20 Most Recent Singer Featherweight II 117 Questions & Answers

The company has different options for manuals, including hard copies and a free download.Try this link:http://www.singerco.com/uploads/download/06c0bd9ebc88275cba283af9247a5db581336739.pdf

The needle goes in with the flat side on the left and you thread it from right to left ,hope this helps

Search for "sewing machine timing" lots of web sites and videos

He sounds like he's a very smart boy and I hope he didn't get in too much trouble for it. Probably be an engineer or surgeon or something great when he grows up if he's encouraged to continue being inquisitive and to understand complicated things. They are only complicated while you don't understand them. Sorry I haven't been able to find an exploded diagram for this. Try contacting Singer, they might like the story and help you. Or you might not need one. A good sewing machine mechanic should be able to put it back together. Or someone with a good engineering mind and a love of puzzles. Definitely fixable if you have all the bits. The timing between the top and bottom mechanisms is quite critical in a sewing machine so once you get it back together it may need careful adjustment by someone who understands what to adjust. Good luck and encourage you grandson as much as you can to follow his curiosity (without doing too much damage), I think he'll go far.

Don't know if this will help: Singer Featherweight 221 Needle Clamp Thread Guide 1result for Singer 117 needle clamp 0results for Featherweight 117 needle clamp ...

Consult your owner's manual. Computerized sewing machines require very little oiling and should be oiled when/where instructed. Mechanical machines require more and more frequent oiling. ...

Download the user's manual from the Singer site--it will tell you how. Always thread with the presser foot UP.

First of all, it's likely at this point that you think your machine is unusable without it, but you're wrong. I have four Singer high-end sewing and embroidery machines, and it has been years since I used their spool pins. Simply put a coffee cup or--my favorite--a lidless pint Mason Jar at the back of your sewing machine towards the right (away from the fabric side), bend the thread (don't wind the thread) around the remains of the spool pin to use it as a thread guide, and then thread the way you usually do, and you are in business! Now, to address the replacement issue, there are several places where you can order a new one. Do a search on eBay for "Singer Featherweight Spool Pin" and a number of listings will come up. Don't put in your model number in the search box. If you see that a dealer is featuring one for a Featherweight, but not for your model, don't hesitate to use the "Ask a Question" option in a listing; these are generally quite knowledgeable dealers who can order one for you. Also Jenny's Sewing Studio and Sewing Parts Online either have them in stock or can order them for you. It appears that they are quite inexpensive too!

Hi. I did not have this exact problem with my Featherweight. My machine was not stitching properly (top stitch looked so-so, but lots of thread bunching on underneath side of fabric). I took it to repair shop and learned that I was threading the needle thread on the wrong side of the metal plate which is part of the take-up arm (I do not think that the threading instructions make this distinction). After the repairman pointed out the problem & threaded the machine, it made a proper stitch. My suggestion for this issue: check the bobbin threading. My bobbin has to be inserted so that it turns counterclockwise in order to catch the down thread.

Putting this back together is a thirty second job if you have done it a hundred times. If you have never done it but have mechanical aptitude, it may be a challenge.

Whatever you do, don't bend the check spring out of shape!

Below is a link to the Singer site with the schematic for reassembly. When placing the check spring back in place, place it in about the 6 o'clock position with no tension so that it has a fair amount of check before pulling it up in place..

When setting the tension, at a setting of "1" the tension disks should just be slightly compressing the beehive spring. "0" is almost no tension at all. Normal sewing is 5.

Get all of the parts together and push in the cup with the numbers while screwing on the knurled nut taking care to get the pin in one of the holes.

http://www.parts.singerco.com/CPpartCharts/2_2999/221-1_221K1_221K4_221K5.pdf

It doesn't sound like a timing problem Featherweights rarely have that. It's most probably insufficient top (needle thread) tension. I suspect there's some gunge, lint or broken thread between the plates. Have it apart and give it a good clean then reset it.