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Needle falling out t the worst times! Is there ever a good time?
tourist   Intermediate BC CANADA Member since 7/23/07 Posts: 5406	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 2/28/12 6:45 PM My old vintage machine is the BEST, but using the button holer or walking foot seems to work the needle screw out of place and the needle falls out in mid-use! Of course, if I pay close attention and tighten it up regularly, it is always as tight as it will go and only if I am deeply concentrating on a key piece of work that it all comes to a crashing halt. Very scary! Any advice? A drop of oil on the needle screw to prevent friction? ------ http://bgballroom.wordpress.com to follow the progress on my next ballgown.
bestgrammy OR USA Member since 8/29/06 Posts: 2318	Login to reply to this post In reply to tourist Like this post Date: 2/28/12 8:15 PM You are probably already tightening the needle screw with the little sewing machine screw driver rather than just your fingers, right. I may be wrong but I would think that sewing machine oil on the needle screw would help it loosen easier. Since it's a vintage the screw or the threading hole may be slightly worn enough to allow the screw to jiggle loose with sewing vibrations. My sister had that problem with one of her sms...and getting a new screw helped. There is also a product that seems oily but when dries actually keeps screws from slipping...BUT I can't remember it's name right now. I am going to the store soon and will look on the shelves to spark my memory. Of course this product would not be good for any other part of the sewing machine.
a7yrstitch   Intermediate TX USA Member since 4/1/08 Posts: 4375	Login to reply to this post In reply to tourist Like this post Date: 2/28/12 8:42 PM If a new needle screw wouldn't work and I was a bit desperate, I'd try a little bit of teflon tape. Leave a little tail on it to grab to pull out and be prepared to know that it might shred (technically shouldn't, but it wasn't designed for this application). If it were to shred, it should be easy enough to pull out with a tiny brush. The brush I'm thinking of looks like a dollhouse miniature version of a bottle brush. An old cleaned up mascara wand should work too, if there are any loose teflon tape ends to scoop out. ------ I have no idea what Apple thought I was saying so be a Peach and credit anything bizarre to auto correct.
fabb   Advanced Beginner AB CANADA Member since 10/27/09 Posts: 360	Login to reply to this post In reply to bestgrammy Like this post Date: 2/28/12 9:57 PM You're thinking of Loctite but I wouldn't use that for a screw that isn't pretty much permanent. I like the teflon tape idea.
Irene   Intermediate CA USA Member since 1/4/03 Posts: 929	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 2/28/12 11:40 PM (double post, see below) -- Edited on 2/29/12 3:17 AM --
Irene   Intermediate CA USA Member since 1/4/03 Posts: 929	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 2/28/12 11:47 PM I would set a timer and tighten the screw whenever it goes off. I use oil and teflon tape when I need to be sure that I can get things loose, not to hold them tight.
tourist   Intermediate BC CANADA Member since 7/23/07 Posts: 5406	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 2/29/12 10:09 AM Aha - I have not tried to use a screwdriver, so I will do that. But I never meant to oil the actual screw itself, just the "arm" part of it where the little "fork" sits. ------ http://bgballroom.wordpress.com to follow the progress on my next ballgown.
happytobehere Beginner Member since 7/31/10 Posts: 250	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 2/29/12 11:35 AM I have an old Pfaff that drops needles. My solution is to wrap the flat part of the needle with the tiniest piece of masking tape to make it a little thicker. It works every time and doesn't cost anything. Don't use too much tape or you won't be able to insert it.
Michele Lommasson   Advanced NM USA Member since 7/23/07 Posts: 370	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 2/29/12 7:39 PM Definitely use a screwdriver! The needle screw on older machines is not meant to be finger tightened. The only thing to watch out for with a screwdriver is, believe it or not, over-tightening, which can crack the needle-bar. So, don't crank it down, but tighten it firmly. Good luck, and have fun buttonholing. ------ Michele Lommasson
beauturbo Advanced CA USA Member since 5/2/09 Posts: 1426	Login to reply to this post In reply to tourist Like this post Date: 2/29/12 8:00 PM Just any time is probably a really bad time. You could try sticking/slipping a little short piece of hollow rubber or clear plastic tubing (like Aquarium tubing or such) over the needle set screw bar that the fork of the buttonholer is riding up and down on with each stitch. Maybe that will cushion it a bit, and absorb some of the machine vibration so it does not get jiggled loose so easy. I don't think it's so much the friction, I think it's probably more the vibration of every time that fork piece goes up and down there, that is making the needle get loose and fall out.

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