Winding bobbin- elna

The following is an excellent video on how to check tension. She shows how to check bobbin tension and top thread tension (presser foot down). Then how to adjust top thread tension to get the stich to sit at mid fabric.

https://youtu.be/YF7EOCvpHLg


Thread nesting on the bottom side is almost always top tension too low or top thread is not in the tension discs (when foot down) but can also be top thread not feeding evenly, or a burr on either the bobbin case or hook race or debris in the hook race, or needle hook interference.

Always be sure to thread your machine with presser foot up. With foot up, the tension discs are separated to accept the thread.

Dont know what type of fabric your curtains are. You might try test sewing with a different tight weave cotton fabric just to see if it you can get it to work.

A site where you can purchse the manual for the 65:

http://www.sewingpartsonline.com/instruction-manual-elna-electronic-65.aspx

Below are videos in the use of Model 68.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DpV-z4gw170

Vintage Elna Air Electronic SU Sewing Machine Part II Wind Bobbin Thread...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=09dKkWLqc2s

Above is Part III

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=phM2v6vsV-U

Above is Part IV

Yahoo Groups

I'd suggest www.sewingpartsonline.com if you are in USA.

https://www.sewingpartsonline.com/air-foot-control-elna-436410-20.aspx

Or you could try the Elna Guru, White Sewing Center www.whitesewingcenter.com, he's the specialist supplier for all things Swiss Elna.

The air control foot is the same for all the Elna Air Electronics, whether Stella, SU, TSP, TX etc.

I can help you with this, the Elna Lotus has a pretty simple bobbin winding system, the bobbin winder is top right of the machine, drop bobbin with holes to the top onto the spindle. Now Lotus have a dial on the right side which switches between bobbin winding, stitching and locked for transport, turn it to Bobbin symbol. Take the thread from the spool pin at the back across to the metal eyelet at top front (it sits inside the accessory tray when transporting so you may need to pop open the tray lid and flip this eyelet out)
Now take thread across and through a hole on top of the bobbin and holding the tail, put your foot onto the foot control to get a couple of winds onto the bobbin to hold the thread. Now place your finger or the handle of a pair of scissors onto the top of the thread spool to apply tension so that the thread winds evenly and slowly wind the bobbin until about 3/4 full, making sure it winds evenly. Tension onto the spool is the key here, Lotus doesn't have a tension device to control the thread tension as it winds so you need to do this, critical to getting a good stitch out of these lovely machines.

Hope this helps you out.

are you sure you've moved the bobbin winding mechanism back to the right spot? if its still pushed over against the bobbin spool holder it may be stopping the normal functions from working. If that isn't the problem then it may be something for the tech at the Elna dealers.

you could try www.Scribed.com or www.diplodocs.com for this one free, otherwise pretty sure it can be purchased at www.sewingpartsonline.com or relics which is www.sewing-machine-manuals.com.

Should be a blue or brown cover I think from memory.

http://www.tradebit.com/filedetail.php/9366608-elna-stella-electronic-sewing-machine-service-manual

I assume you mean when you wind a bobbin full of thread??

You take the end of thread from your spool through the tension device or an eyelet on top of the machine, then back to the bobbin on the bobbin winder and thread the loose end through a top hole on the bobbin. Click the bobbin in against the stop and press on the pressure foot to start to wind. Hold the top thread for a bit as the bobbin starts to fill and then once it has been covered by a row or two of thread, stop and cut of the loose end from top of the bobbin. Now continue to wind the bobbin until it cuts out as it fills against the stopper. Nudge the thread with a finger tip as it spools onto the bobbin to help get the bobbin filled top and bottom and not just in the middle. (bit like when you coil the garden hose onto the reel, it always wants to go in the middile only and then jams up LOL).

Also a really good idea to place your scissors handle into the top of the thread spool to slow/control it as the thread reels off it. This helps give an even tension on the thread going onto the bobbin which really helps with stitch quality later.

A link to a supermatic manual is here
http://www.arizonaexpressionz.com/elna_instruction_manuals/Supermatic.pdf - I suggest you download this and print it out as this machine is over 50 years old now and manuals are scarce.

Disengage the clutch by holding the outside of the fly wheel and turning the inner knob of the wheel towards you.
You need to take the thread from the spool across to an eyelet on top left, then back to the bobbin winder, up through a hole in the top of the bobbin and hold the thread tail. Flick the bobbin across against the stopper. Now press the presser foot or knee control to start the motor. Hold the thread tail until youve got coverage across the bobbin enough to hold the start, then stop winding and cut the thread tail with scissors. Now continue winding but put the handle of your scissors on top of the thread spool to stop it bouncing and ensure your thread winds smoothly and under tension.

Watch the bobbin fill and give the thread a nudge to fill top and bottom as well as the middle evenly, you want a nice even wind. Fill to 3/4 and stop, flick bobbin back off the stopper, then cut the thread. Remember to re-engage the clutch by reversing the first step.



This is a lovely heirloom Elna machine - you need to thread the bobbin as the manual describes and get the thread into the tension spring. Please read the manual information on oiling too, this machine needs to be oiled on the red spot locations every time you use it according to the manual, use good quality clear sewing machine oil for this purpose.

Wind the Bobbin
For the usual jobs, it is the best to use a medium sized thread.
2. Disengage the flywheel by unscrewing the coupling knob as far as it will go.

3. Place the bobbin on the bobbin winder, and push the bobbin winder to the right.

4. Pull out one of the spool pins and place the spool of thread on it.

5. Pass the thread through the bobbin winder tension discs, as indicated.

6. Wind the end of the thread around the bobbin by hand, in the direction indicated.

7. Wind the bobbin, at a medium speed by pressing lightly with a finger on the spool so as to stretch the thread better and thus fill the bobbin to a maximum. The full bobbin stops automatically.

8. Re-engage the flywheel by tightening the coupling knob.

9. Cut the thread and remove the bobbin from the bobbin winder by pushing the latter to the left.