Need some sewing machine help?

Question

My machine is pretty old, it's a Montgomery Ward. I have no instructions. Anyway, the bobbin case will not stay in place. I put it in, (real simple to do) and move the little hands over it to keep it in place. When I start to sew the inside casing moves around and falls out of place. I'm not a total idiot, and this is making me nuts!!!

Answer 1

Yes this could make a person nuts.  The Bobbin is not positioned accurately in the casing.  Even though the machine is old - you can go on line and ask the manufacturers for advice.  

But in the meantime keep fidgeting with it until it stays in place

Answer 2

check to make sure that threads have not wound around the pin where your bobbin case rides.  There is a little groove at the end of the pin where thread can build up.  If there is thread there, use an old needle or a straight pin to remove it.  The thread will not allow the bobbin case latch to properly set and the bobbin case will fall out.  I will admit that I am not sure what you mean by the "little hands" as the only part I can think of meeting the description is the 2 latches on the right and left side of the race cover that hold the hook assembly tight.  If you have removed the hook and race cover, then turn the handwheel until the curved piece that drives the hook is at the bottom (looks like a smile) and then put the hook on top of the smile to form a complete circle.  Attach the race cover, slip the latches over the cover, and reset the bobbin case.

  If this totally confuses you, email me @ [e-mail] and I will help you further.

Answer 3

Typically, with machines with a separate bobbin case, you need to lift a little latch on the bobbin case while inserting it into the machine, and then make sure the latch lever is flat.  

The needle should be in the highest position when you do this, because otherwise, the bobbin case doesn't line up with the shuttle correctly.

I'm guessing here that one of two things is happening;

either you're not getting the bobbin case completely inserted or the bobbin case is worn or broken (another can be gotten from a sewing machine repair shop fairly cheaply).

Do try to find a manual for your machine; it's probably old enough that it needs oiling regularly, and you don't want to miss an oiling point.  Useful for a lot of other things, too.

You can either google for something like

ward sewing machine [model no] or bring it to a local sewing machine repair shop -- there's a fair chance someone there will know who made the machine and what manual would work.

One last thought... do you have a bobbin case in the machine?  Something that looks like this:

http://www.singerco.com/resources/bobbin...

If the bobbin case is missing, and you're trying to sew with just a bobbin, I can see why you're having problems.