or exchange it. it's in the display lighting probably...

Go to any sewing machine store and buy a LOW SHANK adjustable zipper foot.This foot will screw on and fits almost everything. Yes, it's an older machine but you can still get most parts for it. Especially feet.I think this machine has snap on feet, so If you want an original foot take the ankle with you when you go to the shop to buy it.
sewman7

You can purchase that singer sewing machine foot control here:

http://www.sewingpartsdirect.com/foot-control-w-cord-singer-979314-031.aspx

With the needle hitting the bobbin case , it sounds like it might be out of time. Which I am sorry to say is not an easy at-home fix.

pull it towards you. if this does not work take off the rubber but usually you put finger underneath and pull. or catch on side of bobbin winder. hope this helps try oiling it as well. the spring or hing bit.

Hi... it is a vertical needle machine not a slant needle