Bobbin Elna 500?

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.

You always wind the Elna 7 hole bobbin with the holes on top, and load it into the bobbin case the same way, this means when you draw the bottom thread off the bobbin, it will turn anticlockwise.

you could start at sewingpartsonline.com, they have a list of Elna models with manuals and spare parts. You will need to find the model number however, it should be on the right side panel, a little plate with Tavaro SA and a two digit code number. If its a Lotus code might be 15, 25, 35 or 36. Also, if you do have a Lotus, please go to my solutions and find mine regarding winding a bobbin. The Lotus has no tensioner on the bobbin winding so it is critical that you tension the thread by applying your hand or scissors to the top of the thread spool as the thread winds off it and use your finger to nudge the thread so it feeds onto the bobbin nice and evenly. If you bobbin has wound without tension then the thread will be loose and uneven and you will never get a good stitch from it. Also, check that you are clicking the bobbin thread into the tension spring on the bobbin case. I'll attach an image to assist.

Firstly, have you got an Elna metal bobbin? it should be solid on the bottom and have 7 holes on top. It is essential that you always use it this way, wind it with the holes on top and load it into the bobbin holder the same way.


Have a look at the image above, you need to load the bobbin in and click the thread into the tension spring so it doesn't lift back out when you pull the thread upwards. There should be an audible click as it goes in.

If you can't get it right or this image is just too small, feel free to email me and I'll send you the image and talk you through it, I have a TSP machine too. [email protected].

Also, check my tip on bobbin winding here http://www.fixya.com/support/r10598580-winding_bobbin_correctly it is important to get a good even tension onto your bobbin as you wind the thread on, you may need to manually add some tension to the thread as it winds off the spool, as I've described in my tip. I sold these machines for Elna and customers would bring them in complaining of problems with their machine. Almost aways, it was the needle in backwards, bobbin upside down, thread/lint buildup in the bobbin race or badly wound bobbin that was the problem.

Hope this helps you Gaylene, but if not, please email, I may be able to send you the relevant manual pages.

You need to ensure that the thread is going from the thread spool at the back of the machine, through the eyelet, then around the silver tension disc on top of the machine, then to the bobbin when you are winding it. Also, pull the thread tail up through the hole in your bobbin to start and hold the tail so the thread starts to fill smoothly and doesn't loosen.

I've marked the disc in red on this image

Please read my Tip on bobbin winding; its really important to get a good wind and you can add more tension yourself by applying gentle pressure to your thread spool on the back pin as you wind off it.
Link is http://www.fixya.com/support/r10598580-winding_bobbin_correctly

The stopping when full is possibly because your bobbin is winding unevenly but I never run it until it stops itself anyway, and do the winding at 3/4 speed, not flat out. You want a really smoothly tensioned even wind onto the bobbin so your thread comes off the bobbin when stitching with even tension, not stretched, then loose.

Hope this helps you with your problem.

If the fly wheel is going around then the clutch isn't disengaged to wind the bobbin, you need to pull out the flywheel on your model to disengage the clutch for bobbin winding.


Take thread from thread spool across to bobbin winder thread guide, then back to bobbin and thread the tail through the hole on top of the bobbin. Place bobbin onto spindle on top of machine and then push it against the stop to engage the bobbin winding motor. HOld the thread tail up and start winding slowly until the bobbin core has been covered including the starting point. Stop and trim off the thread tail with scissors. COntinue winding bobbin and give the thread a nudge if needed to wind evening top middle and bottom of the bobbin. A good smooth wind is important. Also don't wind at full speed and keep an eye on the thread reel that the thread is coming off, you don't want it bouncing around as this will **** the thread and stretch then relax it affecting your bobbin wind.

Obviously if you know this and the bobbin winding mechanisim is just not working, then it will need a service/replacement by an Elna repair person.

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.

Elna bobbins have holes on the top, so wind the bobbin with the holes on the top too. The Lotus bobbin winder doesn't have a tension device, thread just goes through an eyelet. So, place your scissors curved handle on top of your thread spool as it unwinds the thread to ensure the thread then winds onto your bobbin evenly. Also watch the bobbin fill and give the thread a nudge with your finger tip to fill top and bottom as well as the middle part, you want it to wind evenly across the full width of the bobbin. When full, pop bobbin winder back to left, cut thread and pull off the bobbin.

Then place the bobbin into the bobbin holder with the holes on top, and pull the loose thread tail around anti clockwise into the tension device and gently "click" it into the tension spring with the tip of your finger while holding the bobbin still with your other index finger.

You will be able to tell if it is in tension if you then pull the thread and it doesn't come out of the tension spring. It should feel firm with resistance but still release thread to a gentle pull. Now thread the top down to the needle and holding the end of the needle thread, hand wind the fly wheel towards you to lower the needle and pull up the bobbin thread. Close the bobbin cover.

Always hold the two thread tails at the back of the sewing area as you start stitching a seam until you have stitched at least 4 or 5 stitches to avoid thread jams.

Lotus is a lovely vintage machine - there is a user group on Yahoo Elna heirlooms where you can find lots of info and pictures shared by members.

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.

On the top left side of your machine is a round thread guide which is supposed to create tension and guide the thread. Sometimes the thread comes out of this thread guide and causes the problems you are experiencing. Wrap the thread around this guide one time and you should have your problem resolved.
sewman7