[Greg PA]

I picked up a Singer 111w153 to do some vinyl work. It ran fine when he demoed it for me, and even a few small trial sewing at home. I oiled it up, new needle, new thread, and went over it pretty good. I tried to sew something a little heavier and it stopped working.
The shaft that holds the need doesn't seem to be attached to anything. By that I mean it slides up and down freely. There has to be a set screw or something holding it in place but there isn't?

I have the manual and parts list, but the parts list pdf is faded on the page of these parts.

Anyone have an idea of what is wrong?

[Coodeville]

I have this machine but am not at home. From memory, I believe there is a shaft set screw to adjust the hight. Maybe yours loosened up and fell out.

[Greg PA]

Thanks for the reply, if you could look at yours and tell me where it should be that would be a great help.

[Coodeville]

Maybe this will help:
http://parts.singerco.com/IPinstManu..._W154_W155.pdf

[Coodeville]

Originally Posted by Greg PA

Thanks for the reply, if you could look at yours and tell me where it should be that would be a great help.

When I get home, I'll take a look and see if I can post a picture

[Greg PA]

I figured it out, there is a screw you can only get to when the machine is in a certain position. The problem I have now is:
How do you know how to set the height of the needle shaft?

[Greg PA]

When you get to your machine: with the foot is in its highest position tell me the distance from the plate to the tip of the needle.
Thanks for your help on this.

[DanTwoLakes]

Originally Posted by Greg PA

I figured it out, there is a screw you can only get to when the machine is in a certain position. The problem I have now is:
How do you know how to set the height of the needle shaft?

What you are adjusting is called the needle bar. At the bottom of the needle bar's stroke, the hook , moving from right to left, should be passing the scarf (the hollowed out area just above the eye) in the needle to pick up the top thread.

[mpm32]

This might help you;

Adjust Timing

I just found the vid.

[Greg PA]

Thanks for all the help, I got it running. The only problem I am having now is the V69 thread is separating at the needle eye after about a foot of sewing. It seems like a tension problem. I will also change the needle (it was new) and see what it does. Any suggestions, as always, are welcome.

[Coodeville]

Is the V69 thread brand new?

[DanTwoLakes]

Originally Posted by Greg PA

Thanks for all the help, I got it running. The only problem I am having now is the V69 thread is separating at the needle eye after about a foot of sewing. It seems like a tension problem. I will also change the needle (it was new) and see what it does. Any suggestions, as always, are welcome.

Are you running the thread through the thread guide just above the needle? If not, the thread runs at an angle through the needle and can fray the thread.

[Greg PA]

The thread is less than a year old from Sailrite. Yes I run the thread through the guide. I will work on adjusting it again tonight and let you know if I figure anything new.

Thanks for the help!

[Coodeville]

The guy who sold me my 111W153 told me that the thread goes through the hole above the needle. He used the machine right in front of me to sew a sail. It was a pain to get it into that whole. I really was sceptical about that. Then I learned better.

[Greg PA]

I got it working pretty well last night. I need to "grease" the guide areas because the thread seems to catch or grab a little and occasionally and this causes the thread to break. I am going to buy some thread lubricant, and also check for any burrs on the thread guides.

What is the red dot and red arrow showing?