I can’t tell you how excited I was when I found this video. With my lack of mechanical knowledge, I needed a video that really helped me understand the mechanism so I can tackle the taking off and putting back with more confidence. My dirty and old 127 year old 27 is now moving perfectly, the stitches are beautiful from the very first try but I am scared of messing that up while cleaning it. Don’t know why but the way you explain the steps makes it all clear for me.
You answer a lot of questions I had before searching to a replacement. The main shaft of my 27is broken in two. Thanks to your vid I know what I have to look for.
So glad to find your video Bob! On my new Singer 27 it appears that the threads on the right side on the winder don't engage with the edge of the gear. Maybe once I get it clean I can adjust it with that center eccentric bolt.
Thank you so much for your video. I was able to fix my bobbin winder on my 28k, pretty much all the bolts weren’t done up tight enough and it was slipping all over the place. Tension was still a bit off but solved that by running the thread through the tension discs. 🪡🧵
Ooh - look at that opening shot! That's long-bobbin-winder eye-candy right there. I was excited before I even started watching. Thank you so much Bob - this was excellent, and the bonus on doing the repair to the thread guide was an unexpected treat. Yes, you answered all my questions, and then some. As for disassembling and reassembling - it's surprisingly easy and straight-forward once you've shown me. A lot less complicated in reality than they look (especially compared to the winders on the 66s and 201s and such). I've got a few machines with both low and high versions of these and I'm now feeling quite confident I can spruce them up beautifully and put them back together so they work. Actually, it looks like it will be faster to remove, disassemble, clean the parts and then reassemble them than to try to clean them on the machine. Which is what I've been doing up till now!! :-)
@@BobFowlerWorkshop I surely will - this one I'm doing now is coming along rather nicely - in large part thanks to you! It's a gift for someone else and I'm getting more and more attached to her as I go. That's how I like it - it makes me feel extra-happy about giving it to someone. So your efforts have made a big difference for me, the machine, and the recipient. I know she's going to love it.
Well that was some precision welding right there , i have a flux core welder and i would not have been able to do that without melting that wire ,, very well done sir ...
Thanks for another great video, Bob! It's almost like you knew that I have a 27 Sphinx that I've been avoiding, because I haven't rehabbed a long bobbin/shuttle machine yet.
Great video :) I have a VS3 and the spring is broken for the thread guide. Also where the winder attaches by a bolt to the lug on machine it won't hold tight by the bolt, just flops down.
Thanks Jane! I answered Jill's question as best I could about that spring. I wish I had a source besides "look on eBay", but that seems to be the best option unless you can wind your own. I'm checking into the issue with a small batch spring maker to see how much it would cost to get a small run of these springs made, as well as a couple of other hard to find springs.
I hope this helps me get mine working right. I had to replace the tire. It's a 1907 Naumann Koningskind machine. With orange flowers. It's beautiful with original hand crank. Runs like a dream but the bobbin winder doesn't click in properly to wind. If that makes sense. Likely operator trouble 😉 it may be more similar to the 27. Mine does contact the hand wheel. It's a hand crank.
Odds are it's very similar. There are only so many ways to get thread on a bobbin, and all of the manufacturers seem to have used the same basic mechanism to accomplish the task. Keep me posted on your progress.
Hi Bob, I have a Singer model 27, and the spring on the left side of the bobbin winder is broken/ non functioning. Where can I buy a new bobbin winder. All other parts seem to be ok. So far. Lol, thanks for your videos. They're so helpful.
Hi Bob, thanks for the informative video! I have a Singer 127 where the bobbin is winding unevenly; it loads more thread on the left side of the bobbin than the right. If you watch the arm working with no thread, it does seem to move evenly across the bobbin. I was wondering: Does putting the spring for the guiding arm in a different hole (those 3 little holes under the winder arm) adjust how the arm guides the thread? Or how to I go about adjusting this? Thanks!
The spring hole selection only adjusts the amount of pressure the cam follower puts on the cam. Top adjust the evenness of the wind, you have to adjust the position of the thread guide, i.e. bend it. I really don't like to suggest doing that as it's a VERY easy part to break and are, for the most part, made of unobtainium... If you do decide to try to bend it, be VERY careful, go slowly, and try to source a replacement part BEFORE you try bending...
@@BobFowlerWorkshop thanks for the reply. The other thing I've been doing is guiding the thread by hand..not how it's supposed to work but it seems to do the job. I guess if I break it, I can keep doing it by hand.
Hi Jo, There are two concave washers in the assembly. Here are the measurements and orientations for each. For the washer between the winder and the belt guard Concave side towards belt guard): Thickness: .020" Diameter: .560" Height (concavity): .047" Inner hole diameter: .230" For the washer between the gear and the body of the winder (concave side towards body of winder): Thickness: .010" Diameter: .523"Height (concavity): .030" Inner hole diameter: .240" These are measurements taken from a 100 year old bobbin winder, so take that with a HUGE grain of salt. What's important is that you don't want too small an inner hole, to large an outer diameter, too thick a washer, or concavity that either binds (too high) or doesn't provide spring (too low). Wavy washers would probably work as well, but honestly I'm unaware of vendors that will sell very small quantities of this kind of hardware.
Great video Bob. On the Free bobbin winder you mentioned no lower thread guide, but isn't it actually the cutout just to the left of the lower pivot screw? Your vids are always engaging though!
Bob, Can you speak to where to find a replacement spring. If I need to make a new one can you suggest the correct size wire? Thanks , This video was just what I was waiting for. Jill in N.C.
I haven't seen a spring for the thread guide except on the used market (such as eBay). I just checked the springs on 3 winders and they averaged out at .029" for wire size. Give that +/- .002 and you should be fine. I count 5 coils with an inside diameter of .381" or about 9.5mm. If I find a source for new springs, I'll post it here.
Hello Bob, I have two questions: 1) Why does the cam-main gear screw has to be eccentric and not just round like a normal one ? 2) My 127 doesn’t have the lock washer behind the gear, would that be a problem? Thanks , appreciate your videos and enjoy your humour:)
This is incredible and exactly what I hope can solve my bobbin-winding problem!! I’d almost given up trying. Thank you!!!!!!!
I believe the thread guide on the Free Westinghouse is the notch on the lower edge of the guide. Thanks for the good instruction!
You are correct!
I can’t tell you how excited I was when I found this video. With my lack of mechanical knowledge, I needed a video that really helped me understand the mechanism so I can tackle the taking off and putting back with more confidence. My dirty and old 127 year old 27 is now moving perfectly, the stitches are beautiful from the very first try but I am scared of messing that up while cleaning it. Don’t know why but the way you explain the steps makes it all clear for me.
Great to hear! Glad to be of help!
Thank you very much. My 27 has been in the corner of my basement for 24 yrs. Cleaning it up now.
You answer a lot of questions I had before searching to a replacement. The main shaft of my 27is broken in two. Thanks to your vid I know what I have to look for.
So glad to find your video Bob! On my new Singer 27 it appears that the threads on the right side on the winder don't engage with the edge of the gear. Maybe once I get it clean I can adjust it with that center eccentric bolt.
Thank you for this tutorial. It was very helpful.
What a great video, super useful. It answered all my questions and gave me the confidence to try…🧐
Thank you so much for your video. I was able to fix my bobbin winder on my 28k, pretty much all the bolts weren’t done up tight enough and it was slipping all over the place. Tension was still a bit off but solved that by running the thread through the tension discs. 🪡🧵
Ooh - look at that opening shot! That's long-bobbin-winder eye-candy right there. I was excited before I even started watching. Thank you so much Bob - this was excellent, and the bonus on doing the repair to the thread guide was an unexpected treat. Yes, you answered all my questions, and then some. As for disassembling and reassembling - it's surprisingly easy and straight-forward once you've shown me. A lot less complicated in reality than they look (especially compared to the winders on the 66s and 201s and such).
I've got a few machines with both low and high versions of these and I'm now feeling quite confident I can spruce them up beautifully and put them back together so they work. Actually, it looks like it will be faster to remove, disassemble, clean the parts and then reassemble them than to try to clean them on the machine. Which is what I've been doing up till now!! :-)
Thanks Megan, good luck with your machines. Keep me posted on your progress!
@@BobFowlerWorkshop I surely will - this one I'm doing now is coming along rather nicely - in large part thanks to you! It's a gift for someone else and I'm getting more and more attached to her as I go. That's how I like it - it makes me feel extra-happy about giving it to someone. So your efforts have made a big difference for me, the machine, and the recipient. I know she's going to love it.
@@meganmills6545 That's awesome!!!
Well that was some precision welding right there , i have a flux core welder and i would not have been able to do that without melting that wire ,, very well done sir ...
A grinder and paint, makes me the welder I ain't... :-)
Thanks for another great video, Bob! It's almost like you knew that I have a 27 Sphinx that I've been avoiding, because I haven't rehabbed a long bobbin/shuttle machine yet.
I love the sound of a VS machine running at speed!
Great video :) I have a VS3 and the spring is broken for the thread guide. Also where the winder attaches by a bolt to the lug on machine it won't hold tight by the bolt, just flops down.
Thanks Jane! I answered Jill's question as best I could about that spring. I wish I had a source besides "look on eBay", but that seems to be the best option unless you can wind your own. I'm checking into the issue with a small batch spring maker to see how much it would cost to get a small run of these springs made, as well as a couple of other hard to find springs.
I hope this helps me get mine working right. I had to replace the tire. It's a 1907 Naumann Koningskind machine. With orange flowers. It's beautiful with original hand crank. Runs like a dream but the bobbin winder doesn't click in properly to wind. If that makes sense. Likely operator trouble 😉 it may be more similar to the 27. Mine does contact the hand wheel. It's a hand crank.
Odds are it's very similar. There are only so many ways to get thread on a bobbin, and all of the manufacturers seem to have used the same basic mechanism to accomplish the task. Keep me posted on your progress.
Hi Bob, I have a Singer model 27, and the spring on the left side of the bobbin winder is broken/ non functioning. Where can I buy a new bobbin winder. All other parts seem to be ok. So far. Lol, thanks for your videos. They're so helpful.
Your best bet is to find one on eBay.
I have two options on ebay for the bobbin winder. My machinis is a 27, but will a 28 also work? Thank you in advance. @BobFowlerWorkshop
@@vickiechamness3361 Maybe, it depends on how the winder mounts. email me at argosybob@gmail.com and I'll send you a phone numbere and we can tak...
@@BobFowlerWorkshop just sent you an email with photos. Thanks.
Hi Bob, thanks for the informative video! I have a Singer 127 where the bobbin is winding unevenly; it loads more thread on the left side of the bobbin than the right. If you watch the arm working with no thread, it does seem to move evenly across the bobbin. I was wondering: Does putting the spring for the guiding arm in a different hole (those 3 little holes under the winder arm) adjust how the arm guides the thread? Or how to I go about adjusting this? Thanks!
The spring hole selection only adjusts the amount of pressure the cam follower puts on the cam. Top adjust the evenness of the wind, you have to adjust the position of the thread guide, i.e. bend it. I really don't like to suggest doing that as it's a VERY easy part to break and are, for the most part, made of unobtainium... If you do decide to try to bend it, be VERY careful, go slowly, and try to source a replacement part BEFORE you try bending...
@@BobFowlerWorkshop thanks for the reply. The other thing I've been doing is guiding the thread by hand..not how it's supposed to work but it seems to do the job. I guess if I break it, I can keep doing it by hand.
I am having the same issue.
Wonderful! Is the washer behind the gear curved side toward gear or toward bracket? What is the diameter of that washer?
Hi Jo,
There are two concave washers in the assembly. Here are the measurements and orientations for each.
For the washer between the winder and the belt guard Concave side towards belt guard):
Thickness: .020"
Diameter: .560"
Height (concavity): .047"
Inner hole diameter: .230"
For the washer between the gear and the body of the winder (concave side towards body of winder):
Thickness: .010"
Diameter: .523"Height (concavity): .030"
Inner hole diameter: .240"
These are measurements taken from a 100 year old bobbin winder, so take that with a HUGE grain of salt. What's important is that you don't want too small an inner hole, to large an outer diameter, too thick a washer, or concavity that either binds (too high) or doesn't provide spring (too low). Wavy washers would probably work as well, but honestly I'm unaware of vendors that will sell very small quantities of this kind of hardware.
good info
Glad it was helpful!
Great video Bob. On the Free bobbin winder you mentioned no lower thread guide, but isn't it actually the cutout just to the left of the lower pivot screw? Your vids are always engaging though!
Nope, I thought so too, but no, that doesn't work as a thread path. The Free has so many strange things going on...
Bob, Can you speak to where to find a replacement spring. If I need to make a new one can you suggest the correct size wire? Thanks , This video was just what I was waiting for. Jill in N.C.
I haven't seen a spring for the thread guide except on the used market (such as eBay). I just checked the springs on 3 winders and they averaged out at .029" for wire size. Give that +/- .002 and you should be fine. I count 5 coils with an inside diameter of .381" or about 9.5mm. If I find a source for new springs, I'll post it here.
@@BobFowlerWorkshop Thanks I appreciated your answer.
Thank you '!!!!!!!!!
Hello Bob, I have two questions:
1) Why does the cam-main gear screw has to be eccentric and not just round like a normal one ?
2) My 127 doesn’t have the lock washer behind the gear, would that be a problem?
Thanks , appreciate your videos and enjoy your humour:)
PS, I see that you’re in NJ, too far from me. Can you recommend someone near Pittsburgh, Cleveland or even Erie area?
Try Jen at www.sewingmachinerehab.com