My elna sewing machine bobbin won't spin on top to wind thread around. The fly wheel spins though...I've been putting thread on the bobbins by hand.

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.

Firstly, have you got an Elna metal bobbin? it should be solid on the bottom and have 7 holes on top. It is essential that you always use it this way, wind it with the holes on top and load it into the bobbin holder the same way.


Have a look at the image above, you need to load the bobbin in and click the thread into the tension spring so it doesn't lift back out when you pull the thread upwards. There should be an audible click as it goes in.

If you can't get it right or this image is just too small, feel free to email me and I'll send you the image and talk you through it, I have a TSP machine too. [email protected]

Also, check my tip on bobbin winding here http://www.fixya.com/support/r10598580-winding_bobbin_correctly it is important to get a good even tension onto your bobbin as you wind the thread on, you may need to manually add some tension to the thread as it winds off the spool, as I've described in my tip. I sold these machines for Elna and customers would bring them in complaining of problems with their machine. Almost aways, it was the needle in backwards, bobbin upside down, thread/lint buildup in the bobbin race or badly wound bobbin that was the problem.

Hope this helps you Gaylene, but if not, please email, I may be able to send you the relevant manual pages.

How do you get the top off

Sounds like the bobbin may not be the right one for your machine. YOu haven't said what make and model this is but you should check your manual or online to ensure you have the correct bobbin for it. I've seen Elna's with Singer bobbins in, they'll stitch okay but then tension problems occur, you need to have the right one for your machine. (if you aren't sure, try looking at www.sewusa.com or www.sewingpartsonline.com to find the bobbin described for your machine.)

Also metal bobbins can get squished if they've been stood on, so have a good look at it and make sure the bobbin is in good shape and looks okay.

Now take the thread off it and rewind a fresh bobbin making sure you've got tension on the thread the whole time and that the thread winds onto the bobbin very smoothly and evenly. This is something that is not emphasied in sewing machine manuals but makes a HUGE difference. Think of your garden hose coiled onto the hose reel. If you wind as the hose wants to go, it goes onto the reel all over the place, then jams up and you can't get it all on there. Look at how a thread spool is wound, the factories wind the thread in a very neat sequence and you want your bobbin to look the same. So always use the tensioner on top of the machine to take the thead around when winding the bobbin. If you don't have one, then put tension onto the thread spool the thread is coming off to ensure the thread runs off at a constant tension and speed.

Carefully watch the thread as it goes onto the bobbin and nudge it with your fingertip to get it to fill evenly top, bottom and middle of the bobbin. Stop when 3/4 full.

Now put bobbin to bobbin holder ensuring that it goes in the right way, always the thread should come off the bobbin and reverse direction in a V shape. Click the thread into the tension spring. Double check it is in there and then thread up the rest of the machine and test sew.

THere is some good trouble shooting tips at www.sewusa.com so this might help you also.

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.

Is this a Swiss made Elna Lotus with top loading bobbin (check machine plate on right beside power inlet for manufacture details) ? (the original Lotus was released back in 60's but that name has been reused on a number of different models since, some made under licence elsewhere) If yes, then the following applies:

Bobbin should have holes on one side only, always wind it with the holes on top and load it into the bobbin holder the same way so it is rotating anti clockwise when you pull the thread.

Drop wound bobbin into bobbin holder and, while holding the bobbin still with one finger, pull the thread tail towards you into the tension spring, then press down on the thread until you hear it "Click" into the tension spring.

Then hand wind the fly wheel towards you while holding the top thread tail to catch the bottom thread and bring it up to the top needle plate, close the back sliding plate over the bobbin.

Other thing with these machines is ALWAYS hold the two thread tails firmly when you start a new seam so the threads don't get pulled down into the bobbin holder area. Really important.
You can dowload a manual from www.arizonaexpressionz.com for most of the Swiss machines.

If it is not Swiss made one, then your bobbin may be vertical front loading (like the Brothers).

There are threading diagrams for lots of machines at www.sewusa.com, there might be one there that covers your machine.

Elna bobbins have holes on the top, so wind the bobbin with the holes on the top too. The Lotus bobbin winder doesn't have a tension device, thread just goes through an eyelet. So, place your scissors curved handle on top of your thread spool as it unwinds the thread to ensure the thread then winds onto your bobbin evenly. Also watch the bobbin fill and give the thread a nudge with your finger tip to fill top and bottom as well as the middle part, you want it to wind evenly across the full width of the bobbin. When full, pop bobbin winder back to left, cut thread and pull off the bobbin.

Then place the bobbin into the bobbin holder with the holes on top, and pull the loose thread tail around anti clockwise into the tension device and gently "click" it into the tension spring with the tip of your finger while holding the bobbin still with your other index finger.

You will be able to tell if it is in tension if you then pull the thread and it doesn't come out of the tension spring. It should feel firm with resistance but still release thread to a gentle pull. Now thread the top down to the needle and holding the end of the needle thread, hand wind the fly wheel towards you to lower the needle and pull up the bobbin thread. Close the bobbin cover.

Always hold the two thread tails at the back of the sewing area as you start stitching a seam until you have stitched at least 4 or 5 stitches to avoid thread jams.

Lotus is a lovely vintage machine - there is a user group on Yahoo Elna heirlooms where you can find lots of info and pictures shared by members.

A link to a supermatic manual is here
http://www.arizonaexpressionz.com/elna_instruction_manuals/Supermatic.pdf - I suggest you download this and print it out as this machine is over 50 years old now and manuals are scarce.

Disengage the clutch by holding the outside of the fly wheel and turning the inner knob of the wheel towards you.
You need to take the thread from the spool across to an eyelet on top left, then back to the bobbin winder, up through a hole in the top of the bobbin and hold the thread tail. Flick the bobbin across against the stopper. Now press the presser foot or knee control to start the motor. Hold the thread tail until youve got coverage across the bobbin enough to hold the start, then stop winding and cut the thread tail with scissors. Now continue winding but put the handle of your scissors on top of the thread spool to stop it bouncing and ensure your thread winds smoothly and under tension.

Watch the bobbin fill and give the thread a nudge to fill top and bottom as well as the middle evenly, you want a nice even wind. Fill to 3/4 and stop, flick bobbin back off the stopper, then cut the thread. Remember to re-engage the clutch by reversing the first step.



This is a lovely heirloom Elna machine - you need to thread the bobbin as the manual describes and get the thread into the tension spring. Please read the manual information on oiling too, this machine needs to be oiled on the red spot locations every time you use it according to the manual, use good quality clear sewing machine oil for this purpose.

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.

Wind the Bobbin
For the usual jobs, it is the best to use a medium sized thread.
2. Disengage the flywheel by unscrewing the coupling knob as far as it will go.

3. Place the bobbin on the bobbin winder, and push the bobbin winder to the right.

4. Pull out one of the spool pins and place the spool of thread on it.

5. Pass the thread through the bobbin winder tension discs, as indicated.

6. Wind the end of the thread around the bobbin by hand, in the direction indicated.

7. Wind the bobbin, at a medium speed by pressing lightly with a finger on the spool so as to stretch the thread better and thus fill the bobbin to a maximum. The full bobbin stops automatically.

8. Re-engage the flywheel by tightening the coupling knob.

9. Cut the thread and remove the bobbin from the bobbin winder by pushing the latter to the left.