Singer sewing machine 457 will not thread.?

Question

This is a drop model where the bobbin drops in where the foot it. Ive taken it apart many times, its clean, nothings broke, and everything looks fine. Ive moved a plate a bit under the case. I run the machine and it works but for some reason the needle wont pick up the bobbin thread. Ive made sure the bobbin is in right and he needle is new. This is an old model from 1968 and it means a lot to me to have it run.

Ive had someone tell me it could be timing but with the description he gave me, it has me confused. He said something about a hook..

Any help is welcome!

Answer 1

Try taking the needle out, turning it 180 degrees and reinserting it.  That's the most common cause of "won't pick up the bobbin thread" -- the needle's in backwards.  And if it does pick up the thread, you get skipped stitches.

If this doesn't work, try a new needle.  You get exactly the same symptoms from a slightly bent needle.  And even right out of the package, needles can be slightly bent, particularly the way Singer packages them.

How sewing machines work: http://www.dvorak.org/blog/?p=15553

Or more amusingly: http://www.metacafe.com/watch/474816/sew...

Answer 2

There are several Yahoo!Groups that are concerned with keeping our "antique" sewing machines going. I think vintagesingers is the one you need, but not sure so here is the whole page of groups:

http://groups.yahoo.com/search?query=Sin...