Singer Featherweight 221
221, 221K and 222K. Needle 15x1 flat side left, bobbin 45785, Singer's oil points, motor grease, and how hook timing is checked.
Sewing machines and sergers we cover
Ten machines, grouped by era. Each page covers identification, needles and bobbins, threading, tension, cleaning, oiling and troubleshooting.
Vintage
Singer 15-91
Potted-motor Class 15 machine. Needle 15x1 flat side left, Class 15 bobbin, the right bobbin case (125291), oil and grease points, shuttle timing checks.
Singer 401A Slant-o-Matic
Gear-driven slant-needle zigzag. Needle 15x1, Class 66 bobbin 172222, slant-shank feet, oil and gear-grease points, hook timing marks.
Modern mechanical
Singer Heavy Duty 4423
Mechanical heavy duty machine. Class 15 transparent bobbin (not 15J), Singer needle styles 2020 and 2045, tension 4, and the manual's troubleshooting.
Brother XM2701
27-stitch mechanical machine with a drop-in SA156 bobbin and a needle threader. Threading order, cleaning the race, and why not to oil it.
Brother LX3817
17-stitch mechanical machine, also sold as LX3817A and LX3817G. Hand threading, SA156 bobbin, bobbin case XE9326-001, cleaning the race.
Janome HD3000
Heavy-duty mechanical with a top-loading rotary hook. Janome bobbin 102261103, blue tip needles, threading, hook race cleaning and the manual's troubleshooting.
Juki TL-2010Q
High-speed straight stitch quilter. HAx1 or HLx5 needle flat face right, Juki L bobbin and case, the bobbin drop test, and daily oiling.
Computerized
Brother CS7000X
70-stitch computerized machine. SA156 bobbin, bobbin case XF5707-101, tension reset at 4, cleaning the race, and what each E code means.
Sergers
Brother 1034D
Two-needle 3/4 thread serger. Brother's threading order and colors, tension dials at 4, differential feed, monthly oiling and knife part numbers.
Needles, bobbins and oil at a glance
| Machine | Era | Needle system | Bobbin | Owner oiling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Singer Featherweight 221 | Vintage | 15x1, flat side left | Featherweight bobbin 45785 (own type) | Yes. Daily with continuous use; motor grease only |
| Singer 15-91 | Vintage | 15x1, flat side left | Class 15, metal; case 125291 | Yes. Daily with continuous use; motor grease yearly |
| Singer 401A Slant-o-Matic | Vintage | 15x1, flat side back | Class 66 (172222, retailer) | Yes. Oil after each cleaning; grease on gears |
| Singer Heavy Duty 4423 | Modern mechanical | Singer styles 2020, 2045, 2032 (no system stated) | Singer Class 15 transparent (D2134) | Not covered by Singer's manual |
| Brother XM2701 | Modern mechanical | Home sewing machine needles; Brother names Schmetz 130/705H | Brother SA156, Class 15 type, plastic | No. Brother says the owner must not oil it |
| Brother LX3817 | Modern mechanical | Home sewing machine needles (Brother names no system) | Brother SA156, Class 15 type, plastic | No. Brother says the owner must not oil it |
| Janome HD3000 | Modern mechanical | 15x1 (retailer); Janome Blue Tip 200346007 | Janome 102261103 (Class 15 per retailer) | Not covered by Janome's book; cleaning only |
| Juki TL-2010Q | Modern mechanical | HAx1 (130/705H) or HLx5; flat face right | Juki L style, metal (A9117-007-000) | Yes. Once a day if used daily |
| Brother CS7000X | Computerized | Home sewing machine needles, 65/9 to 100/16 | Brother SA156, Class 15 type, plastic | No. Brother says the owner must not oil it |
| Brother 1034D | Sergers | SCHMETZ 130/705H | None (two loopers) | Yes. Once or twice a month, weekly with heavy use |