The top load bobbin plate is plastic. It gives, can be depressed easly, and moves when the direction is reversed. Is there a solution to this problem?

My guess... it's not reversing entirely. The machine controls fabric direction by changing feed dog height. Try manually moving feed dogs down then back up. See selector lower left front or consult manual.

https://www.manualslib.com/manual/508749/Singer-9910.html

If moving feed dogs doesn't correct the issue, remove hook, bobbin, and needle plate. Look for fabric debris, thread, and broken needles. Clear area with a vacuum

This may be helpful:

Singer Sewing Machine Company Serial Numbers

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1. The top loading bobbin cases have small brackets to keep them from turning or moving up or down.
2. Adjust brackets with small screwdriver. Allow enough room for thread to flow through.
3. Rotate hand wheel both directions to make sure the bobbin case doesn't move around. Also, watch the thread to see if it is flowing across the top of the bobbin case.
4. You may need to slow down movement of your "free motion". Also, make sure you are using the right pressure foot.

Singer website has many manuals available as pdfs including yours, oiling is shown in this image after you remove the hook race cover and hook. Most front loading bobbin design machines are like this.
http://www.singerco.com/uploads/download/438_3116.pdf

There is a small plastic plate where the needle goes down through the foot, remove this cover and you will see the bobbin. Remove the bobbin and refill or selecting another bobbin turn it so that when you pull the thread the bobbin turns anti-clock-wise, slip the bobbin into the black plastic casing, pulling the thread towards the small red arrow at the bottom of the casing, slip the thread between break in the silver metal sleeve pulling it to your left between the 2 pieces of metal this is where the tension on the thread is. You have now changed your bobbin. With the plastic plate still off, hold the top thread with your left hand and with your right slowly turn the wheel, this will send the needle (holding your top thread) down into the bobbin casing and will pick up the bottom thread, pull on the top thread and bring the bottom thread up through the hole in the plate. Replace the plastic plate and recommence sewing. Good luck
Sue

You have your bobbin inserted into the machine spinning in the wrong direction. take the bobbin out and flip it over and wind around needle plate guide and cut. Look at the little pictogram on the plastic part of the machines throat plate. It shows which direction the thread should spin off the spool when you drop the top loading bobbin into the bobbin case.

Cheers,
Kelly
San Diego, CA
Embroidery Services

Is this a front loading bobbin or top? If it is a vertical front loader with the little metal bobbin case, the metal case has to be lined up and snapped firmly into place. You should hear it snap and lock into place.

If it\'s a horizontal or top loading bobbin, and the plastic bobbin "tray" is rotating, then it may not have been nested in properly, before replacing the plate, or may be "jagged" somewhere... If there is a burr on the casing, or as in the case of one machine I worked on, still have a piece of needle stuck in it, the thread will snag on it before it finishes rotating and the rotating motion catches half way and will jerk the case right around and the next stitch will break the new needle.. Those plastic bobbin "trays" are usually easy to find and replace if they have become too burred to use. I have also sanded them smooth again as well though.

To test it, unplug the machine, thread your machine on top, but leave off your bobbin lid and leave out your bobbin, hold the top thread (like when you are about to crank to pull up a bobbin loop) and hand crank toward you, or counter-clockwise one complete rotation. Watch to see if the top thread is caught by the rotation hook and slips all the way around and back over the top of the bobbin tray, or if it snags on it somewhere.... Good luck!

You will see what looks like a square black button directly to the right of the bobbin. It doesn't depress, it slides to the right, and then the plastic that covers the bobbin should pop open on it's own.

There is also a Yahoo group for Heirloom Elna owners which this model is.
You can find threading diagrams and manuals at www.sewusa.com. the supermatic will be closest to your Special. This webpage has images of threading the bobbin; all Swiss made Elna's have this wonderful top loading bobbin system and they are great. Important: use Elna bobbins, they have holes on the TOP ONLY. When you wind the bobbin, ensure the thread winds evenly by nudging the thread with your finger tip, keep the thread under tension as it winds by placing the handle of your scissors onto the top of the thread reel. Cut the thread, then place the bobbin into the bobbin case, holes upwards. The bobbin will turn anticlockwise as you pull thread from it. Follow the directions from the threading diagram, you need to "click" the thread into the tension spring. Now thread the top thread through the marked locations in the diagram. Hold the end of the thread as it comes from the needle and manually turn the flywheel to lower the needle down and up once to catch the bottom thread and bring it up to the needle plate.

ALWAYS hold both the two threads at the back of the needle plate when you start sewing, really important. I You will have a knob with numbers going from -4 to 4, this is your stitch length dial. The negative numbers are "Reverse" normal stitch length is 2.5. The white knob is stitch width when the needle swings from side to side. Straight stitch would be zero, and then higher numbers for zig zag etc. The little wheel gives you different needle positions. And the metal slide at top of case is the reverse lever.
Hope this helps you a little. Early Elnas are all very similar and wonderful machines to use.

Threading the bobbin - winding thread onto the bobbin.

Position the new empty bobbin onto the vertical bobbin rod next to the end wheel. Click the rod to the right to engage drive. Hold the outer end wheel with left hand, and rotate the inner wheel anticlockwise by about a 1/2 turn (it stops) this removes drive from the foot and needle mechanism.
(** See note below -)
From a spool of thread on the top, thread to a loop/post on the left on the top. Then back to the bobbin you want to wind. Thread through a hole from the inside-out. Hold the thread vertically above the bobbin while you depress the footswitch to start winding. Let go when it's turned a few times.

Move bobbin shaft left, and tighten end wheel after winding enough.

Fitting bobbin-

Move footplate towards you, insert bobbin in hole so that bobbin rotates anticlockwise when thread is pulled, then pull thread into the fine notch towards you. After this position thread away from you, and slide the footplate closed.

To start / load thread. Hold the end 3" of the thread through the needle behind the sewing foot. hand crank towards you to sew first stitch in air. This should retrieve the lower thread - which you can catch with a handy pair of scissors. Then pull both threads rearwards - ready to sew.

**Note -
If the threading spindle is on the top, push to the right to engage, On the earlier versions, you have to thread it through a wire hook, then down and around a plate with two slots near the bottom right, before winding around the bobbin which is held horizontally as a direct drive off the handwheel.

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