Singer 500A Rocketeer Thread Tension Unit: A curious problem solved, and thoughts about calibration

  Рет қаралды 4,192

The Vintage Machine Conservationist

2 жыл бұрын

The wonder of these machines to me is that, like a classic piece of literature, you learn something new every time you come back to them. Calibrating the thread tension unit led me to diagnose and treat a very interesting problem that I haven't found mentioned elsewhere; I explore it here in case anyone else has a similar difficulty. Then I finally get to calibrate the unit , which was my original intent all along.
I had lots of help getting to this point, and I hope my video adds to the knowledge that's out there! Here are some excellent references for a lot more background in case you want to know the basics of disassembly and reassembly, and for some of the influences that contributed to my opinions about calibration.
Archaic Arcane on rebuilding a 500 series tension unit:
kzbin.info/www/bejne/fWWconh4rKl1fK8
AndyTube video that includes “zeroing out” and other considerations for the thread tension unit:
kzbin.info/www/bejne/hoSmimpol69mrpo
AndyTube on how to make a new Tension Pin:
kzbin.info/www/bejne/g2LOiXeaaqx_e6c
Music credit: TeknoAXE: Bubble G-Funk sans melody

Пікірлер: 47
@andytubesewing1953
@andytubesewing1953 2 жыл бұрын
This is the best idea for setting the tension on a 500A/503A. This tension assembly has a different style numerated dial that is harder to set to zero, IMO. Your method really simplifies the process and even takes into account the possibility of a second thread which is something I never even thought of. For the last few machines I did I made the setting at the zero number on the dial and that was around15mg. When turning the dial farther to the left to the stop position that took the reading much lower; almost to 2gm. I liked that method a lot as setting the dial to zero for Satin Stitching narrow to medium width had the stitch nice and flat, but slightly puckered at the widest width. By turning the dial all the way left to the stop even the widest ZZ width setting had "unpuckered" stitches. I've always struggled with that and this method cured my puckery wide satin stitching. I'm so happy you continue to make videos as you have some great insights and fresh methods. Very nicely done.
@thevmc
@thevmc 2 жыл бұрын
Thanks Andy -- I learned from the best!
@gergemall
@gergemall Жыл бұрын
Agree
@sewingmachinesindetail
@sewingmachinesindetail 2 жыл бұрын
Thanks for sharing this very clear explanation about the tensioner of the Singer 500A and similar. I got two comments to your video. I think your way of adjusting the release point by bending the cross bar of the cup is a OK to do. But it is also possible to do the same adjustment by bending the arm pushing the pin in the head of the machine. I have done that successfully on a Singer 201, and it is just another method. The other comment is about the possible repair of a tensioner with a plastic coup as used on a Singer 237. I made a video about how to make it work using a bended steel thread - so it is possible to make it work. When I compare the Vintage Singer tensioners with a dial, I have to say that they typically got less quality and more problems than I have seen on other brands of sewing machines. One good check is to measure the thread tension repeated times just after the tensioner. Between each measurement you lift up the presser foot to release thread tension and turn the disks a bit and then set the presser foot down again and measure thread tension again. You can be surprised how much variation you get in thread tension this when you do that more times. I made a playlist mostly of videos I made about thread tensioners: kzbin.info/www/bejne/oXqxg5qgaZd6pKs
@jincyquones
@jincyquones 5 ай бұрын
This was very helpful, thank you! I've been using my machine a few days now, and come to find out, the tensioner wasn't even in place properly. It was way too tight and I had no idea it was supposed to disengage when the presser foot is up. I set it properly and calibrated it, and it's working much more consistently now. I got my 500A for free with a full set of accessories and the original manual because a neighbor threw it out with their trash. It's mine for life now!
@thevmc
@thevmc 5 ай бұрын
That's so good to hear! And what a find... I would slam on the brakes to rescue any Rocketeer that I saw in the trash! It was lucky you found it.
@bharris5732
@bharris5732 Жыл бұрын
Thank you. I have owned my 500a since the mid 60’s and the thread tension was really my only issue with my machine. I received a Bernina 1130 as a gift from my husband in the late 80’s which I like very much but kept my 500a as a back up. I plan to tackle correcting the tension issues soon as I plan to gift the little jewel to my granddaughter soon.
@thevmc
@thevmc Жыл бұрын
Wow, an original owner! That's truly wonderful. My mom had a 640 Golden Touch&Sew that I learned a bit on, and I started my collection with a good old 15, but when I saw the 500A I thought, and still think, that it's the most fantastic sewing machine ever designed. I really hope you can sort out the tension issues. I've admittedly struggled with mine as well (part of what prompted this video) and some of what I've experienced is that I think this machine really only likes standard polyester "stacked" (as opposed to cross-wound) thread. When I've had issues, it seems that swapping the thread can help.
@laurast.pierre4931
@laurast.pierre4931 Жыл бұрын
Thank you soooo much for this! Fixed my 500j!
@thevmc
@thevmc Жыл бұрын
You're so welcome, and it's so cool that you have a 500J! I kind of want one just for the prestige... :)
@carolemagnusson5044
@carolemagnusson5044 2 жыл бұрын
With a 403A, I recently had the exact same issue you had with the tension assembly not fully releasing the upper thread tension when the presser foot was up. The pin was the correct length, the indicator crossbar was not broken or bent, and all parts were put together correctly. In my messing about with everything, I looked at the three tension discs and they seemed to my eye thicker than normal, whatever normal is. I took the three discs out and measured the total thickness of the three discs as they were held firmly together. I used a cheap plastic Vernier caliper and got 5.50 mm. I happened to have some spare tension discs. The total thickness of these spare discs held firmly together measured 5.10 mm. I put these thinner discs on this 403A, and it did solve the problem; the tension is now releasing properly. So about 0.40 mm did make a difference to release the tension properly. Of course one has to have some spare thinner tension discs! I look forward to watching your future videos; your methods of teaching, your clear explanations and camera work keep my interest. I really like your method of setting the zero of tension; it is very useful.
@thevmc
@thevmc 2 жыл бұрын
Wow, thanks for that amazing tale of tension disc thickness, Carole! It is so interesting that there could be such variation, but also not surprising. Did you happen to notice if the discs all had the same part number? I guiltily want to collect them like coins, because I think they're beautiful and heavy and stamped with Singer. Also, they remind me of the coins my neighbor used to bring me from his travels abroad when I was very young -- the Danish 25 øre, I think, had a hole in it!
@carolemagnusson5044
@carolemagnusson5044 2 жыл бұрын
All the discs do have the same part number: #172226. The thinner ones came off my 401 parts machine made in 1959 in Anderson, SC. The thicker ones came off my 403A made in 1960 in Anderson, SC. So both sets are close in age made in the same place, so who knows why the differences!
@thevmc
@thevmc 2 жыл бұрын
@@carolemagnusson5044 Crazy! Maybe someone set the milling machine wrong that day...
@sewingmachinesindetail
@sewingmachinesindetail 2 жыл бұрын
@@carolemagnusson5044 That is an interesting observation. The tension disks of my Singers from SInger 66k, 201k and 237 got the same (low) height and the part no. 2102. I got some new no name tension disks from China, and they got significantly higher height and they cannot be used just like that in these Singer machines, because then your tension release will not work.
@leodawn5913
@leodawn5913 11 ай бұрын
I think I’m gonna have to watch this about 50 times having trouble with my tension knob😢 Thanks for making this video!
@thevmc
@thevmc 11 ай бұрын
Haha, I hope it helps! There are many more videos out there about this, if mine isn’t what you need :)
@christineparry5873
@christineparry5873 Жыл бұрын
Thank you for that. I’m waiting for my 500A to arrive and trying to find out as much as possible about them. I’ve done a lot with 99Ks and their tension disc set ups but this is quite different. Very interesting about the bar in the indicator and the tension release pin.
@thevmc
@thevmc Жыл бұрын
Thanks and you're welcome! AndyTube's series about the PA motor was what introduced me to his channel and helped me service mine, and then his comprehensive 401 series was what guided me through my restorations of several 500As :)
@gergemall
@gergemall Жыл бұрын
Thank you for your videos.
@thevmc
@thevmc Жыл бұрын
You're very welcome!
@sauces_official
@sauces_official 2 жыл бұрын
Thanks so much for making this video, I am attached to the beige slant shank singer family, and anything about the finer points of adjustment on them is so welcome! I ended up cutting a piece of plastic bread-bag clip to reinforce a bar that had too big a wear spot in it.
@tonyray91
@tonyray91 2 жыл бұрын
I agree, I have a 401g sadly the “Rocketeer” seems not to have been sold in the UK, I’d love to own one.
@sauces_official
@sauces_official 2 жыл бұрын
@@tonyray91 feel the same about the 401g, the rocketeers' styling is great looking, but sewing on them is a slight demotion in utility from the 400 series, due to the weird bobbin winder. contrary to many opinions, I've found the "automatic thread control" actually helps when stitching with thicker thread, I like having the option.
@thevmc
@thevmc Жыл бұрын
@@sauces_official So interesting about the thread control -- I've never found it to make much of a difference. I love that it was only ever on the 500 series...
@thevmc
@thevmc Жыл бұрын
Also @Sauces this is a brilliant solution to a pretty vexing weak point in the design of these tension units. Thanks for sharing!
@3goldfinger
@3goldfinger 2 жыл бұрын
I had the same problem with the bend cup, and I fixed it by modifying the little washer, @4.06 third from right, so it fitted at the back of the cup, and is much stronger. Works perfect.
@thevmc
@thevmc 2 жыл бұрын
That's a thought I had too! Lots have wondered if there are other items out there like that stop washer that can be used (without using the actual stop washer from the unit!) Funny that you could reassemble it "the wrong way" to fix it!
@jenifferfoster4312
@jenifferfoster4312 Жыл бұрын
Oh my goodness thank you for this video I have a singer 500 a Rocketeer and perfect condition beautiful machine everything is perfect but my tensions wacky I’ve had it for about two years never been able to get it right and a riddle to use it watching your video I’m missing the adapter and the dial that little piece that goes inside the brown piece I miss both of those they’re just not on the machine I have the gold up over one around one with the plus minus I’m not missing it man now I know why the older singers I have don’t have that cap so I didn’t even notice it was missing. Thank you so much next question do you by chance know where I could buy the adapter in the dial?
@kivie13
@kivie13 Жыл бұрын
I had the same problem on a 503 so I ended up just making a new pin from a nail. Unfortunately I had to figure it out and make it from scratch because I couldn't find a solution searching on the internet.
@thevmc
@thevmc Жыл бұрын
AndyTube has a video about that, linked above in the description. I was corrected that he uses a "finishing nail" and not a "roofing nail," which is much bigger. I joked that the roofing nail must be for industrial machines haha! kzbin.info/www/bejne/g2LOiXeaaqx_e6c
@jenifferfoster4312
@jenifferfoster4312 Жыл бұрын
Sorry that last comment wasn’t very clear I was using speak to text while the video was playing lol I am missing I just checked my selector gold aluminum pieces mine is aluminum and it is flat as well another issue thank you very much and I am definitely missing the adapter and that brown cap dang it I had a little clamp on it with repress them in and it kind of worked but not well enough for me to use it so thank you so much if you know where I could buy the adapter in the brown thing I would be greatly appreciated everything else on this machine is original and I have the original Copenhagen desk that it came in so I would like to get old pieces of possibly you know where those are at thank you very much have a blessed day Jen
@thevmc
@thevmc Жыл бұрын
Hi Jennifer, there are often spare parts at places like SingerOnline.com, Etsy, ebay, etc...
@tonyray91
@tonyray91 2 жыл бұрын
Interestingly the German made Singer 401g does have the automatic thread metering device you mentioned whereas the 401A does not. It seems strange that Singer would go to the effort of developing such a device and putting it into production for it then to be dropped. it would seem to warrant further investigation.
@thevmc
@thevmc 2 жыл бұрын
Wow! I just looked one of those up -- fascinating. I think either it doesn't seem to do much, or people have (perceive, at least) actively worse sewing experiences using it. You know, there's another one-off element I've known since childhood that took arguably even more resources and developer time, and that's the vacuum-assisted needle threading device shoehorned into the Golden Touch&Sew 640. I met the engineer who designed it once!
@m.d.938
@m.d.938 2 жыл бұрын
Am hoping you can assist, please read below. I have pics & short video to share that mighy be helpful. Thanks in advance for any help! UPDATE 1 with pic & video: I removed the tension dial & reinstalled it, the take up lever still does not move the presser foot up or down via the machine or manually. ORIGINAL MESSAGE: Presser bar will not go up or down. I'm brand new to sewing & successfully made a few seam repairs today. Out of no where, the 'latch' on the back of the machine that moves the presser foot up & down is still moving up & down but the presser foot itself is NOT moving - see video. The only thing that happened between repairing seams & the non-moving presser foot is I (attempted) to adjust the pressure adjustment dial, it came off & then I reattached it & the screw is tightened. Please help!
@matt21525
@matt21525 2 жыл бұрын
Hmm, I don't see any pics or videos, but it sounds like maybe the bracket holding the presser bar has come loose -- I would refer you to the Service Manual here: (www.manualslib.com/manual/1104004/Singer-500.html?page=4#manual) on page 4 it shows set screw B, which may be the problem if it's loose. There's also lots of instructions for how to remove and replace the tension setting dial properly and make sure that's in order.
@m.d.938
@m.d.938 2 жыл бұрын
@@matt21525 thanks for the reply Matt. I'm not familiar with youtube and was not sure how I would post the pictures or the video of what's going on (not going on) inside the machine when I attempt move the presser foot lever up & down. It will not budge via machine or manually trying to move it. If you can instruct me a way to do this, am happy to send those along. Thanks for the recommendations.
@r.duroucher225
@r.duroucher225 2 жыл бұрын
Finishing nail not a roofing nail.
@thevmc
@thevmc 2 жыл бұрын
Oh right... the roofing nails would be for industrial machines 😂
@r.duroucher225
@r.duroucher225 2 жыл бұрын
@@thevmc I had the same problem with a tension unit on a Singer 15. Bent horizontal. I think this is a design flaw on many if not most of these units. The aluminum doesn't hold up. I bent it like you did but toyed with adding another strip of metal and using epoxy to glue it in place.
@thevmc
@thevmc 2 жыл бұрын
@@r.duroucher225 Nice! I was thinking about this later, and wondered if you couldn't also adapt a part similar to the stop washer in the front of the assembly, to do the same duty.
@r.duroucher225
@r.duroucher225 2 жыл бұрын
@@thevmc I hadn't thought of adapting a part, the furthest I've gotten is looking around my workshop for a likely piece of sheet metal to cut into shape to reinforce the horizontal. I suspect that a piece of thin steel sheet metal is the likeliest candidate, but I do have a few pieces of spring bronze that might work. I've been leaning toward epoxy, but perhaps some other glue would be more appropriate. It may be that solder would work. At this point, bending the horizontal into shape has continued to work, but the next time I run into this issue I'll be sorely tempted to get out a pair of shears and some metal.
@r.duroucher225
@r.duroucher225 2 жыл бұрын
@@thevmc I actually did laugh out loud when I read the roofing nail comment.
@suhseal
@suhseal 15 күн бұрын
it doesn't go to 11. LOLOLOLOL Jokes aside i'm totally going to recalibrate my 500a now.
@matt21525
@matt21525 15 күн бұрын
Woot! It's worth it to get it just to get it to a place where you can always reset it back to that point, if it gets outta whack.
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