Old Style Singer 66 Upper Thread Tension R&R - for Carol

A quick video for Carol who is having an issue with her beautiful 66 Red Eye. I use my not yet beautiful Red Eye to demonstrate the removal, replacement, and adjustment of the check spring. The adjuster's manual states that the check spring should come up against the stop when the eye of the needle starts to enter the work (the eye, not the point). Tension on the spring should be sufficient to keep the thread in the path from tangling up. Let the tension disks keep the upper thread tension correct at the stitch...
Feature on my web page - "My Recommended Tools, Materials, and Suppliers" can be found here:
bobsvsmservice...
New manuals page on my website:
bobsvsmservice...
If you have a nightmare story you would like to share, send me an email to [e-mail] with "My Worst Nightmare" in the subject line. Include lots of pictures if possible and let me know the gory details!
My website: bobsvsmservice...
Get a coffee mug! The world is so much better with coffee...
bobs-vsm-servi...

[@sonialorenzo7563]

You helped me one more time. My 66 stitch was not looking so good and I follow your video to fix the tension. Got a new needle and all is well. Thank you again.

[@meganmills6545]

Aaaaah - nothing makes me happier than getting a grotty tension unit and making it all clean and shiny again. This Red Eye actually looks like quite a lovely machine to me. I bet once she's cleaned up and you've used that amazing cleaner/polish you showed us recently on this little beauty I'm going to need my sunglasses handy to look at her. We don't have many Red Eyes in New Zealand and very few indeed as lovely as that one is even though you haven't cleaned her up yet.

[@dalesuhre6522]

That sewing machine is not butt ugly. To me the most important thing about antique or vintage sewing machines is that they sew properly. I don't mind if they have scratches, worn or chipped paint.

[@BobFowlerWorkshop]

Oh, you haven't seen underneath or inside the needle bar area... She's ugly all right. Not for long, I'll make her pretty again...

[@HicklerJantlick]

Hey BOB! Thanks so much!! You do the best videos!!! This is going to help me with my pretty old Singer 99. Nor a 99K slthough I have a 99K too. Keep up the awesome work and GOD bless !!!

[@kimpayne2664]

I used your video as a work along as I took apart, cleaned, and oiled my upper tension. I even have my first stitches. I am moving onto your next video refresh an old style singer bobbin winder. Thank you for your videos!

[@anneostsee2764]

Perfect. Just what I needed for my 66!! Thank you so much!! Greetings from the Netherlands

[@sonialorenzo9223]

Thank you so much for the detailed explanation. This is one step I have not dared to take yet.

[@BobFowlerWorkshop]

Sonia, you're a superstar, you can do this...

[@grumpy_poo]

It was all the cursing and swearing that upset me when Elizabeth was working on that instrument!!!🤣 She is a very skilled lady.

[@quiltmaker8461]

Ty for the video. I’ve got similar issue with same beauty. Needs cleaned and serviced.

[@BobFowlerWorkshop]

It's easy, you'll be fine!

[@longingfortheharpazomoment7743]

Wonderful! Works fine when I move the handwheel but once I use the treadle, thread breaks. What am I doing wrong?

[@vanessahuman7607]

Awesome. I need to get a wheel for my moms treadle

[@vs7089]

Awesome, clear and to the point. Both your wife’s and your work are arts that need to not be lost, keep up the great work.

[@75cherrylicious]

What are you using to clean the parts with? I only have sewing machine oil

[@jessysea]

With what and how are you cleaning the parts? Also my thumb nut is pretty stuck. What is the best way to get it loose with out damage? Great video!

[@BobFowlerWorkshop]

Hi Jessy, sorry for the delay in responding.Is it cross threaded stuck, or is it just crud welded stuck?

[@jessysea]

@@BobFowlerWorkshop not a problem. I ended up watching more of you videos and figured it out. SMO is always the trick. Your videos are very informative and useful. Appreciate all the knowledge that you share on KZbin.

[@tiffanymcknight6416]

Great video! Made me realize I’m missing my release pin on my great grandmothers machine I’m trying to get in working order. Just ordered the spring…suggestions on where to find the pin?

[@debbiepring2236]

Did you also clean the body where it goes in. Was it dirty too?

[@madelynbryan5712]

This video is gonna be so helpful when I check the tension for my singer 66 that I’m restoring. Thank you for the wonderful videos!!

[@jennifercarlson8227]

I love your videos! I have a singer 66 I’m restoring. How do you get the parts so clean? I’ve been using sandpaper, a wire brush on an dremel and clear sewing machine oil. Would an ultrasonic cleaner be useful? I’m concerned about the liquid it would be in, I don’t want to cause rust.

[@ryndl]

Dirty? Yes. Ugly? Never! Every old machine tells us its history in all of the nicks, scratches and worn paint and decals. Aside from rust, the worse they look, the better they sew. Oil attracts dirt and leads to a build up of oil varnish in a machine that was once used to make all of the clothing, curtains, tablecloths, etc. in someones house. The ones that look pristine were not used very much and probably not maintained .

[@greatexp59]

Thank you for the video! Do you have a video showing what's behind the tension assembly inside the machine? I'm seeing what looks to be something like a spring that is out of place, but I don't have a clue about where it is supposed to be on my 99 with a similar tensions assembly.

[@danellsworth7102]

Thank you for the great instruction!

[@lorrainewevisa4485]

So helpful thanks a lot.

[@louanngayan984]

Wow! About a year ago, I was working on getting my Grandma’s Red Eye up and running. I guess I had more luck than brains. I was most worried about the tension assembly, but thanks to you and some other KZbin folks I was successful. “Lucy” makes lovely stitches and I have sewed a number of simple items. Thank you! You are a treasure! Wish I could figure out how to share a short video here. Oh, well. 😄

[@BobFowlerWorkshop]

That's cool! Glad to know I helped, even a little bit.

[@cherylweso]

I am not so worried now to take my Red Eye 1912 apart! Thanks! 😊

[@BobFowlerWorkshop]

You can do it!

[@colleenbatt4222]

Thanks for this video! Will be watching again in a few weeks to reassemble my red eye. Love all the ones I have seen.

[@BobFowlerWorkshop]

Thanks for watching!