SINGER 5500 User Manual

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. NAMES AND FUNCTIONS

OF PARTS ............................................... 1

2. ACCESSORIES AND SPARES

3. BEFORE SEWING

Unpacking the Machine............................. 5

Converting the Machine

Connecting Foot Controller and

Power Cord............................................... y

Fabric, Thread and Needle Table ... 7

Changing the Foot..................................... 3

Changing the Needle Bobbin Winding Inserting the Bobbin Case Upper Threading Drawing up the lower Thread

Twin Neelde Threading Setting Patterns

(1) Straight Stitch, Zigzag Stitch and

Zigzag Pattern Stitches

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16 17

Zipper Sewing.......................................... 28

Overcasting

Overlocking

Buttonhole Sewing.................................. 31

Sewing on Buttons................................... 34

Blindhem Stitching

Mending................................................... 37

Attaching Elastic Shell Stitching Roll Hemming

Lapped Seam Sewing............................. 45

Edge to Edge Stitching

Quilting.................................................... 49

Pin Tucking.............................................. 50

Smocking

Cording.................................................... 52

Embroidering and Monogramming . 53

Applique Work

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29 30

41 42 43

(2) Super Stretch Stitches (3) Buttonholes

(4) Twin Needle Sewing......................... 20

4. SEWING CHART.................................... 21

Operation Guide Straight Sewing

Zigzag Sewing Elastic Sewing

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18 19

22 25 27

5. HOWTO USE THE FREE ARM.... 56

6. MAINTENANCE Cleaning Feed Dog and

Rotary Hook............................................. 57

Oiling

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7. TROUBLESHOOTING CHART .... 59

INDEX

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1. NAMES AND FUNCTIONS OF PARTS

( Protaer foot praaaure control

To change pressure of the presser foot.

turn

laker^^"*^ stronger

I Raise foot when ad-

vr \ ^ justing the dial.

• .

To sew normal fabrics.

I To sew thin or elastic

/V\yv\ J fabrics.

* Feed may be difficult at settings under "2"

Presser footllfte^

To raise or lower the foot.

To position and re move thick fabrics,

buttons, etc To position and re

move normal fabrics For sewing.

Upper thread tension dial

To adjust upper thread tension.

Drop feed lbt^

To raise or lower the feed dog.

Not feeding.

Feeding.

Reverse sewing button

Pattern selectordiai

To sew reverse stitches.

Continue pressing on the button while sewing in reverse.

i Bn

To select the stitch pattern.

turn

Set the selected pattern at the indicating line.

Adjust stitch length and stitch width within the colour band.

Stitch length diai

To adjust stitch length.

Set within the colour band according to the pattern selected.

Needte position controi

plate when operating the dial.

Zigzag width control lever

To adjust zigzag width.

Set within the colour band according to the pattern selected.

turn

Straight stitch foot

Special foot

Zigzag foot

Zipper foot

Roll hemming foot

Cording foot

Overcasting foot

Darning foot

Quilting guide

Blind hem stitch guide

Button sewing foot

Buttonhole foot

({ QiaD 11

Cloth guide

:i) ;

Buttonhole cutter

...

Ordinery needles

Twin needles

size 9/65 {1 pc.)

size 11/75 (2 pcs.) size 14/90 (2 pcs.) size 16/100(1 pc.)

—>

(2 pcs,)

Ball point needles

Screwdriver

size 14/90 (2pcs.)

small (Ipc.) large (1 pc.)

)

(3pcs.

NOTE

Bulb

Cleaning brush

Bobbins

Oil

i. ^5 is; Ca

jfittacicsriij “i'ii iVia«i*:K;s

Step-1

Place the machine on the table and unlatch clasps on both sides by pressing them slightly in the arrow direction.

Remove the carrying case cover.

Step-3

Take out the foot controller and accessory

box.

Slide the compartment In the arrow direction.

compartment

accessory

box

Step-4

Take out the extension table.

Packing the machine — Packing is the reverse of the above procedure.

Note the following.

Lower the presser foot lifter when sliding in the compartment. Make sure that the hooks of the upper clasps are firmly attached to the teeth when

installing the carrying case cover.

For free-arm use

Without an extension table, the machine is used as a free-arm model for convenient

sewing of trousers, sleeves, cuffs and the like.

* Set the machine on a steady surface.

For flat-bed use

Attach the extension table by the following steps. Step-1

Place the machine in the free-arm condition

on the table.

* Be sure the machine is mounted steadily.

Detaching the extension table — Pull out the lever and slide the table to the left.

Push down the extension support leg and

stand it.

Pull out the lever and slide in the extension teble in the arrow direction until it is supported by the two pins in front and back side of

the arm.

Fit two pins of the leg to the holes on the

lower left of the machine.

Connestiiii Foot Controller ini Power Cord

Step-3

Make sure the voltage is the same as stated on the nameplate on the back side of the

machine.

Plug in following numbers (I) — (2) as shown.

* Always unplug the machine when not in use.

Switch on the power to put on the machine and turn on the sewing light.

The more you depress the foot controller, the faster the machine runs.

• Be careful not to drop the foot controller from a high place.

Fabric, Thread and Neadle Table

Always use Type 705 (Needle)

FABRIC

DELICATE- tulle, chiffon, fine

lace, silk, organdy

LIGHTWEIGHT-basiste, or gandy, jersey, voile, taffeta, silk, crepe, chiffon, velvet, plastic film

MEDIUM WEIGHT-gingham, percale, pique, linen, chintz, faille, satin, fine corduroy, velvet, suitings, stretch fabrics, knits

MEDIUM HEAVY-gabardine, tweed, sailcloth, denim, coat ings, drapery fabrics

* For stretch fabric such as knits and jersey materials, use Ball-point Needle to get better

stitch performance.

THREAD SIZE

Fine mercerized cot ton, fine synthetic thread

50 mercerized cotton, "A" silk, synthetic thread

50 mercerized cotton, 60 cotton, "A" silk, synthetic thread

Heavy-duty mercerized cotton, 40 to 60 cotr

ton, synthetic thread

NEEDLE SIZE

ENGLISH AND

AMERICAN

EUROPEAN

65,70

75,æ

100

Raise presser foot lifter and needle bar

Changing a foot

(1) Raise the presser foot lifter.

(2) Set the needle bar in the highest position

by turning the handwheel toward you.

Snap-on presser foot

Step-1

Step-2

Step-3

presser foot

Push the lever of the holder in the arrow

direction.

Position a new foot with the pin right under the groove of the holder.

By lowering the pres ser foot lifter, the foot will be automatically

snapped on.

»When you fail to catch

the foot, press the lever slightly.

Screw-snap presser foot {darning foot)

Step-1

Remove the foot and

the holder by loosen

ing the screw with a screwdriver.

screw

Step-2

darning

Align the hole of the darning foot with the

hole of the needle

plate.

Step-3

ever of

the foot

Lower the needle by

turning the handwheel

toward you. The lever of the foot

should be behind the

needle clamp screw. Tighten the screw on

the holder.

nging the N@@h

Step-1

needle “

bar

handwheel

needle

clamp screw

(1) Set the needle bar in the highest position

by turning the handwheel toward you.

(2) Loosen the needle clamp screw and take

out the needle.

Step-2

groove of the

-How to check your needles-

Proper needle

It is straight.

The gap is even.

Improper needle

Bent needle.

(1) With the flat face away from you, insert a

new needle into the groove of the needle bar.

¡2) Push the needle until it reaches the stop

per and tighten the needle clamp screw

firmly.

The point is sharp.

Using defective or worn needles not

only causes stitch skipping, break age of needles or snapping of thread; it also can damage the rotary hook

and the needle plate.

Blunt point.

~5—

Bent point.

Step-1

Removing the bobbin caae

i1) Set the needle bar in the highest position

by turning the handwheel toward you.

(2) Open the shuttle cover.

Open the latch of the bobbin case and take it out.

* Be sure that the needle is in the highest position.

Remotnhg the bobbin from the bobbin

case

(1) Close the latch.

(2) Hold the bobbin case with the

latch upward as shown.

(3) Bobbin comes out easily.

Winding the bobbin

Step*l

thread

guide A

spool spool pin

-tfiread \ guide A

thread guide B

Put the spool on the spool pin. Draw the thread from the spool pin through the thread

guides A and B as shown in (D @ and @.

Step-2

bobbin

spindle

Step-3

Wind the thread clockwise around the bob- Push the bobbin toward the handwheel and bin several times.

Push in the bobbin as far as it will go.

press down the foot controller.

• Not to place your fingers near the needle bar. Needle bar may move a little when

starting to wind the bobbin.

* Never press the spindle while sewing.

Step-4

The machine stops automatically when winding is finished.

Step-5

Take out the bobbin from the spindle and cut the thread.

Return the spindle by pushing it in the

arrow direction.

* Be sure that the machine is not running.

inserting the Bobbin Case

Inaartlng the bobbin

Thraadlng the lower thread

!1) The end of the thread is away from you as

shown.

(2) Leave the end of the thread of about 10cm

(4") from the bobbin.

(3) Insert the bobbin into the bobbin case.

Step-1

Slide the thread into the slot of

the bobbin case.

Step-3

Step-2

tension spring

Pulling the thread to the left, pass the thread under the tension spring.

Pass the thread through the bobbin thread

guide.

— How to adjust lower thread tension

(1) Checking the tension

Complete the threading of the lower thread.

Take out the end of the thread from the bobbin thread guide.

Place the bobbin and the bobbin case on your palm. Pick up the end of the thread and shake it gently. At the proper tension, the bobbin case will gra

dually drop a small amount.

adjusting screw

Inserting the bobbin case

(2) Adjusting the tension

Turn the adjusting screw with the small screw driver for adjustment.

* Be careful not to touch the lock screw when

adjusting the bobbin tension.

Step-1

handwheel

Set the needle bar in the highest po sition by turning the handwheel to

ward you.

Step-2

end of thread

¡1) Leave the end of the thread of about 10cm

(4") from the bobbin.

¡2) Holding the latch of the bobbin case with

your thumb and index finger, push the bobbin case into the rotary hook.

(1) When the bobbin case is inserted, close the

latch.

(2) Close the shuttle cover.

Upper Thraading

RàiiB6(fxÿ6t atict^iraandral^

■ yiinii* I 1 —, ^„••■ ■ ■ ■ u.i - -TITT

Tht^diH^ iippër^

Thread by following numbers ® — ® while pressing the spool lightly with your index finger.

spool of thread

i i) Raise the presser foot lifter. ^ ^ ^ ^

(2) Set the needle bar in the highest position

by turning the handwheel toward you.

Step-2

Pass the thread to Then to the guide

the guides (I) and @

Step-4

tension

spring

guiding

plate

Step-6

Thread the take-up lever (

Step-3

Lead the thread be

tween the two ten-

^nsion sion discs

discs ®

to the right with the thread.

Leave an end of the thread of

about 15cm (6").

Drawing Up the Lower Thread

Step-1

Hold the end of the upper thread gently in

your left hand.

Step-2

Turn the handwheel once slowly toward you. Stop turning it when the take-up lever reaches the highest position.

Step-4

Step-3

Pull the upper thread gently and the lower thread will come out.

Step-5

Pull out both upper and lower threads to Place both threads together under the foot about 15cm (6"). on the left side.

Twin Ns« ding

Rajae foot and needla Ьвг^

(1) Raise the presser foot lifter.

(2) Set the needle bar in the highest position

by turning the handwheel toward you.

Threading the upper threat^

Thread by following numbers ® @ while pressing the two spools lightly with your fingers.

»Be careful at the points ® ® and ®, since the way

of threading is different from the normal threading with one spool of thread.

Step-1

Рам the threads to

gether to the guides

Ф and Ф.

Step-4

tension

spring

Step-5

Thread the take-up lever

Pass them separately to

the right and left at the guide @.

guiding

plate ®-

tension

discs®.

Lead one of tl» threads

between the discs front and middle and the other one between middle and back.

Lead the two threads to

gether into the hook of the guiding plate ® by pulling the

tension spring to the right with the threads.

Leave the ends of the threads of about 15cm (6").

Pattwn setting

gzag Pattern Stitches

Machlheli"^

ur zigzag pattern stii

these are very useful for both practical and decorative sewing.

___________

a straight stitch and a zigzag stitch. All of

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