Hi,
Recently, when I was sewing through a couple of layers of cordura, the needle on the Singer 301A came outta the socket (hadn't tightened the screw in a while) and broke in two places. I recovered all but the tip fragment. The machine is working properly but is making a squeaking noise in the bobbin area. I removed the throat plate and didn't see anything. Any ideas?
Take the bobbin case out and clean under it. There ought to be instructions in the manual, but if you haven't got it, someone here is bound to have one and can email a copy of this bit (or the whole thing, if you beg right!) Have you looked at the downloadable instruction manuals on the Singer web site?
You could try taking the bottom cover plate off, and, using a SM lint brush, brush off the area under the feed dogs and cover plate.
However there is a good chance that the end of the needle may be in, or behind, the bobbin assembly, so you should try taking the bobbin assembly out.
Hop over to the "VINTAGESINGERS" YAHOO group....there is a copy of the "Singer 301 Service/Adjusters Manual" in the FILES section of the group...its a great document for any 301 owner to have.
------------------------ Adult: A person who has stopped growing at both ends and is now growing = in the middle.
try using a small magnet in the area. Some times small screw drivers have a magnet on the end or take one of those business card magnets that we all have on the fridge and cut a narrow strip - WITH YOUR JUNKY SCISSORS. Probably not strong enough to pick up a complete needle, but good enough to get the tip. Push it around in the bobbin area are far as it will go. Pull out often to see if you caught anything.
Joy S-E
InspirePoint website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here. All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.