How to Check and Set the Timing on the Singer Model 503A

Showing the method to set the needle to hook timing on the Singer Model 500A and 503A sewing machine. How to check and set the height of the needle bar on vintage Singer sewing machines. A do-it-yourself tutorial. Loosen two screws on one end of the horizontal hook shaft and turn the gear on the other end to set timing. How to test the timing. How to set the timing. Set correct gear mesh so not loose but not binding.
00:00 INTRO
00:50 CHK/SET NB HGT
04:25 SET TIME MARK
05:00 CHK HOOK POINT
07:45 LOOSN SET SCREWS
17:35 RESET NB HGT
19:00 TURN HOOK TO NDL
20:45 TIGHTEN SCREWS
25:25 CHK 4 PLAY/BIND
26:50 RECHK HOOK/NDL
31:30 FINAL TIGHT SCREWS
34:30 RECAP PROCEDURE

[customcutter]

Thanks for your video's Andy. Every time I tried laying my machine over on it's back the timing would move due to the weight of the cams. I finally used a piece of clear shipping/packing tape to hold the hand wheel in place by taping to the frame. Hope this helps someone else.

[DianneMapes]

Your videos gave me the courage to buy a frozen 500A on ebay. Over time i have unfrozen, fixed the bobbin winder, and put the bobbin case/pieces back together again. Then realized the timing was a mess, fixed that! Learned how to put the loose bobbin cover on. Cleaned the whole thing with alcohol followed by a teflon oiling. Got the levers working to lift off dog feed cover. And i could go on and on. I did all this just by watching your videos. I owe you boucous of thank you's and $$.
I feel like i know you and consider you a friend.
I'm 73 and intend to spend a lot of time sewing. I saved this singer from being torn apart for parts because of you. No one, seriously, NO ONE explains the secrets of a vintage singer like you.
Take care, my friend. I wish us both good health❤

[juliawalsh]

These components look a lot like the ones on my 46-year-old Singer Fashion Mate 252. I am encouraged by these step-by-step instructions and took notes. If others can do it successfully, I'm willing to try.

[rmb]

Here I am, again, Andy. I hope you are well. Thank you much for teaching us, it keeps these ol girls stitchin. I value these videos so much, I can always come back and refresh on the lessons you taught me. Bless you and yours.

[artisticadornmenthenna]

I was guided to this from your other 600-something Singer Stylist model, which had a different timing belt system that did not depend on gears. Thank you so much for your thorough helpfulness. You have helped me give my Singer Stylist 518 new life.

[mcampbell]

I inherited a Singer 1802 recently and have been using it to finally learn to sew. I was having some issues with the bobbin thread catching. After a bit of googling I found your video. I went from knowing nothing about how the machine worked to fixing the timing within an hour. A few components were a little different, but your explanation of the mechanics made it possible for me to adapt the process to my machine.

[mseller]

Just used this to adjust timing on a Singer 603E. Thank you again, Andy!

[elmosmiles]

Andy,
Just wanted to let you know, you've given me a new machine. I downloaded the manual and have made adjustments, it sews perfectly. I've suffered a long time with the thread nests and am beyond grateful. Thank you again!

[micksmom]

Thank you Andy! I always learn so much from your videos and then when I follow your very thorough instructions (I take notes!), I always am successful. I am going to try to check and repair the timing on a different machine and hope that this will be the fix I need to get my Kenmore 158.1803 running correctly.

[aprilsanchez]

Thank you, Andy... I've got 2 machines that people have forced on me that don't sew well, and there's no one here but me to correct the situation... Fantastic!

[ralphwatten]

55 dislikes. Who in the world would listen and watch a guy tell them exactly how to fix their obsolete old machine and not like what they've watched. I guess I'll never understand that. Thanks Andy!

[hemassze]

Hi Andy, thanks for showing the step-by steps instructions to get the timing needles in line with the threading spool. I also have a Singer Heavy Duty Model 288 which I have been using for over 30 years and this is the first time I have the timing problem. I will let you know if this works with my machine 288. Looking forward to talk to you soon.

[jacquelinemanzano]

I just followed your instructions and was finally able to fix my Athena 2000. I put new gears on it today. Thank you many times over for your tutorial on singer repairs. I subscribed to your channel because I have 4 Singers.

[wernerostwald]

Hi Andy...couldn't you loosen the set screws on the gear at the bottom of the hook shaft and then just rotate the hook ring assemble until the hook tip is aligned with the needle? This way the horizonal shaft doesn't have to move, which will keep the needle in position.

[robertdavis]

Thanks Andy for the information on the Singer SM. I have a 648 and it pretty much is the same machine as you have. I replaced the top plastic gear that has been plaguing these machines forever. I wish they stuck with the metallic gears, the 648 would have not broken down. Once again, CHEERS !

[rhondatomlinson]

I have been watching all the videos on these machines.I have a Singer 500. I picked this machine up at Goodwill, and I am sure every little kid that walked by twist and turn every knob possible, I probably would have too given the chance and not within mothers eyesight. Brought it home cleaned, lubed and oil it. It was fairly clean, but not thoroughly clean and had not been used in many years. I first had issues with the tension, have learn the various threading patterns until I finally found one that worked and I got it running smoothly with a great looking stitch. Then while in my second hour of sewing, I stopped to change bobbins. After doing so the thread continued to brake. First at the needle, then the tension felt like it was getting took tight. I put in another bobbin, changed the needle, changed thread, cleaned the bobbin assembly, all of this many times over. I had to walk away from it over the holiday season and have just gotten back to trying to get it up and running again. This morning I noticed I have lent under the hook race, I have tried many things to get it out. Plus listening to the machines you show, this one while running slow sounds like the bobbin case is rattling a bit, but just at slow speed. Do you have a suggestion as how to remove the lent or a comment as to why the case sounds like it rattles? Thank you so much for your time, the many videos and comments have a wealth of knowledge involved. Again thank you.

[paulerickson]

Thank you Andy for the information and illustrations. It will help my rehab of the 503a soon.

[emiliekatrina]

The gears on your machine are SO CLEAN and I am extremely jealous. Please tell us more on how to clean never-been-touched-up grimy gears.
Also, thank you for helping me, an unworthy millennial, work on my 500A. Even if my stitch skipping issue is greater than just a timing hook, I am still forever grateful.

[williamfoltz]

Andy, Your videos and explanations are Sew very helpful and this one on how to set the timing is a very good example. I have stopped and viewed it many times as I went about correcting the timing on my Singer 401a. Keep up the good work, Andy, for it is truly appreciated by many of your viewers.

[BreadNButterArt]

Thank you! Your demo is an excellent reminder for me, because I haven't set the timing in a long time or very much.