The hand wheel on my singer 358 sewing machine won't unlock to thread the bobbin

To wind a bobbin on the 3130, first raise the presser foot and bring the needle to the highest point in its travel cycle. Next hold the outside of the hand wheel with one hand. While holding the outside of the hand wheel, turn the knob inside the hand wheel towards yourself (counter-clockwise if you face the right side of the sewing machine). Make sure that the spool of thread is on the spool pin with the spool's thread retaining notch to the right. Put the appropriate spool holder on the spool pin. Snap the thread into the thread guide in to the left of the spool holder. Lift the top cover to expose the bobbin winding mechanism. Snap the thread into the bobbin winder tension disc by wrapping it around the front of the disc and then bringing it back towards the bobbin winding spindle. The bobbin winder tension disc is to the left of the top cover. Put the thread through the hole in the bobbin from the center of the bobbin. Keep the hole up and put the bobbin on the spindle. Push the spindle to the right. Hold the thread above the bobbin and start the machine. After a few rotations, you can let go and cut this part of thread. Restart the sewing machine and let it finish winding the bobbin. Once the bobbin is full, move the spindle to the left and remove the bobbin from the spindle. Cut the spool thread to release the bobbin to put it in the bobbin case. Hold the hand wheel and turn the inner knob away from yourself.

Singer has most of their manuals available here: https://www.singer.com/support . The current link to the Merrit 3130 manual is https://res.cloudinary.com/singer-sewing/image/upload/fl_attachment/Singer-Website-Library/outdated_product/SINGER_244_288_588_875_972_974_1195_3130_3140_3145_and_3150_Sewing_Machines.pdf .See page 23 (page 25 of the PDF) for the pictures for winding a bobbin.

I hope this helps.

Cindy Wells

Singer indicates that the 2430 to the Merritt 2404. The Merritt 2404 manual is available on the Singer support site: https://www.singer.com/support . The current link to this manual is https://www.singer.com/sites/default/files/product_manual/9bb8bc029ac33374a16f6ef37fdb37c14c7a8356_0.pdf . To wind the bobbin, make sure that the needle is up and lift the presser foot. Hold the hand wheel with one hand and keep it from moving. With the other hand, loosen the knob in the center of the hand wheel by turning the knob towards you. If the thread is not already on the spool pin, place it on the spool pin with the thread retaining slit to the right. Put the spool holder on the spool pin so that it holds the spool firmly.

Next snap the thread through the thread guide post and open the top cover. (If you have been sewing with the spool, unthread the upper thread back to the guide post.) Wrap the thread the bobbin tension disc going clockwise as you look at the top of the disc. (Bring the thread in front of the machine as you move to the left; then bring around to the back as you bring it to the bobbin winder.) Bring the thread up through the hole in the bobbin. Place the bobbin on the spindle with the hole up. Move the bobbin winder to the right. Hold onto the thread above the bobbin while you start winding the bobbin. After a few turns are on the bobbin, you can let go. After the bobbin is full (or full enough for your task), clip the thread and remove the bobbin. Move the bobbin winder to the left. Tighten the knob in the hand wheel by turning it away from you while holding the hand wheel.

I hope this helps.

Cindy Wells

Lucky you!

First thing to always try is a brand new needle. A lot of sewing machine problems are due to an old, dull, bent needle.

Most likely the machine has been knocked out of time--the needle and hook are out of sync. Search for sewing machine timing or take it or service.

https://singer-featherweight.com/blogs/schoolhouse/how-to-thread-a-singer-featherweight

Your repair shop will have to fix the handwheel, but you can still wind your bobbin. UNTHREAD the machine completely, and take the needle out. Set up your thread to wind the bobbin, and push the winder over until it clicks. Wind your bobbin. I don't have a picture of your model; this is just standard.

Something is binding up inside. Clean and check under the presser foot and bobbin area. Really examine under there... look for threads wrapped around and in between moving parts. Also check in the slot for the take up lever... sometimes threads get balled up inside there can cause problems.

could also be a bent upper arm inside the machine (lets hope not) Get professional help if cleaning doesn't free it up.

Hello

Set the tension on the sewing machine for the weight of the material you want to sew. The tension setting shows in the stitch on the material. Use the chart on the machine that matches types of stitches with suggested material tensions. An example of this is, the stitch to sew jean material is different than the stitch to sew silk.

Take the bobbin and wind the thread around it. Make sure the bobbin is empty and don't fill it too full of thread. A bobbin filled too full won't stay tightly spun.

Thread the string evenly on the bobbin. Move the thread back and forth evenly and in layers that are level. Many Singer sewing machines have a bobbin winder on the top of the sewing machine, and the consistency of how it threads can save you frustration later.

Find the hole on the bobbin that is located near the inside spindle of the bobbin. Take the thread sitting on the sewing machines spool and insert the thread in the hole from inside the bobbin to the outside. Set the threaded bobbin on the spool designated for spinning on the top of the sewing machine for some Singers.

Turn the side drive wheel slowly until the threaded bobbin has a layer or two of thread on it. Push down on the drive peddle and fill the bobbin, but don't thread it to the very edge. If the bobbin is too full the thread will release erratically. Cut the thread from the spool.

Drop the bobbin into the bobbin case under the area where the needle sews the material. Close the case and turn by hand the side wheel drive until the bobbin threads into the sewing machine. You can tell when the bobbin is threaded by the tiny piece of thread that juts out of the bobbin case where the needle goes up and down.

Grab the thread with your fingers and pull it out approximately 4 inches. Your bobbin is now spun and threaded.

A jammed machine is caused by thread being caught in the hook. Remove the upper thread and the bobbin case, turn the hand wheel towards you (counterclockwise) by hand and remove any thread in the bobbin case area. *Always turn the hand wheel towards you. Turning the hand wheel away from you (clockwise) can cause the machines timing to become unaligned and jam your machine. Also, always make sure the presser foot is in the down position before you start sewing. Sewing with the presser foot in the up position will jam your machine in the bobbin case.

Drop the bobbin in, holding the the of the thread between your left hand fingers, making sure the bobbin will turn clockwise as you pull on the thread, manually turn the wheel to make the needle go down and up again, as it comes up it will bring the bobbin thread up through the plate hole. There you are, close the plate, good sewing

Hold the tail of the needle thread loosely.  
Turn the hand wheel toward you (counter clockwise) and lowerthe needle into the hole in the plate. 
Turn the hand wheel until the needle rises back up to it's highest position.
Gen
You will see a loop of thread wrapped around the upper thread. 
Open the loop and find the free end of the bobbin thread.  
Voila!
Now you can sew.

Threading the bobbin - winding thread onto the bobbin.

Position the new empty bobbin onto the vertical bobbin rod next to the end wheel. Click the rod to the right to engage drive. Hold the outer end wheel with left hand, and rotate the inner wheel anticlockwise by about a 1/2 turn (it stops) this removes drive from the foot and needle mechanism.

From a spool of thread on the top, thread to a loop/post on the left on the top. Then back to the bobbin you want to wind. Thread through a hole from the inside-out. Hold the thread vertically above the bobbin while you depress the footswitch to start winding. Let go when it's turned a few times.

Move bobbin shaft left, and tighten end wheel after winding enough.

Fitting bobbin-

Move footplate towards you, insert bobbin in hole so that bobbin rotates anticlockwise when thread is pulled, then pull thread into the fine notch towards you. After this position thread away from you, and slide the footplate closed.

To start / load thread. Hold the end 3" of the thread through the needle behind the sewing foot. hand crank towards you to sew first stitch in air. This should retrieve the lower thread - which you can catch with a handy pair of scissors. Then pull both threads rearwards - ready to sew.