Singer 6510 3 dial machine - no "S" on stitch length dial selector

Are you sure that this is a 3-dial machine? The manual for the 6510 covers multiple machines. Only the 3-dial version has the stitch length S. See pages 19 and 20 of the manual. The manual is available from Singer.com. The current link to the manual is https://res.cloudinary.com/singer-sewing/image/upload/fl_attachment/Singer-Website-Library/outdated_product/9afcdbeb91e0cae83c6d78cb2af6d2609aa7a6f9.pdf

Alternatively, see the two pages at ManualsLib: three-dial machine: https://www.manualslib.com/manual/453843/Singer-6510.html?page=23#manual and two-dial machine: https://www.manualslib.com/manual/453843/Singer-6510.html?page=22#manual .

I hope this helps.

Cindy Wells

Your AE 68 will have three dials across the front, from L-R, stitch selector, stitch width and stitch length. To sew any stitch with a sidewise needle movement, you will need to turn the stitch selector to that stitch on the selector, then turn the stitch width to between 3 and 4 and the stitch length to a similar setting, adjusting to get the stitch formation you need. To sew with the discs, set all the dials to zero, then insert a cam into the Elnagraph on top of the machine. Then turn the selector to the disc icon, and the stitch length around to the "S" and stitch width to 4.

Don't use reverse if using the elnagraph stitches.

How long has it been since you've cleaned and oiled your machine?

Your machine requires frequent oiling on the moving metal parts. Most likely the stitch length selector has begun to seize.

SINGER 6214 Manual Page 80

This may help:
Wheel on right side that controls the needle up and down is very tight...

The heated hairdryer may be a good choice to try.
...

You are stuck in buttonhole. The selector knob does not spin round and around. It is moved from Stitch 1 to stitch 14 and back. Try selecting buttonhole and then running the knob in the other direction to straight stitch. If that does not work, (1) drop the lever that senses the button hole attachment, (2) sew a few stitches backward, (3) push the button hole lever rearward, once, hard, (4) rotate the stitch selector to straight stitch.

From the pattern selector (the bigger dial), select the zig-zag stitch. Then, using the stitch length dial (the smaller dial), adjust the stitch length. The closer your stitch length is to "0", the more dense will your zig-zag stitch be.

From the pattern selector (the bigger dial), select the zig-zag stitch. Then, using the stitch length dial (the smaller dial), adjust the stitch length. The closer your stitch length is to "0", the more dense will your zig-zag stitch be.

I don't know your model but most machines have 2 common setting devices, namely a stitch width dial (how wide the needle swings) and a stitch length dial, how far apart the stitches are. So a normal straight stitch is "width" set to zero and "length" set to 2.5. If the machine has several different stitches then there may be a "stitch selector" too where you can choose the stitch style, ie zig-zag, 3 step zigzag, blind hem stitch etc.

You could try to locate a manual or threading diagram at various websites or visit sewing.about.com which gives good general information on threading and use.

Are you certain that the pattern selector is set for straight stitch and not buttonhole?

Turn the handwheel so that the needle is up and the take-up lever is in it's highest position. Then turn the pattern selector knob through all of the patterns back and forth a few times. Finally, select straight stitch and see if the length works. If not, need to take it to a repair person to determine the course of action.

The question was regarding the Elna 2002 not 2007 and it wasn't a problem. I just do not understand how the pattern selection works. Thank you.