I have an antique Singer sewing machine which used to work fine, but now it sews for only a few inches before the bobbin thread snags in its pick-up mechanism and then breaks. I have cleaned, oiled, adjusted the needle thread tension, but no improvement. What else can I try?

Peter, May 2010

Hello Peter,
you have not said what model you have, make sure the needle is in the correct way round, make sure it is the corect size for the thread, make sure you use a good thread, make sure the needle is not slightly bent, if you do not have a numbered tension dial then you will have to adjust it very slightly each time to get it right, check the needle plate and make sure there are no sharp edges cause by a breaking needle.

drivewithken, May 2010