Industrial sewing machines
Singer 400W1-400W5 — User manual
User manual for Singer 400W1-400W5. 37 pages in English. Read the original PDF, download or print a copy without registration.
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- Brand
- Singer
- Model / document
- Singer 400W1-400W5
- Document type
- User manual
- Language
- English
- Pages
- 37
- File size
- 19.0 MB
- Category
- Industrial sewing machines
- Document date
- Not specified in catalog
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Page 1 · Read text
Form 2641w
(Rev. 247)
INSTRUCTIONS
FOR USING AND ADJUSTING
SINGER
SEWING MACHINES
400 wl- to 400w5
LOCK STITCH HIGH SPEED
Double Rotary Thread. Toke-up
SINGER
SEWING
MACHINES
Special attention is called to the lubricating instructions on page A
THE SINGER MANUFACTURING CO
PRINTED IN U.S AView original page 1Page 2 · Read text
USE ONLY "SINGER" OILS
and LUBRICANTS
They insure freedom from lubricating trouble and give
longer life to sewing equipmént
FOR CLASS 400w MACHINES
MANUFACTURING SEWING
MACHINE OIL, LIGHT GRADE
Made especially for Class 241 and 400w Machines, and
meets all requirements except where a stainless oil is desired.
MANUFACTURING SEWING
MACHINE OIL, LIGHT. GRADE, STAINLESS OIL
Made especially for Class 241 and 400w Machines where
a stainless oil is desired.
OTHER "SINGER" LUBRICANTS
MOTOR OIL
For oil-lubricated motors, power tables, transmitters and
machinery in general.
STAINLESS THREAD LUBRICANT
For lubricating the needle thread of sewing machines for
stitching fabrics or leather where a stainless thread lubricant
is required.
NOTE: All of the above oils are available in 1 quart,
1 gallon and 5 gallon cans or in 55 gallon drums.
BALL BEARING LUBRICANT
This pure grease is specially designed for the lubrication
of ball bearings and ball thrust bearings of motors and
electric transmitters, ball bearing hangers of power tables,
etc. Furnished in 1 lb. and 4 lb. tins.
Copyright, U,S, A., 1914, 1915, 1922, 1926, 1935, 1940, 1941, 1944, 1946 and 1947,
by The Singer Manufacturing Company
All Rights Reserved for all CountriesView original page 2Page 3 · Read text
INSTRUCTIONS
FOR USING AND ADJUSTING
SINGER
SEWING MACHINES
400w1 to 400w 5
SINGER
SINGLE NEEDLE LOCK STIICH
THE SINGER MANUFACTURING CO.View original page 3Page 4 · Read text
TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:
equ
The placing or renewal of the Trade-Mark "SINGER" or any other of the mat
Trade-Marks of The Singer Manufacturing Company (all of which are fee
duly Registered Trade-Marks) on any machine that has been repaired, STre
IS U
rebuilt, reconditioned, or altered in any way whatsoever outside a Singer
factory or an authorized Singer agency is forbidden.
pre
be
sp
aU
THE IMPORTANCE OF USING
GENUINE "SINGER" PARTS AND NEEDLES it
IN "SINGER" MACHINES
The successful operation of "SINGER" machines can only be assured
if genuine "SINGER" parts and needles are used. Supplies are avail-
able at all Singer Shops for the Manufacturing Trade, and mail orders
will receive prompt attention.
Genuine "SINGER" Needles should be
used in "SINGER" Machines.
These Needles and their Containers
are marked with the
Company's Trade Mark "SIMANCO."
Needles in Containers marked
"FOR SINGER MACHINES"
are NOT "SINGER" made needies. NView original page 4Page 5 · Read text
DESCRIPTION
Machine 400wl is a high speed, single needle, lock stitch machine
equipped with a double rotary thread take-up. It has a belt-driven, auto-the matically lubricated rotary sewing hook on a horizontal axis.
are feed is adjustable for stitches from 5½ to 30 per inch. The needle bar
stroke is l inch and the maximum presser bar lift is & inch. The machineed,
ger is used for stitching light and medium weight fabrics.
Machine 400w2 is the same as Machine 400wl except it has is inch
presser bar lift and is adapted for stitching medium heavy weight fabrics.
Machine 400w3 is the same as Machine 400wl except it has a ball
bearing roller presser, for stitching light weight leather.
Machine 400w4 is the same as Machine 400wl except. that it is
specially fitted for stitching slide fastener cords onto tape and has an
auxiliary puller feed.
Machine 400w5 is designed for shoulder joining on shirts, otherwise
it is similar to Machine 400wl.
SPEED
The speed recommended for these machines is 5000 R. P.M., except the
400w4, which has a speed of 4000 R. P.M. It is advisable to run a new ma-
chine slower than the maximum speed for the first few minutes to allow
time for the oil to reach the moving parts. The balance wheel turns over
from the operator.
SETTING UP.
The drip pan should be attached with its right end even with the right
end of the cut-out and low enough in the cut-out to avoid interference
with the knee lifter rod A, Fig. 2. FRONT EDGE OF TABLE
Fig. 2 shows the correct location of
the knee lifter. The knee lifter bracket * 33
should be assembled so that the lifter
rod A does not strike the drip pan.
The screw slots in the bracket pro-
vide the necessary adjustment. The
stop stud B, Fig. 2 should be set to
stop the action of the knee lifter as
soon as the presser foot is raised
enough to trip the hand lifter.
CAUTION: Do not start a ma-
chine, not even to test the speed,
until it has been thoroughly oiled as
instructed on page 4.
Fig. 2. Position of Knee Lifter Under Table:View original page 5Page 6 · Read text
OILING THE MACHINE
Use only MANUFACTURING SEWING MACHINE OIL, LIGHT GRADE
GRADE, STAIN-
LESSor MANUFACTURINGOll, sold only by SEWINGSinger SewingMACHINEMachineOIL, CompanyLIGHT for 241 and
400w Machines.
A reservoir in the bed of the machine supplies oil to the sewing hook
race and to the bearings and eccentrics on the hook driving shaft (except
The other lubrication points are reached by seven
thebie rearholes,ballmarkedbearing).with red. See "X-Ray" view of machine on pages 16 and It.
BEFORE STARTING THE MACHINE, fill the oil, reservoir (through the
oil gauge hole) to the top mark on the oil gauge E, Fig. 3.
SINGER
£18128
Fig. 3. Showing the Eight Oiling Points on the Machine
While it may not be necessary to add oil to the reservoir every day,
the oil level must be checked daily. For short runs, the oil level should be
maintained slightly above the lower mark on the oil gauge For long or
continuous runs, the oil level should be maintained at the high mark on the
oil gauge. Never allow the oil level to drop below the lower mark on
the oil gauge.
ONCE A DAY, turn the balance wheel until the needle is all the way
up, and place A FEW DROPS of oil in each of the seven oil holes indicated
by arrows in Fig. 3.View original page 6Page 7 · Read text
Mơ A G WooD
NEEDLES
GRADE Needles for Machines 400wl and 400w4 of Class and Variety
TAIN- 88x1, which are made in sizes 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 17, 18, 19 and 21.
1 and Needles for Machine 400w2
are Meedles for Machine 400w2, 13e 04, C6, 18, 19 andriety 135x5, which
Needles for Machine 400w3 are of Classand Variety 16x246, which
hook
are made in sizes 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 16 and 18.
‹cept
even Needles for Machine 400w5 are of Class and Variety 135x7, which
d 17. are made in sizes 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20 and 21.
The above needles regularly have nickel finish but can be supplied
the with chromium finish if ordered.
The size of the needle to be used should be determined by the size of
the thread, which must pass freely through the eye of the needle. Rough
or uneven thread, or thread which passes with difficulty through the eye of
the needle, will interfere with the successful use of the machine.
Orders for needles must specify the Quantity required, the Size number,
also the Class and Variety numbers separated by an x.
The following is an example of an intelligible order:
"50 No. 16, 88x1 Needles."
The best stitching results will be obtained by using the needles furnished
by the Singer Sewing Machine Company.
THREAD
Left twist thread should be used in the needle. Either right or left twist
thread can be used in the bobbin.
E 1739
Fig. 4. How to Determine the Twist
Hold the thread as shown above. Turn the thread over toward you
between the thumb and forefinger of the right hand; if left twist the strands.
will wind tighter; if right twist, the strands will unwind.View original page 7Page 8 · Read text
TO REMOVE THE BOBBIN
Turn the balance wheel over from you until the needle moves up to
its highest position.Draw back the slide in the bed of the machine. Reach
Fig. 5. Removing the Bobbin
under the table and open the bobbin case latch D, Fig. 5 and, by means
of this latch, remove the bobbin case from the sewing hook.
While the latch remains open, the bobbin will be retained in the bobbin
case. Release the latch, turn the open end of the bobbin case downward
and the bobbin will drop out.View original page 8Page 9 · Read text
TO WIND THE BOBBIN
(See Fig. 6)
Fasten the bobbin winder to the table with its driving pulley in front
up to of the machine belt, so that the pulley will drop away from the belf when
sufficient thread has been wound upon the bobbin.Reach
2
E18152
Fig. 6. Winding the Bobbin
Place the bobbin on the bobbin winder spindle and push it on as far
as it will go.
Pass the thread down through the thread guide I in the tension bracket,
around the back of, and between, the tension discs 2. Then wind the end of
the thread around the bobbin a few times in the direction shown in Fig. 6,
push the bobbin winder pulley over against the machine belt and start the
machine.
When sufficient thread has been wound upon the bobbin, the bobbin
winder will stop automatically.
If the thread does not wind evenly on the bobbin, loosen the Sarew A
in the tension bracket and move the bracket to the right or lei on tidy be
required, then tighten the screw.
The amount of thread wound on the bobbin is regulated by the screw B.
No wind more thread on the bobbin, turn the screw B. inwardly. To wind
lass thread on the bobbin, turn this screw outwardly.
Bobbins can be wound while the machine is stitching.
When winding a bobbin with fine thread, a light tension should be used.View original page 9Page 10 · Read text
TO THREAD THE BOBBIN CASE
Hold the bobbin between the thumb
and forefinger of the right hand, as
shown in Fig. 7, the thread drawing on
the top from the left toward the right.
E 17575
Fig. 7
With the left hand hold the bobbin case
as shown in Fig. 7, the slot in the edge being
near the top, and place the bobbin into it.
E14799
Fig. 8
Then pull the thread into the slot in the
edge of the bobbin case as shown in fig. 8;
draw the thread under the tension spring and
into the delivery eye at the end offal
sion spring. See Fig. 9.
Fig. 9View original page 10Page 11 · Read text
TO REPLACE THE BOBBIN CASE
After threading, take the bobbin case by the latch and place the bob-
bin case on the center stud C, Fig. 5 of the bobbin case holder; release
Fig. 10. Bobbin Case Threaded and Replaced
the latch and press the bobbin case back until the latch catches the groove
near the end of the stud.See Fig. 10. Allow about two inches of thread
to hang free, and replace the slide in the bed of the machine.
TO SET THE NEEDLE
Turn the balance wheel over from you until the mesale bor moves up
to its highest point; loosen the screw at the lower and offee needie bar
and out the needle up into the bar or clamp as far i vis go, with the
ong groove of the needle toward the left and the eye of the needle
directly in line with the arm of the machine, then tighten the serew.View original page 11Page 12 · Read text
10
UPPER THREADING
(See Fig. 11)
As soon as an operator has become accustomed to threading the ma-
chine, the thread can be passed from the thread retainer af the top, down
to the needle with a single continuous motion.
Turn the balance wheel over from you until the two pins P in the rotary
take-up are directly toward the front, as
shown in Fig. 11 inset.
Pass the thread from the unwinder through
the top hole 1 in the pin on top of the ma-
chine, then around and through the lower hole
2 in the pin, thence through the three holes
3, 4 and 5 in the thread
retainer. Hold the thread
with the right hand near the thread retainer while 12
passing the thread, with 5 4 3 the left hand, downward
into the inner slot 6
(guiding it into the hole
7) and on down in front of
the tension discs 8, around
between the tension discs ER
into the take-up spring 9
and under the thread pull-
off 10 then over through the
slot 11, allowing the thread 7611 12 to fall in place over the
take-up discs. Now release
the thread with the right
hand, and pass it down 10
through the guides (12, 13 13
and 14*), then from left to
-14
right through the eye of the
needle 15. Leave about 15
three inches of thread with
which to commence sewing.
Fig. 11. Threading the NeedleView original page 12Page 13 · Read text
*NOTE: The thread guide 14 should be turned on the needle bar bushing so that the
hread ledos in a stroight line from ine quide is to the needle eye The thread retainer 5 should
be turned so that the thread leads through the center of hole 7.
g the ma-
op; down TO PREPARE FOR SEWING
he rotary With the left hand hold the end of the needle thread, leaving it slack
from the hand to the needle, turn the balance wheel over from you until
FUME WAITE
XE18122
Fig. 12. Drawing Up the Bobbin Thread
the needle moves down and up again to its highest point, thus catching
the bobbin thread; draw up the needle thread and the bobbin thread will
come up with it through the hole in the throat plate. See Fig. 12. Lay
both threads back under the presser foot.
2
TO COMMENCE SEWING
Place the material beneath the presser foot, lower the prusser and
commence to sew, turning the balance wheel over from you.
TO REMOVE THE WORK
Stop the machine when the nestla bar has just simace lo descend or
with the two pins P, Fig. 11 in the rosary take-up dissers seward the front.
In this position the take-up will not thread the neare whow the machine
is started. Raise the presser foot, draw the work baes and air We threads
close to the work.View original page 13Page 15 · Read text
TENSIONS
For ordinary stitching, the needle and bobbin threads should be locked
in the center of the thickness of the material, thus:
at
of 13B0000g
Fig. 16. Perfect Stitch
as If the tension on the needle thread is too tight, or if that on the bob-
bin thread is too loose, the needle thread will lie straight along the upper
surface of the material, thus:
Fig. 17. Tight Needle Thread Tension
If the tension on the bobbin thread is too tight, or if that on the needle
thread is too loose, the bobbin thread will lie straight along the under side
of the material, thus:
Fig. 18. Loose Needle Thread Tension
TO REGULATE THE TENSIONS
THE TENSIONON THE NEEDLE THREAD SHOULD BE REGULATED
ONLY WHEN THE PRESSER FOOT IS DOWN. Having lowered the presser
foot, turn the small thumb nut at the front of the tension discs ever to the
right to increase the tension. To decrease the tension, turn this thumb nut
over to the left.
The tension on the bobbin thread is regulated by the large, screw
FF, Fig. 7 in the tension spring on the outside of the, bobbin core. To
increase the tension, turn this screw over to the right. To decrease the
tension, turn this screw over to the fef!.
When the tension on the bobbin thread has been once properly
adjusted, it is seldom necessary to change it, as a correst silich can usually
be obtained by varying the tension on the. needle tarogeView original page 15Page 16 · Read text
TO REGULATE THE PRESSURE ON THE MATERIAL
pressure of the presser foot on the material is regulated by the
screw F, Fig. 19 in the top of the arm. Turn this screw to the right to increase
the pressure or to the left to decrease the pressure.
SINGER
Fig. 19. Stitch Regulator and Indicator
TO REGULATE THE LENGTH OF STITCH
To change the length of stitch, press down the stud H, Fig. 19 in the
bed of the machine and at the same time turn the balance wheel slowly
until the stud enters a notch in the adjustable feed eccentric cam.Still
holding the stud, turn the balance wheel a part of a revolution until the
desired letter appears in the hole G over the large take-up disc, then
release the stud.DO NOT TOUCH THE STUD H WHILE THE MACHINE
IS RUNNING.
The approximate stitch length equivalents of the letters on the take-
up disc are as follows:
Approximate Number of
Letter Stitches per Inch Letter ApproximateStitches perNumberInch of
G 11½
16
16½ 18
20
24
10
30View original page 16Page 17 · Read text
d by the
increase HINTS FOR PERFECT OPERATION
Follow instructions and oil machine regularly.
The balance wheel must always turn away from the operator. &
Do not run machine with bobbin case only partly inserted.
Do not run the machine with the presser foot resting on the feed
without cloth under the presser foot.
Do not run the machine when both bobbin case and needle are threaded
unless there is material under the presser.
Do not try to help the machine by pulling the fabric lest you bend the
needle. The machine feeds the work without assistance.
The slide over the bobbin case should be kept closed when the machine
is in operation.
Do not press on the knee lifter lever while the machine is in operation,
as this might prevent the work from feeding properly.
Occasionally remove the accumulation of lint around the hook and
feed dog.
Occasionally remove theaccumulation of lint from around the hook
and from between the feed rows beneath the throat plate.
NEVER TOUCH THE STITCH REGULATOR STUD WHEN THE MACHINE
IS RUNNING.View original page 17Page 22 · Read text
TIMING THE MACHINE
The parts are in their proper timing on the various shafts when the
locating screws are in the shaft splines provided for them. These locating
screws are the first screws appearing when the shafts are revolved in
their normal direction of rotation.
XX E2 G G
G
CON
C2
V
NU2
D2
118123
Fig. 21. Showing Timing Marks on Take-Up Discs and Face Plate
The arm shaft, auxiliary luke-up shaft and hook driving shaft with iheit
component ports are in time with each other when the arrow G, Fig. 21
on the large toke-up dise is in line with mark GG, Fig. 21 on the face plate,
the arrow X, Fig. 21 on the small take-up disc is in line with mark XX on t
face plate, and the arrow on the collar Vl, Fig. 29 is in line with the
timing mark W1, Fig. 29 on the feed lifting connection. The needle bor
and hook are timed as described on page 23.View original page 22Page 23 · Read text
TO ADJUST THE THREAD TAKE-UP SPRING
AND PULL-OFF
he
ng
in The horizontal portion of the thread pull-off, L, Fig. 22, should be set about s inch below the bottom of the set screw, K, Fig.22, when the
presser foot is raised by the presser bar lifter. The pull-off can be raised
or lowered after loosening the set screw J.
JJ
J
K
L
E1r500
Fig. 22. Take-Up Spring Adjustments
The take-up spring should have just enough movement so that it will
be through acting and will rest against the upper end of spring regulator
M when the eye of the needle is about i6 inch above the goods on the
downward stroke of the needle. After loosening the set screw K, the
tension will turn with the stud N and the spring regulator may be furned
to the required position.
The tension on the thread take-up spring O is regulated by turning
the tension stud N to the right to increase the tension, or to the left to
decrease the tension. The tension on the thread take-up spring should be
just sufficient to take up the slack of the needle thread until me eye of
the needle reaches the goods in its descent.
The above instructions apply to average open Agustments in
both setting and tension may have to be made to sue saecial conditions.View original page 23Page 24 · Read text
PRESSER BAR ADJUSTMENTS
The presser bar bushing T, Fig. 23 should be set so that its top is about
s inch below the top of the lifting bracket S when the bracket is all the
way down.
The presser bar positionguide U should be set about is inch above
the top of the lifting bracketS when the presser foot is down on the throaf
plate.The spring between the guide U and bracket S cushions the action
of the lifting bracket.
To align the presser foot with the needle, have the presserdown on
thepingthroateitherplate,up orholddown,theloosenpresserscrewbar positionU2, Fig. guide23, moveJJ, Fig.the 22presserfrom slip-foot
to the desired position and re-tighten the screw.
With the feed dog and presser foot down, there should be a slight
free motion in the hand lifter lever so that the presser foot will rest on the
work during operation of the machine.
P2
U2
U
V R
S
M/0/9A
Fig. 23. Face Plate Removed
GSJUSTMENT OF THE TENSION RELEASER
The tension releasar R, Fig. 23 automatically releases the spring pres-
sure on the ansion disas when the presser bar is raised. The releaser may
ingbe movedthe scrowup ofC. down to reiease the tension earlier or later, by loosen-
When stitching on heavy material the releaser should be set lower
than when on light work to prevent stitching with a released tension while
sewing heavy material.View original page 24Page 25 · Read text
TO SET THE NEEDLE BAR AT THE CORRECT HEIGHT
bout
the When the needle bar is at its highest position, the lower timing mark
B1, Fig.24 on the needle bar should be just visible at the lower end of
ove the needle bar bushing W, Fig. 24. If the needle bar is not correctly set, loosen
oat the screw V, Fig. 24 in the needle bar connecting stud and move the needle
tion
bar to the correct position.
on
lip-
oot
ght
he
e
-V
W
-Al
-BI
Fig. 24. Setting Needle Bos
TIMING THE SEWING HOOK
First see that the needle bar is correcily set as instructed above.
Remove presser foot, slide plate, throat plate, bobbin cars and feed dog.
To determine whether the hock is correctly timed, plear a new nondle
in the machine, then turn the top of the balance not over from you
until the needle bar has started to rise from its lewas cosition and the
upper timing mark Al, Fig. 24 is just visible at the lower end of the needleView original page 25Related documents and language editions
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Check the model and edition against your equipment.
PDF verified 2026-10-11.