Inherited old kenmore 10 sewing machine. it is clean and have no problem threading etc. but believe tension and settings are off because back of stiching is pulled and "loopy" what are the correct settings for basic stitching?

HI, there are a few reasons for this. Make absolutley sure your needle is threaded correctly. (I've been sewing for years and this sometimes happens.) Next, make sure you have the correct tension for the thread, and the material you are working with and of course the correct size needle and not an old one. Sometimes the thread is old and it minutely frays and knots, or the needle is blunt. And finally, make sure there is no thread tangled underneath. Hope this helps.:-)

one of three issues: top tension too tight, bottom tension too tight, needle timing off.

Here are a few sites that may be helpful in diagnosing your problem:

NUMBER ONE SUGGESTION--install a brand new needle. Sewists are known to be very frugal about changing needles but it is usually the easiest and least expensive fix for a lot of problems.
Remove all the thread from your machine, clean the bobbin area of any lint, threads, etc. Be sure that you RAISE the presser foot BEFORE you thread the upper thread. This releases the tension disks so the thread will seat properly. Now, re-thread from the beginning verifying you are following the correct threading sequence (consult your manual).

The standard factory tension setting is the midpoint, ie of the range is 1-10, set the tension at 5 and then adjust from there.

Why is my thread breaking

Why Does My Top Thread Keep Breaking Sewing Machine

Why Does My Thread Keep Breaking While Sew

Sewing Machine Problem 1 Thread Breakage

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Sure! Jenny at http://blog.sew-classic.com/categories/Sewing%20Machine%20Repair.aspx has several very good, in-depth articles about servicing your own machine, but here are the basic steps:

1. Take out the bobbin case and bobbin holder.
2. Take the needle plate off.
3. Brush out all the old lint in the bobbin area and under the needle plate. Remove any loose bit of thread.
4. Open the head of the machine (should swing open). Clean any lint or thread that's caught in there.
5. Locate your machine's oil ports and put one drop of sewing machine oil (only use sewing machine oil) in each of them. One drop is sufficient. General rule of thumb: Put one drop of oil wherever metal moves against metal.
6. Using unwaxed dental floss, floss the tension disks.
7. Put everything back together.

If you need a manual, I found one at http://pages.sewing-machine-manuals.com/173/InventoryPage/1834489/1.html.

Hope this is useful!

Robbie

I am not sure I am following your explanation.

Set the tensions back to the factory setting.

Refer to the manual for threading instructions.

Always thread a sewing machine with the presser foot up.

Make sure the bobbin is inserted so the thread is feeding from the bobbin spool in the correct order and through the proper guides.

Hand-walk the needle down and back up while holding onto the end of the thread.

Pull up the bobbin thread and take both threads under the presser foot and to the back of the machine.

Always take the threads toward the back of the machine when you begin a new seam.

This may, or may not be contributing to the problem, but the materials you are sewing shed a lot of lint and the bobbin case, shuttle and surrounding area new frequent cleaning.

Bobbin tension, and clean out the feed dog and bobbin area of the thread dust, make sure the tension is set correctly on the upper, and sew, sew, sew.

hi! there, since there no model you can relay on this basic set up an old mechanical sewing machine,set your upper thread as shownfollow the red loop thread from sppol to needle,then lift needle cover plate take bobbins and follow bobbins thread directionthreads inside bobbin clockwise rotation when you pull outthe insert bobbin to shuttle race casas shown
hold bobbin like this insert
this to shutttle race case as shown ignore arrow

then
after inseting bobbins closed needle plate cover
manually rorate hand wheel to hook up lower thread bobbin by upper thread bobbin if two thread appear on plate needle adjust tension dial to # 3 to 4 and stich dial to # 12 this for straight stich try sew manually first to observe thread under bobbins if free rotate and no accumulation of thread loop you sew w/ foot pedal or push buttin..happy sewing and have a nice day thanks

My manual says the needle thread tension is too loose , OR the needle is to fine/heavy for the thread being used.

When you see the bobbin thread on top of the fabric this can be on e of 2 things usually. 1) thath the top thread tension is too tight or that the bobbin thread loose. Remember the saying righty tighty, lefty loosey. If you have adjust the top tension and it has helped just not enough perhaps you need to try the bottom a small screwdriver to turn the little screw on the outside of the bobbincase may do the trick. only small adjustments 1/4 turn at the most at a time to the right to start with.

i have a kenmore10 model 1249180 ehwn i sew it squeeks i oil it i dont know where the squeek is coming from