how much to service a sewing machine
 

I bought a Singer Model 714 (The Graduate) on e-bay. It does work, but the stitching on the wrong side of the fabric is all knotty and twisted. How can I fix this? It has no manual, and I am reluctant to pay $15 for a manual on a machine that cost $10 + $20 s&h. What do I do? Dh is giving me grief about this and I told him that I would make that doggone machine work and work well if it was the last thing I did.

Re: how much to service a sewing machine
 

I find my sewing machine manuals almost indispensable. The problem sounds like it might just be that your top tension is too loose, but I don't know how to adjust that with out a manual.

I would pay the $15 for the manual, after I had searched and made sure that I couldn't find it for free on line.

Re: how much to service a sewing machine
 

Whoo hoo! Praise God a friend of mine came over and it turns out that her mother had a very similar machine in Nigeria. She played around with it a little, squirted some oil, and rethreaded it for me. She gave me a little sewing machine 101, and the machine works great!

Re: how much to service a sewing machine
 

:tu Awesome! It did sound like a threading or tension issue.

Here is a very, very, very helpful article on tension adjustments in case you ever run into trouble again. I think that everyone who ever uses a sewing machine should read it.

http://www.treadleon.net/sewingmachi...djustment.html

Re: how much to service a sewing machine
 

I am looking for your manual. So far I have found an $8 download but I am still looking to see if I can find a free one.

http://www.sewconsult.com/singer_ins...manual_714.htm


Couldn't find the manual for free, but if you ever need parts I did find a schematic with all the part numbers:

http://www.tandtrepair.com/700Stuff/...34_774_776.pdf

Re: how much to service a sewing machine
 

Thank you soooo much for the tension article. I've just gotten my machine out after many, many years of collecting dust. I'm realizing that I know how to sew a fairly straight line, but I don't know much about the details of sewing. :ty4

Re: how much to service a sewing machine
 

I get my machine serviced by a fabulous elderly Christian man who is an expert at servicing and rebuilding sewing machines. He has 50 years of experience and an excellent reputation in our community. He told me that if all he did was follow the maintenance instructions in the manual, 90% of the moving parts in the machine would not get serviced. It's important to have your machine professionally cleaned/oiled every now and then.

Re: how much to service a sewing machine
 

I have 4 or so year old Singer and that happens to me sometimes too - and I was going to say that often just rethreading the machine helps with that problem, making sure to get the thread carefully secured in all the places along the route of threading precise (if that makes sense).

Glad you were able to get it fixed.