I just bought a mini sunbeam. I can not remove the bobbin on the side nor can I release the spindle on the hand wheel to load a new bobbin. What am I doing wrong ?

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

Check if the machine is in the bobbin winding mode. To wind the bobbin, the bobbin spindle has to be moved to the right. (The hand wheel will not turn if the bobbin spindle is in this position.) If it is, move the spindle to the left.

If the hand wheel turns, then check for a thread jam. Remove the top thread and take out the bobbin case. Gently turn the hand wheel forward and backwards until the thread comes free of the hook in the bobbin race. Follow this by cleaning any lint from the bobbin race of the sewing machine.

The last possibility is that the belt has failed. This belt transfers the energy from the motor to the needle bar. One source of the belt is http://www.sewingpartsonline.com/motor-belt-singer-007158xxl5.aspx . You can find YouTube videos on changing the belt. There are other parts that transfer the forces form the belt to the needle bar. However, I suggest you find a good sewing machine mechanic if any of these parts fail.

The manual has good pictures of the bobbin spindle on page 11 (page 18 of the PDF). Singer has the manual on their support page: http://www.singerco.com/support/instruction-manuals . The direct link to the manual is http://www.singerco.com/uploads/download/e06cb85928ace9753f1a7124f4a2df6168ffecf0.pdf .

I hope this helps.

Cindy Wells

Grasp the big wheel on the right hand side and pull it out (to the right).
Thread the bobbin and put it on the bobbin spindle on top. Push the bobbin and spindle to the right. Turn on the machine and spin it up. The bobbin spindle should turn and the machine should not sew.

It appears from the manual (see pages 9-10, which are on 11-12 of the pdf version) that it is necessary to disengage the hand wheel (loosen the center knob) with the bobbin winding lever all the way to the left, before putting the bobbin on the winder spindle. Put the bobbin on the spindle, then set the winding lever to the right position to engage the spindle drive. Do not tighten the hand wheel knob until after the bobbin is wound and the lever is moved back the left to permit bobbin removal.

If you are following these directions exactly, or you can't get the hand wheel knob loose, you have a mechanical problem to solve. You may need a stronger hand to loosen the knob, or something in the bobbin winder is bent, out of adjustment, or jammed with foreign material. If you are mechanically inclined, you may want to remove the top cover of the machine for inspection.

Locate the bobbin access panel to the right of the presser foot. Place thumb tip in the oval hole and pull to the left, (It might also tip up, but I doubt it.) Reach in and lift and grasp the little lever on the bobbin case, pull it out. Remove bobbin from case. Select the thread you want to fill the bobbin with. Place it on the thread spindle. Pull thread trough the small round tension disc on top of the machine and back toward the short spindle on the right top of the machine. If your bobbins have holes.. thread a hole and place the botton on that short spindle. Slide the bobbin and spindle toward the metal "fence". Loosen the hand wheel by turning the center knob counter clock wise. Grasp the little thread on the bobbin and start winding a few revolutions with you holding the thread. Stop and clip that short thread close to the bobbin then continue winding until full.

When the bobbin is full. Return the hand wheel knob to it's original position. Slide the bobbin winder spindle away from the "fence" and remove the bobbin. Place the bobbin in the case with the bobbin facing you... the thread when pulled should rotate the bobbin itself clockwise (VERY Important!) Hold the lever open and replace the bobbin.

For your convenience I have located this PDF for your machine. (be patient, it takes a while to load)

http://s2.vsmgroup.com/VSM/Pfaff/pfaffmanual.nsf/1fd5659e6f37141041256697003e64c0/38ca989591640b1a852575f30058c8ff/$FILE/Pfaff%20260%20.PDF

To get that same thread onto the bobbin, you'll need to windit. Here are the steps:1. Removethebobbin from the sewing machine. If your machine has a free arm, you'llhave to remove this first. Open the bobbin door to reveal the bobbin case, forvertical loading models. If your machine has a drop-in bobbin (horizontalloading) you may have to simply slide the metal plate open, which sitsunderneath the presser foot.2. Lift the latchand pull the bobbin case out of the machine (for vertical loaders). Butfor drop-in bobbins, simply lift the bobbin out of the housing.3. Tip the bobbincase over and let the bobbin fall into your hand. (Some bobbin caseshave a latch on the side, that when lifted releases the bobbin). If the bobbinhas another color thread on it, use a new bobbin. Or, if it's not too muchthread, roll it all off and reuse the bobbin. Just make sure the bobbin youwind begins empty. (But in a pinch, you can wind a new color thread over theold color. Just know that you may have to rewind the bobbin fairly soon, as thedesired color thread finishes faster.4. Place yourselected thread onto the spindle and insert a holder over it, if there is one(usually on horizontal spindles only). Many machines just use gravity toretain the thread, so if your spindle is vertical and you have no such part,don't worry about it. If thisis a brand new spool of thread, you may need to free the end. Look for a smallnotch on one end of the spool. You may have to peel back the label a bit to getat it. Then yank it free.5. Loop the free endof the thread over the bobbin tensioner and any hooks on it. Thelocation of this part varies, but it generally looks about like this. Thread the end of the thread through the pinhole in the top of the bobbin. 6. Press the bobbinall the way onto the bobbin winding spindle. Make sure any springs orclips engage. Put it on so that the end of the thread that you put through thepin hole sticks out towards you (or sticks up, depending on if your bobbinwinder is at the top of your machine). 7. Disengage theneedle mechanism. Many machines have this control in the handwheel. It may require a push, pull or twist of the middle of the hand wheel.Check your sewing machine manual to be sure. The sewing machine may run fasterwhen winding a bobbin than when sewing and you don't want the needle moving upand down wildly. Engage the bobbinwinding mechanism. On some machines, it's done by pushing the bobbinspindle over to one side. You may also need to move the stitch selector to abobbin winding position.8. Hold the free endof the thread and, keeping fingers clear of all moving parts, press the footpedal or knee lever. The bobbin spindle will turn. If you have thebobbin threaded correctly, the bobbin will wind smoothly, evenly, and snugly,with perhaps a slight bulge in the middle. You should cut off the end of thethread you were holding in your hand (very close to the bobbin) as soon asthere's enough thread on the bobbin to hold itself in place so it won't slipout. This will prevent this thread from tangling onto any moving parts.9. Fill the bobbincompletely. It may seem like a lot of thread, but you don't wantto run out too soon while you're sewing. Many machines have a built-in deviceto stop winding when the bobbin is full, often a small blade that automaticallycuts the thread when the wound bobbin is full. If your machine has such adevice, let it tell you how much to fill the bobbin. If not, fill the bobbin nofurther than its edges. Hold the bobbinand case so that they are oriented as shown. Check that thebobbin will unwind in the correct direction. If not, flip it.10. Insert thebobbin into the bobbin case. Pullthe thread under the bobbin tensioner (a thin metal latch). The threadshould advance with a little resistance when you pull at it. Allow this excessthread to just hang. Lift the latch onthe bobbin case and hold it as shown.11. Insert thebobbin case into its housing. Make sure it is all the way engaged (youshould hear it click into place) and that the direction is correct. The bobbincase shouldn't spin and shouldn't come loose when you release the tab. Itshould be locked in. And the loose end of the thread should hang free. Do notclose the bobbin door.12. Re-engage theneedle at the hand wheel, disengage the bobbin winder, and set the machine backtoa straight, forward stitch. Thread the machine with the top thread as usual. Once the threadis through the needle, you must raise the bobbin thread. Hold the end of thethread with your free hand. Turn thehand wheel towards yourself. The needle should go down and back up to itshighest position. One full rotation should do it. The top thread will passaround the bobbin.13. Watch as the topthread pulls the bobbin thread up through the hole in the plate under thepresser foot. Pull the looseends to extend them, and continue to hold them firmly so they don't get tangledas you begin to sew.Closethe bobbin door before sewing.Hope this will help you. Good Luck.

Hi there,

Well you may please follow the steps below -
1. Remove the bobbin from the sewing machine. Note: whether you have a drop-in, front or side-loading bobbin on your sewing machine. A drop in bobbin will load from the top, may be via a removable bobbin case cover near the machine-fed dogs. A side or front loading bobbin needs to be loaded into a removable bobbin case under the machine.
2. Choose the right size bobbin for the sewing machine.
3. Wind thread onto your bobbin. Your sewing machine should have a standard thread spool to hold the thread and a short, squat post wide enough for a bobbin.
4. Put the thread and empty bobbin into position on your sewing machine. Wrap the thread around the bobbin to start it. On most machines, disengage the needle by turning the smaller hand-wheel on the machine toward you. Push the bobbin post into position, securing the bobbin into place. Press gently down. Thread should begin to wind neatly onto your bobbin.
5. Break the thread, push the bobbin post back into an inactive position and remove the bobbin. Tighten the hand-wheel. Thread your sewing machine again if necessary before loading the bobbin.
6. Remove the bobbin case cover and put the bobbin into position. The thread should slide through a catch on the bobbin case and up through the cover.
7. Access the bobbin case for a front or side mount bobbin. Lift the catch and remove the removable bobbin holder. Put the bobbin into the holder and run the thread through the holder, bringing it to the front. Lift the catch and slide the bobbin holder back into the case. Hold your needle thread gently forward with your left hand and turn the hand-wheel. The needle thread will pass down into the machine and catch a loop of the bobbin thread. Pull this loop up and slide both threads to the back before beginning to sew.
Good Luck!!

Thanks for using FixYa!!

There should be a small spindle up on top near the wheel (right hand side).
Start winding the thread on by hand a few wraps to hold it in place and put the bobbin on that small spindle, making sure it is going to wind the proper way. To find out what way it will wind you can first (without the bobbin) push the spindle to the right so that it spins when the wheel turns, turn the wheel by hand for this so you can see which way it is spinning the spindle. Is it clockwise or counterclockwise? Then put your bobbin on and push it to the right so that the wheel will turn the spindle as you press the foot pedal. You should have some sort of tension clip on the top left of your machine, it looks something like the top of a big screw or may be a flat hook. Put the threat under that so that it goes directly from the spool to the bobbin, NOT through the needle. As gradually as possible wind the thread onto the bobbin but not too full, most machines will stop filling it when the bobbin is full. If yours does not, stop filling it when there is still about 1/16 th of an inch room left.

Check the bobbin winder rubber, it may be worn or broken and insufficient friction against handwheel to turn.........or a thread jam around spindle is stopping the spin. In this case, carefully unwind, DO NOT cut thread.

Heat the wheel with a hair dryer to loosen. If this does not help, you will need to visit an authorized Bernina dealer.