Help with sewing machine groaning

[Adam G]

I have a Singer 401a, and I’m having some difficulty with it groaning and halting. Essentially, when the lever is down, the machine catches on something and I have to manually release it by turning the handwheel myself. I can feel it uncatch, but I’m not sure what exactly catches. It makes a weird groaning sound. I can usually manually get a stitch or two in there, often with birds nesting, but get past it. Once the machine gets going, it can stitch well. I’m 100% sure the top thread is threaded properly as well asthe bobbin. I’ve tried changing the top tension and switching out a needle. There’s no obvious gunk in the machine. I’m oiled up all the parts in the manual and greased all of the gears. This happens when I’m sewing lightweight nylon but also can happen with other materials. Any ideas?

[Ken Thompson]

Are you using a regular spool of thread or the newer style where the thread is meant to pulled up and off instead of spooling? If so are you using a thread stand? Really would love a photo to see best.

Found a manual online,

https://sewingdude.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/singer-401-service-manual1.pdf

Complicated early zig zag.

[Adam G]

Here you go.

[Elliott Wolin]

Just guessing:

• wrong type of bobbin
• bobbin installed incorrectly, wrong direction
• junk in bobbin housing, clean it out

 

[Ken Thompson]

Flipping through the manual there are so many settings to get right.

[Adam G]

I think I figured out part of the problem based on k’s question. The thread coming off the spool was sometimes catching on the cylinder that ran through it on the thread stand. I put an empty bobbin underneath the spool to lift it up and adjusted the thread loop so it was centered over the top of the spool. Problem has mostly gone away. I never would have thought it would be the thread stand.

[Ken Thompson]

Glad you found it. I was having similar issues and came across an obscure blog post about spools. Not a common issue I imagine. So frustrating when everything looks fine.

[Ken Thompson]

By the way the thread spool you have in your photo does have a top and bottom. Look into the spool and you will see one end has a ridge or lip inside. That is the top. On Gutterman it is also the same end with the printing on the outside of the spool. Something to do with thread twist and the way it is wound on the spool. It does make a difference.

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