Have a 1970's elna su supermatic but cams don't work

Search the internet for:

Manufacturer + Model + the word "Manual"

...

It is likely that your elna graph gear is broken.
remove thread from machine and open door to where you put cams in. Step on pedal and run at full speed. It the mechanism where the cams go spinning? If not the gear is broken.

Is this a Supermatic (green), Star SU (white with blue top) or an Air Electronic SU model, I'm guessing that it is one of these Elna models?
If it is one of the two latter models, then you need to set the stitch width to zero, stitch length to zero to disengage the feeler arms that read off the disc. Then press on the cam release knob in the middle of the Elnagraph.

The earlier Supermatics were a bit different and there was a tool you used to remove the cams I think.

You could try to remove to the top cover and then see if you can get some oil in under the Elnagraph, this may help to free up the mechanisim. There is a little finger that goes into the cam from the underside and you don't want to damage this as you remove the cam.

My other suggestion is to join the "Elna Heirlooms" user group on Yahoo.com and see if one of the members there has a suggestion on how to get the cam off. There are some really knowledgeable Elna owners there so one of them may have encountered this problem too.

I've got a Supermatic manual but I think maybe you mean the earlier model perhaps. On the supermatic you set the stitch width to 2 and stitch lenth to 2+ for a zig zag. In this image, the stitch width selector is marked "3" and the stitch length selector is marked "4".

I've got a feeling that on the earlier model you may need to use a zig zag (single) disc in the Elnagraph to get the needle swing function.

As you probably don't have a manual, you may want to join the Yahoo group called Elna Heirlooms as the members there share info on these vintage machines, and some manuals are there.

Go to www.yahoo.com, sign up, then go to "Groups" and search for "elna Heirlooms". You will need to ask the moderator to join the group but once accepted, you'll find lots of helpful information, check out "Files" for shared documents.

Hope this is of help to you.

Throughout the Swiss Elna range there were several of their top of line models that have the black cams for additional stitches and they all have an "Elnagraph" device in the top of the machine case where you insert the cams.

There are single cams where the needle just moves ffrom side to side while the fabric moves forward. And double cams where the needle moves from side to side while the feed dogs move the fabric forward and backwards to get a combination stitch. The trick is to get the Elnagraph to engage so the arm in it can "read" off the disc.

There are a couple of other knobs that you need to adjust to get the cam stitch though.

Star Series: (white machine with blue top) you need to put the stitch selector inside the elnagraph flap to "A" on the Star series and then stitch width to 4 and stitch length to the red A zone.

Air Electronic SU or Carina: you have 3 knobs from left to right - stitch selector (put it on 7) , stitch width (put it on 4, orange area) and stitch length (turn it around to the orange zone for the automatic stitches).

And on the early Supermatic the adjustments are a little different again.

And ALWAYS turn the stitch width and length dials back to zero, before you change the stitch selector, or pop out a cam.

I hope this helps you get your Elna stitching from the cam, there is a great Yahoo group called Elna Heirlooms too where there are lots of knowledgeable Elna owners and some files listing all the cam stitches.

I would love to take these off your hands as my Mum has an Elna Supermatic that was her mum's. Could you email me on [email protected], I'd be happy to pay postage to ship, I'm up on the Gold Coast.

thanks

Carolyn

I don't suppose it would be so simple as setting the wheel inside the elnagraph to "A" to engage the automatic stitches? I've done it myself once or twice LOL.

I'd suggest that you join the Yahoo user group for Heirloom Elnas, the members are very helpful and share images of manuals and their experience. You should be able to download a copy of the supermatic manual from here once you've joined up.

Is your supermatic a green model like this one?


or there is a white with blue top supermatic from the Star Series, it looks like this


If its the star series, you'll see above a round knob with red and black numbers, this is the stitch length dial. Red is reverse, black is forwards. The lever just to the left is the stitch width lever and the round dial to left again is the needle position dial.

If its the green model then the dials and knobs are in different places but they work in a similar fashion.

Good luck wiht your machine.l

Elna Supermatic 722010 is a very vintage elna and would take the metal 7 hole dished bobbin like this.





Don't try to use any other bobbin in it, and always load and wind with the holes on top.

You can still buy these; one supplier is sewingpartsonline, here is like to the item

http://www.sewingpartsonline.com/bobbins-elna-426000-10pk.aspx

Try the usual eBay route, but also approach any Sewing Repair shop as they often acquire odd bits from old machines....We had 9 disks for a lady with an Elna SU only last week, all from a machine traded 2 years ago and really beyond resale.