my bobbin thread

Managemylife.com is a great place to find the answers to just about anything, especially on appliances. I would suggest that you provide a little more information such as the make and complete model number of your product so your expert will be able to provide you the best possible answer. Just click on reply below where you can provide the additional information.

Thank you for your question on the bobbin thread not being picked up by the needle thread.

Without the model number I can only give you general information about what can cause this problem.

The shuttle area may need to be clean of all lint build up.

If you are not leaving a long enough thread tail for the upper thread to pick up that could be the problem.

The needle to shuttle hook timing could off in which case the machine will have to be retimed.

Set the machine for straight stitch mode. (not zigzag)

To check the timing of the hook to needle you will need to remove the bobbin and bobbin case so you can observe the needle and the shuttle hook point.

With the needle at the very bottom of its travel you can slowly rotate the hand wheel to make the needle raise from the bottom most travel about 3/16 of an inch.

The very point of the shuttle hook should be located dead center behind the needle shaft at or just above the eye of the needle.

Please let me know what you find with that check and we can continue troubleshooting with that information.

Sam A.

model #385/16321

Good morning Lillian: I am hoping that the model number is 385.16231 instead.

Please look on the back bottom corner of the sewing machine and it will have the complete model number there.

Please re-verify the model number and I will be happy to help you.

I am sorry that I did not answer you sooner but I was on vacation and the forwarding e-mail system did not forward my calls to another expert.

Sam A.

Model Number on the back: 385,16231301

Good morning Lillian and thank you for verifying the sewing machines model number.

If the machine is not pulling up the bobbin thread then I would suggest checking the timing of the shuttle hook to the needle.
Please remove the needle plate and the bobbin case from the machine.

Make sure the machine is in the straight stitch mode and the stitch width is at 0.

Then turn the hand-wheel slowly and observe the very point of the shuttle hook as it comes around as the needle goes up and down.
The shuttle hook will make two rotations to one complete up and down needle stroke of the needle bar.
With the needle bar at its lowest point when turning the hand-wheel stop at the bottom of the needle stroke and then raise the needle bar about 3/16 of an inch off the bottom. The very point of the shuttle hook should be right behind the needle shaft and just above the needle eye.

If the point of the hook is not at that location then the timing is off and the machine will need to be retimed. If you feel comfortable with learning how to retime the machine I will be happy to help you.

Please let me know what you find out with this check and we can continue to troubleshoot if this is not the problem.

Sam A.

Sam A:

My model # is 385.11803800. My timing is off. How can fix the problem?

Good morning Elizabeth. I will send you the technical instructions for timing the shuttle hook to the needle. You will not have the special tool we use but most of the times I do not even need it to time the machine.

You will need a set of Millimeter Allen hex wrenches to do this timing adjustment and some other basic screw drivers for disassemble of the shuttle area.

Besides reading the instructions on the timing process I will give you a short cut with regard to not having the special tool.

Do the first part and remove the needle plate. Then remove the bobbin case. Turn the hand wheel towards you until the needle is at the very bottom of its stroke. Rock the hand wheel back and forth to find the very bottom of the stroke.

Then raise the needle only about 3/16 to a 1/4 inch off the bottom. This should position the very point of the shuttle hook at the very center of the needle shaft just at or above the top of the eye of the needle for the correct timing.

If the timing it is not correct then locate the set screws on the second picture under the bottom cover and move the hand wheel to get to the Allen set screw that is not visible and loosen it first. Then reposition the needle stroke again to the proper location and loosen the other set screw and with on hand hold the hand wheel so it will not move and then with the other hand move the shuttle drive so the point of the hook is in the correct position and then set the first set screw and move the hand wheel to set the other set screw.

Please let me know how it goes.

Sam A.

I apologize but I must have got distracted and did not send you the pictures and process for the timing of the machine on the last thread.

I will send it now.

Sam A.