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I took a few pictures of how I clean my bobbin case on my sewing machine.
Most machines work on the same principal. Just be carefull with any small screws that might accidentally pop out.
If you just remove the bobbin and clean, get out your instruction book and see if it shows you how to take out the actual holder of the bobbin( bobbin case) and then clean out underneath that.
You can see that I have removed that in the picture that shows my finger holding up the fluff ( unfortunately a bit blurry)
Also note where I place a drop of oil-this is a very important place to place a drop of oil, do this and you machine will keep sewing for many a day. Make sure you use a recommended sewing machine oil, never hubby's oil from his workshop.
Also , clean between the tension disks as I show with a piece of paper, as often dust collect between there, which again can play havoc with your tension.
If anyone wants more tips on their sewing machine let me know- one of my good friends still has his own shop and is in charge of all Elna's sewing machine workshops and he does repairs to all kinds of sewing machines .
Lynette
Lynette, you're a rock star! Thanks so much. I'm one of those clueless types getting by on plain dumb luck. This will come in handy!
Jazzy RagsThats really good lynette but why is it when you get you overlocker in for a service it comes back and goes good for a time and all of a sudden the tension goes out and i never know how to get it right again, 
I have two overlockers one set for rolled hem and one for normal overlocking.
Fran which overlockers do you have ? If you give me the model I will try and tell you a bit more as to how to thread them.
Often when re threading , what can happen is that you do not pull the threads through the top tensions, they look like they are passing through but they are not, so I suggest when you thread, take all 3/4/5/ threads , threaded through the needles, in your left hand, and then all the threads from the cotton reels in your right hand and give a gentle tug in both directions, this will make sure that the threads have passed through the tension disks.
When you have also re threaded, always turn the flywheel by hand for the first few stitches, before using the foot pedal, if everything is working then you can feed through the material and sew.
Fran- tension will also differ with the different types of fabric you stitch on, sometimes you will have to move your cutting blade- people often adjust tension when it is a matter of moving the blade.
Also watch the thread you are using- normally on an overlocker you will be using a polycotton, which will have stretch in it, but watch out for old thread- as it will snap. Also if using 100% cotton thread, cotton looses moisture and will snap, spay a little water onto the thread and this will give it a bit of stretch.
Lynette
Posts: 3,540:clap: Whoohooo!!!! :hug: I simply cannot thank you enough for these pics! I'll be sure to store them so I can use them as reference. I have to admit, I was amazed at how much lint builds up in the bobbin case 
Posts: 8,574Lynette
How thoughtful of you , you are my TeddyTalk Star for the day!
Debbie it is amazing how much lint can build up. I remember still the first time I took the throat plate off my machine.....it was packed...literally, I felt like I was cleaning out the dryer vent.
Now I am obsessive about cleaning.
the sewing machine.
nothing else- I haven't lost my mind completely
although love to clean my oven.
push a button and three hours later the thing dings and I am finally done.
It's a tough job but somebody has to do it.
dilu
