How to adjust the Tension on a Vintage Long Bobbin Sewing Machine - 1934 Singer 128K Indian Star

Adjusting the tension can be tricky if you are not used to a long bobbin sewing machine. The secret lies in adjusting the shuttle first and doing the dangle test, as demonstrated on this video. If the shuttle drops only very slightly (or even not at all) when you jolt it when it is dangling by the thread, this is the ideal tension, and you may not need to adjust the shuttle tension again - ever! All the tension adjustments can then be made to the top thread.

Manuals for old Singer machines can be downloaded from www.singerco.com.

The machine shown on the video is a 1934 Singer 128K. The method of adjusting the tension is the same for any make of vintage machine that has a long bobbin and shuttle.

The decoration on the machine has the Indian Star, which has eight different Indian scripts in the points of the star. The machine was manufactured in Scotland for export to India.

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Howto & Style

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• crafts
• how-to
• tutorial

[dunphail1]

I can't tell you how grateful we are for your films - our local Singer repair man has stopped servicing anything more than 30 years old, and you've helped me sort out my grandmother's 1930 model, and now we feel confident about embarking on the 1908 treadle,in working order, but stiff and filthy. What I love about them is that they're so beautiful, and actually WORK!

[Muvandfarve]

@dunphail1

Hello Dunphail,

Thank you for your kind words! It is precisely because it is so difficult to find anyone to service or repair machines that I started working on them myself. I am always delighted to hear from people who have been able to revive old machines, especially when they are machines that have been in the family for years.

Best of luck with the treadle!

Regards Muv

[wufnstuff]

Hello Muv! I have rehomed an old Singer and the tension adjuster nut is stuck and can only be moved with a pair of pliers. Have you ever come across that? I haven't cleaned it up yet but the metal flanges seem to be too wide for the nut. Any ideas welcome! x

[Muvandfarve]

@wufnstuff

Hello Wufnstuff Often screws and nuts are stiff because they haven't been touched for years. Make sure you protect the nut with a cloth when you remove it with pliers so you don't damage the metal. Clean the screw thoroughly because it is likely that it is covered with a residue of oil and dirt. Then put a tiny amount of oil on the screw when you replace the nut, and work the nut back and forth along the screw a few times to ease it. If that doesn't work, let me know.

[maryaquin]

Thank you so much for the videos. I recently recieved a family heirloom machine from my husbands side of the family. It hadn't been used in years. Although its not the same machine it was simular enough for me to use this video to get the machine tension set and how to thread it. It sews beautiful. I also had to replace belt and bobbin rubber wheel. Your videos made me brave enough to do it. Thank you so much.

[Muvandfarve]

@maryaquin

Hello Maryaquin,

Great news about your machine. The more you use it the more you will love it!

[wufnstuff]

@Muvandfarve Thank you - your advice is really appreciated. I will give it a good clean and oil.

[Muvandfarve]

Hello Chasmaravel,

Thank you for your comment. We are always delighted to hear about machines that have been kept by families being given a new lease of life.

Happy New Year!  Muv

[chasmaravel]

Just cleaned my late grandmothers New Home purchased in ninteen twentythree and found your tutorial clear, concise, and most helpfull. Thank you

[Muvandfarve]

Hello @22brianclark, Nice to hear from you and we are very pleased you have found this video helpful. It often happens in families that only grandmother knows how to use a machine. What a lovely grandmother you have! You will have to make something for her on the machine.