The Upholstery Forum

I have been playing with the tension, but the main issue is that in order to not have slack in the bottom stitch I end up pulling the knot to the top instead of having it balanced. So something is preventing me from getting a properly balanced and tension stitch. More than likely I will need to tear the machine down and clean it up like I did on the 111w155 and start troubleshooting from there. I have been removing lint from places where it seem unlikely to be, and sometimes wonder if it was actually part of the self oiling system, but it is loose material and not like a felt piece that is a single piece.

@BigRig I finally got around to opening up the Twin Needle.

This what I found.



This is what was removed from the hooks:

Its incredible the amount and places lint ends up in your machine! I find this problem gets really bad when sewing a lot of canvas.

@JimmieJoe ,

We both are using the same machine and I am wondering how your Singer 111 is sewing is it smooth all the way or does it have a habit of altering tension of catching trail thread leaving you with three threads coming out of the hole.

On the 111w155. I spent a lot of time troubleshooting it before I hot it working well. Following UWE videos help lot. I currently have an issue with the presser foot not dropping all the way, but I know what the problem is just trying to fing the correct part, bought 2 parts already but even though they correct part number for my machine is listed it does not fit my machine.

On the twin needle it is working well now, after cleaning out the lint, replacing both bobbin springs adjusting both bobbins to similar tension and switching the guagez

@BigRig The 111w155 used to have issues with tension and inconsistent stitch length. In my case the probable was the "thread tension release guide". When it binds it causes all kinds of problems. After following the UWE video for this a lot of issues went away.



All of my practice stitches has been with the 111.

Do you have a photo showing the issue you are having, I am still learning the lingo, and may not understand what the issue is that you are having.

@BigRig what I found with the “thread tension release guide” on my machine was that if I used the foot lift lever on the back of the machine it would bend the guide, but if I used the knee lift it did not. As a result I end up straightening the guide and reused it because I have not found a correct replacement yet. When I forget and use the lever the presser foot stop dropping all the way to the throat plate, and some time the tension becomes an issue as well, either because the foot is no longer holding the material down, or because the tension is getting released. Not sure, if you have the dame issue, but it sounds like you might.

This is the guide when it is not binding:


This is binding:


On mine the metal has been soft and bend out of shape easily. The new parts that do not fit are very stiff and do not bend easily.

I may end up modifying a part to correct this.

@JimmieJoe , My back of machine will go clunk and then its game over the pressure foot pushes down so hard. I adjusted everything and it is working well. I just finished a job with my old singer may get a picture posted.

@BigRig That sounds like you have this problem: https://leatherworker.net/forum/topic/7 ... 1644018056 I had a similar problem, but after following UWE thread tension release guide video it correct that and other issues as well. If your issue is not the first part of the discussion, you may need to scroll further down to the second discussion. There is even a 3rd discussion even further down, but it is really hard to follow.

@JimmieJoe , I folowed that video and it is much smoother now. Thank you