20 Most Recent Singer 2263 Mechanical Sewing Machine Questions & Answers

Replacing the bobbin case after changing the thread spool gets you back to sewing. The Singer Simple model is designed for the beginning sewer. Even with its simplistic design, often getting started takes a bit of time, concentration and practice. Without the bobbin casing properly in place, the machine will not sew. You can get the machine up and running again.

The little spool holds the thread inside the bobbin casing.
The little spool holds the thread inside the bobbin casing.

Turn off the power to the machine. Power is not needed for any part of the process. Turn the machine off and unplug for safety reasons.

Turn the hand crank on the machine to move the needle into the highest position. Move the presser foot the up position.


Open the hinged latch covering the front of the bobbin cover. This is the device that holds the spool in place.

Place the threaded spool inside the inner casing. Place in so the thread is running in a clockwise direction.

Slide the thread through the slot opening on the let bottom of the casing. The slot is next to the outer arm of the casing. Close the hinged latch.


Hold the casing so the outer arm is sticking straight up. The thread will be coming out to the left of the arm; lay it under the arm to the right.

Push the casing into the internal bobbin slot on the machine. It will lightly snap into place.

Replace the outer machine cover over the bobbin

Sounds like the motor might be having problems. I would take it in for a proper servicing.

First of all, I can't use the word that begins with an S and ends with a W, because FixYa will "bounce" the reply, because that word also has other meanings. So, I will call it a "device." I just went to the Singer site and downloaded your user's manual for free, and I would recommend you do the same. I'm presuming that you want to take the cover off that covers the needle shaft. Take a look at that side on that end, and you'll see a hole with a "device" in it -- it's generally a Phillips type "device". If you remove that, it will allow you to take the cover off. It's on page 50 of your user's manual.

Try checking your needle. Make sure that it has not slipped down.

This site might have what you need. Repair manuals can be very hard to find. I don't know that all the links on this site are still good but it is one of the only places I've even seen repair manuals for Singer machines listed. Best of luck. http://sewing-machines.blogspot.ca/2008/08/singer-online-manuals.html

Ponga el hilo para la derecha y derecho o seno va necescetar un a arreglo en el tiempo. porque el hilo no agara.

There are a couple of things to check. First, did you thread with the presser foot UP, so that proper tension is applied to the upper thread? Is your bobbin correctly inserted, and is your bobbin case inserted evenly and correctly? Review your user's manual--if you don't have it, you can download it free at the Singer website. If you have done these things, you may need to adjust your bobbin tension. First, run a line of straight and then zigzag stitches on a scrap of fabric and take a look. It helps to have two different colors of thread, with the fabric a third color. If one side of the zigzag looks fine and the other side looks like "chicken tracks," the chicken tracks side is too tight. In other words, you need to determine whether your bobbin tension needs to be tighter or looser. You'll need a very tiny straight-slot screwdriver. Remove the needle plate--there are two screws in it--and remove the bobbin and then the bobbin case. On the side, there are two tiny screws. One is a Phillips--leave that one alone. The other is a straight-screw, and that one regulates the bobbin tension. The rule is "righty-tighty, lefty-loosey." Only turn it 1/4 turn, then reinsert and test. If you're on the right track, you should see at least a LITTLE improvement. DON'T do any more than that--if you don't do this carefully and systematically, you'll make things worse instead of better!

I'll be glad to tell you, but I'm not sure that's your problem. When you thread the upper thread, do you make sure that your presser foot is ALWAYS UP? The top thread goes through two disks facing each other; that is how the tension is applied to the thread, and the only time the disks are spread to accept the thread is when the foot is UP. That is true of ANY machine of ANY age or manufacturer. That's what it sounds to me is happening to you, but if you have rethreaded and it's still bunching, take the bobbin case out and take a look at the side--usually the right side--of the case and locate two very tiny screws. One is a Phillips--leave that one alone! The other is a straight-slot screw, and that regulates bobbin tension. The rule is "righty-tighty, lefty loosey." Test before you start with both a straight and a zigzag stitch; use two different colors for top and bottom. Take a look at it, and if one side of the zigzag looks like "chicken tracks" and the other side looks normal, the chicken track side is too tight. That helps you to determine whether you should tighten the tension, or loosen it. Once you have determined that your bobbin tension needs adjusting, and whether it needs loosening or tightening, only turn the screw 1/4 turn--NO MORE--and test again to make sure you're on the right track. If you don't do it slowly and systematically, you can easily make things worse!

Does the motor appear to be on? Is it possible that your bobbin winder is engaged and you just didn't realize it?

If the bobbin is inserted with the thread spinning the wrong direction this will cause "birdnesting" - thread build up under needle plate, you need to cut thread to get the item off machine. flip the bobbin over into the case and try again. Also make sure you remove ALL thread caught up in "Birdsnest" when they happen. Cheers, Kelly Embroidery Services San Diego, CA

it's possible that the machine has a timing problem and would be a good idea to have it checked

Oiling instructions--as well as the user's manual--is available as a free download on the Singer site under "Support and Resources."

Sounds like your bobbin case tension has loosened. First, take a piece of scrap fabric and sew a line of zigzag and another line of straight stitches. If the top of the zigzag stitching looks like chicken tracks, but the bottom looks normal, the top is tighter than the bottom. Take the bobbin case out and locate two screws on the side. One is a Phillips--DO NOT TOUCH IT--the second is a straight-slot--that is the one you want. Remember, lefty loosey, righty tighty! In your case, you wand to turn it 1/4 turn to the right to tighten, and then put it back and test again. You should see SOME improvement--it many not correct it entirely but you'll know you're on the right track. Keep at it, doing ONLY 1/4 turn and then testing, until it's in balance again.

Not sure but I think you use the top dial, set to center, Hope this helps

If the needle does not hit anything then leave it as is. It is quite difficult to adjust, unles perhaps you have a dial or control to set the Zig Zag positon. Suggest if you don't have a sewing problem just leave it alone. Moses

The usual reason is that the machine is misthreaded, or that there is a rough spot somewhere on the thread path, or you've got cheap thread. Here's the manual for your machine, assuming you've got a 2263 (621B does not look like a Singer model number): http://www.singerco.com/uploads/download/1180_2263%28eng_spa_fre%29.pdf If you do have a different model, look for the manual here: http://www.singerco.com/support/instruction-manuals Take all the thread off of/out of the machine and clean it per the manual instructions. Put in a new needle, right way around and fully up in the needle clamp. Rethread from scratch, with the upper tension set to 3 and the presser foot raised while you are threading. (see also: http://www.picturetrail.com/sfx/album/view/22521551 ) Make sure your thread isn't making extra loops around any of the points it passes through while threading, and is not catching on the spool or the storage notch that's on the bottom of some thread spools. If that doesn't improve things, try again with a second new needle (the most common spot for a snag is the eye), and also wrap a piece of slick fabric around the pad of your index finger and pull it tight. Feel each eye the thread goes through, the presser foot (top and bottom), the needle plate (=throat plate), the sewing hook and bobbin case. If you find snaggly spots, they can be gently polished out with crocus cloth. Oh yes, buy good thread. The cheapie stuff is normally just garbage. http://sewing.about.com/library/weekly/aa102100a.htm

Tension might be too tight. Tweak tension nob slightly to the right.