To set the timing, I had to pull the whole machine apart.
As you manually run the machine, you might notice that when the shuttle hook comes around, the needle is still in too high a position and doesn't completly go down until the shuttle hook is already rotated too far to the left. When the shuttle hook passes the needle, the eye of the needle should be under the hook.
When you get the machinery completely out of the plastic casing, behind the bobbin casing, you notice the rotating part is attached to a small gear. There is a sawtooth gear that goes back and forth to drive the bobbin shuttle. if you take apart the things stablilizing the sawtooth gear mount, you can dislodge the sawtooth and manually rotate the shuttle housing to adjust the timing. once it looks good, just put things back together.
With the sewing needle completely seated, the eye of it should be below the thing that catches the upper thread. (shuttle hook)
Usually when timing is an issue, it is just cause the sawtooth gear skipped one tooth. Trying to sew something too thick can knock off the timing.
This machine or similar is $100 new but costs $85 to have fixed. If you fix it yourself, assuming none of the parts are broken, it is free, but takes a couple hours if you have never done it. Ultimately, it is worth trying to fix since a new one is $100 and fixing one at a shop is $85
Erin, September 2009
