The Chaika sewing machine performs a straight stitch, a zigzag stitch and, based on it, several types of finishing stitches. Nowadays, you can buy such a machine only with an electric drive (with a pedal); the foot model (with a belt), the so-called “cabinet”, was produced in Soviet times.
Sewing machine Seagull 2; 3; 142m; 132; 134; 143; Podolsk 142, Podolsk 125-1; Malva and others - all these machines have the same structure and instructions for use and setup. They have practically no structural differences, except perhaps in the presence of an additional set of types of decorative zigzag stitches. True, when repairs and adjustments are carried out, for each model of the Chaika or Podolsk sewing machine, you need to know the relevant parameters and configuration schemes for the shuttle assembly of each model. This is one of the disadvantages, but the big advantage is that the price of spare parts, especially used ones for sewing machines like Chaika, is quite reasonable.

Before you start setting up the Chaika sewing machine yourself, it is advisable to do a routine inspection, cleaning, and lubrication. To do this, disconnect the electric motor from the mains and remove the top cover (it is secured with two screws). Disconnect the presser foot, remove the needle and needle plate, and the hook mechanism cover. Remove the machine from the wooden stand or table. Disassemble the shuttle device: bobbin case, locking ring, shuttle. Now remove from the machine (especially in the shuttle compartment) dust, dirt, fuzz and lubricate all rubbing, accessible places well with machine oil.

As a rule, the main malfunctions of Chaika-type sewing machines are thread breakage during sewing; skipped stitches; looping of the top thread in a stitch. There is also a characteristic knocking noise during operation, but this design feature of these machines and the only remedy is periodic lubrication. Although there are exceptions, and Chaika sewing machines operate quite softly.
Thread break. The first reason leading to thread breakage is the bent point of a blunt needle, which breaks the thread while it is moving. Using a magnifying glass, you can clearly see the condition of the needle tip. Use serviceable needles designed for Chaika sewing machines in accordance with the instructions.

The question is often asked: how to insert thread into a needle in a Chaika sewing machine? For all Chaika-type machines, and for most others that perform zigzag stitching, the needle should be placed with the sawn-off part of the bulb facing away from you, and the thread groove should face you. It is from the side of this groove that the thread is inserted.

If the needle touches it when entering the needle hole, the thread will periodically break. When performing a straight stitch, the needle should be located in the center of the hole in the needle plate, evenly spaced from its sides, and when performing a zigzag operation, the distance L should be the same as R. The longitudinal installation of the needle in the center of the needle slot is carried out by shifting the needle bar frame, fixed with two screws on the rocker arm located in the upper part of the machine (turn the flywheel on the zigzag stitch and you will see this fastening). Loosen these screws and set the needle strictly in the center on a straight stitch (displacing the needle bar frame).
Then check the position of the needle for the left and right injection. I hope that the needle entry (with the maximum zigzag width on the right and left) will be evenly spaced from the center. If the needle touches the edge of the hole at the maximum zigzag width, then contact a specialist; this case is for him.

The transverse position of the needle is regulated by a rod mounted on a plate with two screws, and a plate pressing the needle bar frame to the bracket rod. Adjusting this unit is quite complicated and requires experience, but, unfortunately, this particular mechanism can spontaneously break down during operation, especially with the Chaika electric sewing machine. Therefore, if you decide to repair your sewing machine yourself, you should learn to adjust the position of the needle, since moving it forward is the reason for its breakdown, and moving it towards the seamstress is the reason for missing stitches in the line.

Adjusting the needle position requires professional knowledge and experience. If you are not sure that you can do it yourself, contact a specialist, since it may cause misalignment of other components, the repair of which cannot be learned from a boring book stuffed with technical terms and diagrams.
It can be added that when using a crooked needle, notches can form on the nose of the shuttle, which “unravel” the thread and break. It should be perfectly smooth and sharp, without roughness. Its condition can be determined by running your fingernail along the edge of the nose or using a magnifying glass.
The clamping plate tightening screw should not be jagged, the latch handle should be clearly fixed and its surface should be clean and smooth.
Incorrect position of the hook nose of Chaika sewing machines leads to thread breakage and the appearance of other stitching defects, including omissions. Skips usually occur due to the incorrect position of the shuttle when it meets the needle. The nose of the shuttle does not capture the resulting loop, it passes by and a gap is formed. Many other factors may also be the cause.

Overlock 51 class is perhaps the most common brand of industrial sewing machine used in everyday life and in small studios.

Overlockers do not always need to be repaired or adjusted; sometimes it is enough just to adjust the thread tension and it will again sew the fabric efficiently.

Although the Soviet-made Chaika sewing machine is famous for its reliability, every owner of such a rare piece of equipment will certainly have to understand, at least in general terms, what the repair of a Chaika includes. These sewing machines sew excellently, but subject to regular maintenance. Moreover, once you understand the structure and operating principle, repairing Chaika sewing machines will not be very difficult.

The main malfunction of Chaika sewing machines is skipped stitches, looping of the lower or upper thread, or its breakage. However, it is best to start not with the problem itself, but with a preventive inspection, cleaning and lubrication.

1. To do this, you need to disconnect the electric motor from the network, remove the top cover by unscrewing the two fastening screws.
2. Next, you need to disconnect the presser foot, remove the needle, needle plate, and the shuttle mechanism cover.
3. The machine itself must be disconnected from the wooden stand and the shuttle device must be disassembled.
4. And now you can clean the machine from dust, dirt, and fringes.
5. After this, using a regular medical syringe, you can fill all the rubbing parts and lubricate all accessible places well.

After all the preparatory measures have been carried out (in principle, this is nothing more than), you can proceed directly to the repair: identifying the causes of the breakdown and eliminating them.

Thread breakage on Chaika sewing machines can occur due to the bent point of a blunt needle. This is easy to see under a magnifying glass.

When operating Chaika sewing machines, it is advisable to use serviceable needles designed specifically for this model in accordance with the instructions.

Also, the thread may break due to the fact that the needle may touch it when entering the needle hole. You can install it in the center of the needle slot by moving the needle bar frame, which is secured with screws to the rocker arm. This will be the repair.

Seagull sewing machine repair in the workshop

When using a Chaika 123 M sewing machine, repairs are not always simple and possible at home. Adjustment, configuration and repair of some mechanisms may require the experience and professionalism of specialists.

For example, if during work the transverse position of the needle spontaneously gets lost (which happens quite often in Chaika sewing machines), then, most likely, it will be better to have the repair carried out by a master. This failure may cause misalignment of some other components.

It wouldn't hurt to examine it for damage.

There are also many other settings that are quite complex for self-repair. This is, for example, shuttle repair. This is where the causes of looping may be hidden.

For almost every model of the Chaika sewing machine, engineers have developed their own features for setting up and repairing this unit. Therefore, it is better to entrust such delicate work to a sewing equipment repair specialist.

The Chaika sewing machine is perhaps the most popular model of home sewing machine, despite the abundance of imported household sewing machines in stores. At one time I had to buy it for a lot of money, and it seemed like it had sewn well recently, but something began to loop.

It really is almost impossible for her to break. The body is made of aluminum, the parts are all metal, the components are strong and reliable - everything is in the style of Soviet technology. But, unfortunately, it loops almost “from birth” and knocks when sewing, like a machine gun.

Many other “delights” were provided by the factory, along with instructions for design and use, where almost 5 pages describe how the pedal works, given electrical diagram engine, but not a word about how to set up and repair Seagull sewing machine.

Model range of sewing machines Chaika

The Chaika sewing machine has many models, practically not much different from each other: Chaika 2; 3; 142m; 132; 134; 143 and others. Sewing machines of the Podolsk plant: Podolsk 142, Podolsk 125-1; Mallows have approximately the same structure as Chaika. Therefore, the instructions for one of these machines are quite suitable for any model of a Chaika-type sewing machine.

Setting up, adjusting and repairing Chaika sewing machines is almost the same for all the models listed above, with the exception of repairing the copier (depending on the machine model) and setting some shuttle parameters.

But since our task is to learn how to configure only a stitch, we will omit the repair of many components in this article. In addition, such repairs cannot be done with your own hands, without professional knowledge and experience, and even at home.

Seagull sewing machine repair

The main malfunction of "Chaika" type machines that perform zigzag stitching and several types of finishing stitches based on it are skipping, looping of the lower and upper threads, as well as thread breaks at the top and bottom. It is these faults and ways to eliminate them that we will consider in this article.

Before you begin repairs and adjustments Seagull sewing machine with your own hands, it is advisable to do a preventive inspection, cleaning, and lubrication. To do this, disconnect the electric motor from the mains and remove the top cover (it is secured with two screws from the top). Disconnect the presser foot, remove the needle and needle plate, and the hook mechanism cover. Remove the machine from the wooden stand or table. Disassemble the shuttle device: bobbin case, locking ring, shuttle. Now remove from the machine (especially in the shuttle compartment) dust, dirt, fuzz and lubricate all rubbing, accessible places well with machine oil. You can look at the places that need to be lubricated in the instructions for the machine or lubricate all accessible rubbing metal parts and assemblies.
It is very convenient to use a medical disposable syringe for lubrication.

Thread breakage most often occurs with Chaika-type sewing machines.
The first reason leading to thread breakage is the bent point of a blunt needle, which breaks the thread while it is moving. Using a magnifying glass you can clearly see the condition of the needle point.

Adjusting the shuttle stroke of the Chaika sewing machine

Incorrect shuttle position sewing machines Chaika leads to thread breakage and the appearance of other stitching defects, including omissions. Skips usually appear due to the incorrect position of the shuttle at the moment of meeting the needle - the nose of the shuttle does not capture the formed loop, it passes by and a skip is formed. Many other factors may also be the cause.

In order to correctly set the meeting position of the shuttle nose and the needle, it is necessary to adjust the position of the shuttle stroke. You can loosen the two bolts that secure it and carefully, using a powerful screwdriver, move or move away the stroke together with the shuttle in relation to the needle. The shuttle rotates on an axis rather than moving back and forth. This is very important point. There is no need to pull it out with a nail puller or hammer it in, it easily turns on its axis. It is difficult for an inexperienced person to immediately understand what is being said, but it is also very difficult to explain in more detail. Everything else that can be added is to look carefully before twisting anything, much less unscrewing it. There should be no remaining parts after the repair.

Shuttle and needle adjustment parameters (Seagull)

At the moment of the meeting between the nose of the shuttle and the blade of the needle, the following parameters must be observed: the gap between the nose and the blade is approximately 0.15 mm; when the needle comes out from the lower position to a height of 1.8-2.0 mm, the nose should approach it above the eye of the needle by 1 mm, at least, but not more than 3 mm.

By the way, a very important point is lifting the needle from the lower position (1.8-2.0 mm). This parameter affects the formation of the needle loop and should be taken into account special attention. In order for the spout to grab the thread from the needle, it is necessary that a loop is formed, where it passes, hooking it. That is why the needle must first go down and then, having risen a little, meet the point of the looper.

The position of the needle is also regulated by the needle bar; for this purpose, there is a screw for fastening it to the sleeve under the front cover.

If you set the following parameters for adjusting the shuttle stroke, then sewing machine "Seagull" will work relatively fine. But, unfortunately, the repair is not finished yet. There are also many other shuttle settings that are quite complex and necessary for the Chaika sewing machine. It is there that the reasons for thread looping and such a rare phenomenon for sewing machines are hidden - the bottom thread breaks. The difficulty of presenting this material is that for almost any model of the Chaika sewing machine, engineers have provided their own specific settings for setting up this unit and, moreover, requiring a lot of experience from the performer. For which we thank them, at least from the sewing machine repairmen - they will not be left without work as long as there are Chaika sewing machines.

The proposed instructions for sewing machines Chaika and Podolsk are a simplified version of the manufacturer’s operating manual. This universal instruction can be used for all models of sewing machines Chaika 2, 3, 132, 132m, 134, and Podolsk 142, 142m, Malva and other models.

1. Main components and mechanisms

Remove the top cover (two screws on top of the cover) and lubricate the main components of the front compartment with a few drops of oil. Screw 1 is designed to adjust the needle bar into which the needle is inserted. Screw 2 clamps the upper thread tensioner. This fastening quite often needs to be tightened, because the plastic body of the tensioner falls through the screw and the tensioner begins to wobble in the seat.

If the fabric is not moving well, most often you just need to lift the teeth of the staff by setting the switch to position (H) - normal, B - embroidery.

When removing the flywheel, be sure to pay attention to the position of the friction washer petals (L). To completely remove the friction screw holding the flywheel, loosen the screw (K). Adjustment of the tension of the electric drive belt is carried out after loosening the screw (B).

The device for winding the thread onto the bobbin also needs to be lubricated and sometimes adjusted.

2. Incorrectly selected needle number leads to thread breakage

Any instruction contains recommendations for selecting a needle, depending on the type and thickness of the fabric and the selected threads. Here is a list of recommendations for the Chaika, Podolskaya sewing machine:
Silk, cambric - No. 70; chintz, satin, cambric, linen fabrics - No. 80;
cotton fabrics, calico, flannel, thin woolen fabrics - No. 90;
woolen, suiting fabrics - No. 100;
thick woolen fabrics, cloth - No. 110.

The needle must be set up all the way and tightened well with the screw so that it does not jump out during operation. The flat (sawed-off) side of the bulb on the needle should be facing away from you. And do not install industrial-style needles with a round flask. Such needles lead to skips and even serious damage, in particular the breakage of a sewing machine needle.

Before threading the bottom thread, you need to turn the handwheel to put the needle in the upper position, pull out the needle plate and grab the bobbin case latch with two fingers of your left hand and pull it out of the shuttle of the machine. By the way, when you install it back, you should hear a faint click. If the latch does not work, the bobbin case may rotate along its axis and break the needle.
The thread is inserted under the spring plate of the cap, which creates tension on the lower thread. The tension is adjusted by a screw that presses this plate. Turning the screw to the left loosens the tension, and vice versa. Just unscrew it no more than half a turn, otherwise the screw may pop out and get lost.
The lower thread should come out freely without effort, but with a slight noticeable tension. The tension of the lower thread is adjusted quite rarely. Basically, it needs to be changed when sewing too thin fabrics or knitwear, as well as when using very thin threads.

4. Control of the sewing machine Chaika, Podolsk

The bobbin case of a Chaika sewing machine is often called a shuttle or a bobbin. This is wrong, every detail has its own name.

To perform a regular straight stitch, the zigzag width lever must be set to "0" and the position of the stitch selection switch must be set to straight stitch. Set the required stitch length, usually 3 or 4 mm, and thread correctly. The shuttle stroke consists of a shuttle and a bobbin case. The bobbin with the lower thread is inserted into the bobbin case.

Before starting work, check the position of the rack teeth. To sew medium fabrics, the switch lever should be in the “H” position - normal. “B” - embroidery, that is, the teeth of the staff while the sewing machine is running should not come out of the needle plate and not advance the fabric. "Sh" - silk, thin fabrics.
The guideline for the correct position of the rack teeth is the position of these letters on top.
To perform a zigzag stitch, set the zigzag width to "0 - 5" and select zigzag on the stitch type switch. Do not forget to reduce the stitch length to 1 - 3 mm, otherwise the zigzag will be too sparse.

The thread tension when sewing a zigzag stitch needs to be adjusted additionally. Adjust the upper thread tension so that both threads are pulled evenly into the fabric. Please note that too much upper thread tension will cause the fabric to pinch when sewing. The bobbin thread tension may also need to be adjusted.

The trademark sound of the Seagull sewing machine occurs at the knot (L). During operation, the bevel gear periodically touches the machine frame. Theoretically, knocking can be eliminated, but only a master can do this. However, you can reduce the noise of this unit yourself if you lubricate the gear teeth with a thick lubricant, such as graphite grease.

Depending on the operating conditions of the sewing machine, lubrication and cleaning should be done periodically, but at least once every six months. Lubrication oil should only be used specially designed for lubricating sewing machines. Other types of oils may cause rough running.

Half of sewing machine malfunctions begin due to improper care of the sewing machine. The most common case is when a year later the machine is taken out of the storage room and it turns out that it makes mistakes, breaks the thread, etc. But before there were no complaints about her work. You will find out why this happens in the article.

Factory instructions for Seagull contains several pages on how to lubricate the machine. In fact, these recommendations can be simplified and lubricate only those places where there is friction between metal parts.
To have access to some components, you need to remove the top cover of the machine, secured with two screws, and the bottom protection (plywood), secured to the wooden body with 4 petals. Do not get carried away with excessive lubrication, especially in the needle area. If you don’t want to get an unpleasant oil stain over time when sewing, then 2-3 drops of oil are enough to lubricate one unit in this compartment.

To clean the shuttle and shuttle compartment, it is convenient to use a hard glue brush, and to lubricate it, use a regular medical syringe.

Sewing machine Seagull 142m - Perpetual motion machine.

Advantages:

Wide range of actions, easy to use.

Flaws:

The Chaika 142m sewing machine was bought by my parents in 1991, therefore at the moment it is already 23 years old, or more precisely 23 and a half. The machine still works great to this day. Only this summer I had to change the belt, as it was frayed from old age. But I quickly eliminated this reason, because the belts are sold in stores and have the same size for almost all sewing machines. It cost 150 rubles and did not affect the budget in any way. This was the only thing on this machine that should have been replaced in 23 years. That’s why I call this machine a perpetual motion machine, because it works properly and does not require any investment. Just a dream, not a machine!

The Chaika 142m sewing machine is built-in and doesn’t take up much space if you put something on it. I have flowers on my typewriter, that is, it serves as a table, quite conveniently.

The machine is very easy to disassemble. It is enough to open the door, tip the tabletop onto it and take out the machine.

The Chaika 142m sewing machine has 2 foot pedals. One pedal is electric and the other is conventional. But I’m used to using only the electric one, it’s much more convenient and faster.

The electric pedal is made of black plastic. It has a wire that connects to the machine itself and to the outlet. Easily detaches from the wires, making it easier to store.

~ CONTROLS AND COMPONENTS OF THE MACHINE ~

1. Sliding plate.

2. Presser foot.

3. Foot fastening screw.

4. Thread guide.

5. Screw for securing the needle plate.

6. Upper thread tension regulator.

7. Thread take-up.

8. Thread guide.

9. Winder tension unit.

10. Screw securing the top cover.

11. Reel pin.

12. Stitch type selection knob.

13. Zigzag width indicator.

14. Reel pin.

15. Winder.

16. Flywheel.

17. Handle for shifting the needle left and right.

18. Belt.

19. Zigzag width control knob.

20. Reverse feed lever.

21. Stitch length adjuster knob.

22. Stitch length indicator.

23. Platform.

24. Spool of thread.

25. Bobbin.

The sewing machine is very easy to operate and it will not be difficult to prepare it for work.

To begin with, I will show and tell you how to wind thread on a bobbin.

The instructions for the Chaika sewing machine can be used as a manual for the operation of any models of sewing machines that perform the Chaika type zigzag stitch: Chaika 2, Chaika 3, Chaika 134.

This instruction manual for the Chaika sewing machine is also suitable for Malva and Podolsk brand sewing machines: Podolsk 142, Podolsk 142M, etc.

1. Sewing machines of the Chaika and Podolsk types are designed in the same way

This instruction manual for the Chaika sewing machine is given in an abbreviated form, based on the manufacturer’s instructions.
The operation and design of the Podolsk and Chaika sewing machines are almost the same, so this instruction manual is suitable for all models of these sewing machines, including the Malva sewing machine. They have the same structure and differ only in the presence of additional types of zigzag stitch. Some Chaika and Podolskaya models have this additional device(copier) and, accordingly, a lever for switching its operating modes. The shuttle system, threading and adjustment parameters of the components and mechanisms of these sewing machines are almost the same, with the exception of setting some settings for the shuttle operation parameters (depending on the machine model).
For details on how to set up and perform minor repairs on Chaika sewing machines, see other articles in the section on repairing sewing machines.

2. Controls and components of the Chaika machine, Podolsk 142

1. Shuttle device. 2. Platform. 3. Needle plate. 4. Presser foot. 5. Needle bar. i6. Foot lift lever. 7. Upper thread tension regulator. 8. Top and front covers. 9. Thread take-up lever. 10. Tension washers. 11. Stitch type indicator. 12. Zigzag width indicator. 13. Reel pin. 14. Winder. 15. Flywheel. 16. Needle shift lever. 17. Zigzag handle. 18. Reverse feed lever. 19. Stitch length adjuster knob. 20. Comb lift control knob. 21. Material engine. 22. Drawing panel. 23. Copier unit switching handle.

3. Types of fabrics for sewing, threads and needles for the sewing machine Chaika, Podolsk

Fine types of silk, cambric - needle number 70, thread - 65
Bed sheets, calico, chintz, satin, silk, linen fabrics - needle no. 80, threads - 65
Heavy cotton fabrics, calico, flannel, thin woolen fabrics, heavy silks - needle number 90
Wool suiting - needle no. 100
Thick woolen coat fabrics, cloth - needle number 110

Needle 1 must be installed in needle holder 2 (with the needle bar in the upper position) up to the stop and secured with screw 3.
The flat side of the bulb 4 (flat) on the needle should be facing the opposite side from a working person (Fig. 4)

4. Threading the upper and lower threads. Instructions for the sewing machine Chaika, Podolsk

Top threading
Pull the spool pin 13 up as far as it will go from the sleeve cover.
Set the thread take-up eyelet to the upper position by turning the handwheel.
Raise the presser foot.
Place a spool of thread on rod 13.
The top thread should be threaded in this order. Into holes 7 and 6 of the plate thread guide, between washers 8 of the tension regulator, then up into the eye 4 of the thread take-up spring, down under the thread take-up hook 3, up through the hole of the thread take-up lever 5, down into the wire thread guide 2, into the thread guide 1 on the needle bar and insert into the eye needle 9 from the working side.

Threading the bobbin thread
Before threading the lower thread, you need to remove the bobbin case with the bobbin from the hook device, for which you need to turn the handwheel to put the needle in the upper position. Pull out the sliding plate, grab the bobbin case latch lever with two fingers of your left hand and remove the bobbin case.

5. Winding the thread. Instructions for the sewing machine Chaika, Podolsk

Wind the thread onto the bobbin using a bobbin winder. When winding thread onto a bobbin, the machine's flywheel should rotate idle. To do this, you need to release friction screw 1 (Fig. 8).
Place the bobbin on the spindle of winder 2 so that the spindle spring fits into the bobbin slot. Place spool 1 of thread on the spool pin. Thread the thread from the spool between tension washers 4, as shown in Fig. 9, and then wind a few turns onto the bobbin by hand. Press the winder towards the flywheel. Next, wind the winding by rotating the flywheel using the drive.
Once the bobbin is completely wound, the rubber ring of the winder will no longer be in contact with the handwheel and winding will stop. Before removing the bobbin, the winder must be moved to the left from stop 3.
Thread the wound bobbin into the bobbin case and place the thread under the tension spring, as shown in Fig. 10. Leave a free end of the thread 10-15 cm long.
Insert the bobbin case with the bobbin threaded into the hook. In this case, the needle should be in the upper position.
Place the bobbin case with the bobbin onto the rod 3 of the shuttle until it stops. In this case, pin 1 of the bobbin case should fit into slot 2 (Fig. 11).

6. Machine control. Instructions for the sewing machine Chaika, Podolsk

When the bobbin case is correctly inserted, the latch lever should be spring-loaded and tend to return to its original position when opened.
Before starting sewing, the lower thread must be removed onto the needle plate; to do this, hold the end of the needle thread and turn the handwheel so that the needle drops into the needle hole, grabs the lower shuttle thread and rises to the upper position. Using the top thread, pull the shuttle thread onto the needle plate (Fig. 12) and place the ends of the top and bottom threads under the presser foot, as shown in Fig. 13.
To sew with a simple straight stitch, you need to combine the number 0 on handle 17 with the pointer 12 (Fig. 1). Handle 23 can be in any position.
The stitch length is set by turning knob 19 (Fig. 1) until the number aligns with the pointer on the panel.
The reverse direction of supply of material for fastening is carried out by pressing lever 18 (Fig. 1) downwards until it stops. The reverse feed pitch above 2.5 mm remains constant within 2.5 mm.
The height of the rack is adjusted using regulator 1 (Fig. 14). The regulator is used with the sliding plate removed. For thick materials, the regulator is set to mark H (normal), for thin materials - to mark W (silk), for embroidery and darning - to mark B (embroidery). The letters should be visible from above.
To switch to zigzag, decorative and target stitches, you need to lightly press and turn knob 23 (Fig. 1) to the required stitch type. By turning knob 17, align the number 5 with the pointer 12.
The pattern for finishing products will be clearer with a smaller stitch pitch. Stitch shifting is used when performing special operations, for example, when processing loops, sewing in zippers, etc. To shift the stitching, use knob 16. By turning it all the way without force in the direction indicated by the arrows, the needle moves to the right or left from the middle position .
To check the quality of sewing, it is recommended to make a test stitch on a scrap of fabric you need and, if necessary, adjust the thread tension.
The tension of the upper thread is adjusted using the tension regulator. The interlacing of the upper and lower threads should occur in the middle of the materials being sewn. If the interlacing of threads when forming a stitch is on top, you need to loosen the tension of the upper thread. If the weave of the threads is at the bottom, you need to increase the tension of the upper thread.
When sewing through thick and hard places, sew slowly and turn the hand wheel by hand.
When sewing thin materials such as silk, etc., it is recommended to lightly pull the material behind the presser foot to avoid seam pulling.
For normal operation of the machine, you need to start sewing in the following sequence: pull the threads tucked under the foot (bottom and top) and hold them, lower the needle into the material (rotating the hand wheel towards you), lower the foot and make 2-3 stitches. After this, you can release the threads and continue sewing.
After finishing sewing, raise the presser foot, pull the material being sewn away from you and cut the threads on the edge of the thread cutter located on the rod of the presser foot (Fig. 12, position 1), leaving the end of the cast 8 - 10 centimeters long.

7. Care, lubrication. Instructions for the sewing machine Chaika, Podolsk

To ensure easy running of the machine and prevent wear, all places indicated by arrows should be lubricated with one or two drops of industrial oil I-20A GOST 20799-75.
Machine head lubrication points (Fig. 17)
Lubrication points for the zigzag mechanism (Figure 19)
Cleaning and lubricating the shuttle device (Fig. 20)
Heavy running of the machine, and sometimes jamming, can occur due to contamination of the shuttle movement. The passage becomes clogged with scraps of thread, fabric fringes, and dust.
See also Lubrication of sewing machines
To clean the shuttle stroke, the needle bar must be placed in the upper position. Pull out the bobbin case 1, turn the spring lock towards you, remove the cover ring 2, take out the hook 3. Carefully clean the hook socket 4 from dust, dirt and threads with a brush. In this case, it is not allowed to use metal objects for cleaning, so as not to damage the cleanliness of the working surface. The direction for the shuttle in the stroke body and the winder spindle are also lubricated with 1-2 drops of oil.

Seagull sewing machine. Repair and setup

The "Chaika" sewing machine is perhaps the most popular model of sewing machine for the home, despite the abundance of imported household sewing machines in stores. At one time I had to buy Chaika for a lot of money, and she seems to sew well, only sometimes she loops, but otherwise everything is intact and undamaged. It is really almost impossible to break the Chaika sewing machine. The body is made of aluminum, the parts are all metal, the components are strong and reliable - everything is in the style of Soviet technology. But, unfortunately, the line loops
Almost “from birth”, gaps sometimes appear in the stitching, especially on a zigzag and it knocks when sewing, like a machine gun.
The manufacturer includes instructions for the Chaika sewing machine, which details how to use the machine and perform various operations, there is even an electrical diagram of the electric motor, a pedal design, but there is not a word about how to set up and perform at least minor repairs on the Chaika sewing machine. We will try to fill this gap in the instructions and give some recommendations on how to repair the Chaika sewing machine with your own hands.

Modifications of Chaika brand sewing machines

The main malfunction of "Chaika" type machines that perform zigzag stitching and several types of finishing stitches based on it are skipping, looping of the lower and upper thread, as well as its breaking at the top and bottom. Sewing machine Chaika, Chaika M, Chaika 142, Chaika 132, Chaika 134, Chaika 132 m, Chaika 142 M, Chaika 143, Chaika 3, Chaika 2 and Podolsk 142, Podolsk 125-1; Malva and others - all these machines have the same device and instructions for use and setup, so their repair is almost the same, with the exception of repairing the copier (depending on the machine model) and setting the shuttle speed settings. But since our task is to learn how to configure only the stitch, we will skip the repair of many components. In addition, such repairs cannot be done with your own hands without professional knowledge and experience at home.

Before you start repairing and setting up the Chaika sewing machine yourself, it is advisable to do a routine inspection, cleaning, and lubrication. To do this, disconnect the electric motor from the mains and remove the top cover (it is secured with two screws). Disconnect the presser foot, remove the needle and needle plate, and the hook mechanism cover. Remove the machine from the wooden stand or table. Disassemble the shuttle device: bobbin case, locking ring, shuttle. Now remove from the machine (especially in the shuttle compartment) dust, dirt, fuzz and lubricate all rubbing, accessible places well with machine oil. To clean, use a hard small glue brush, and to lubricate the sewing machine, it is very convenient to use a medical disposable syringe.

2. Use needles intended only for Chaika sewing machines

Thread breakage often occurs with Chaika-type sewing machines. The first reason leading to thread breakage is a bent needle point, which breaks the thread while it is moving. Using a magnifying glass you can clearly see the condition of the needle point. Use serviceable needles intended only for household sewing machines, in accordance with See instructions for sewing machine Chaika, Podolsk 142
Sewing machine needles must be in perfect condition. The condition of the needle can be determined by running your fingernail along the tip of the needle or using a magnifying glass. Often it is the needle that causes gaps in stitches, needle breakage and other stitching defects.
Select the needle number depending on the thickness of the fabric and thread. Do not use industrial needles with a round bulb for household sewing machines. Needles for household sewing machines have a cut on the bulb.
To sew various fabrics and materials, use the appropriate type of needle; for example, for sewing leather, the needle has a tetrahedral point, which makes it easier to pierce the material and promotes the formation of a loop on the needle when it is grabbed by the nose of the shuttle.

3. When entering the needle hole, the needle should not touch it.

A thread break can be the result of many malfunctions, for example, if the needle touches it when entering the needle hole, the thread will periodically break. When performing a straight stitch, the needle should be located in the center of the hole in the needle plate, evenly spaced from its sides, and when performing a zigzag operation, the distance L should be the same as R.
The longitudinal installation of the needle in the center of the needle slot is carried out by shifting the needle bar frame, fixed with two screws on the rocker arm, in the upper part of the machine (turn the flywheel on the zigzag stitch and you will see this fastening). Loosen these screws and set the needle strictly in the center on a straight stitch (displacing the needle bar frame). Then check the position of the needle for the left and right injection. The needle entry (at the maximum zigzag width), on the right and left, will be evenly spaced from the center. If the needle touches the edge of the hole at the maximum zigzag width, contact a specialist; this case is for him.

4. The transverse position of the needle in Seagull can spontaneously get lost

The transverse position of the needle is adjusted by a rod secured to the plate with two screws, and by a plate pressing the needle bar frame to the bracket rod.
Adjusting this unit is quite complicated and requires experience, but, unfortunately, this particular mechanism can spontaneously go astray during operation, especially with electric sewing machines. Therefore, if you decide to repair the Chaika sewing machine yourself, you should learn to adjust this position of the needle, since moving the needle forward is the reason for its breakage, and moving it towards the seamstress is the reason for skipping.
Adjusting the lateral position of the needle requires professional knowledge and experience. If you are not sure that you can do it yourself, contact a specialist, since the incorrect position of the needle can cause misalignment of other components, the repair of which cannot be learned from a boring book stuffed with technical terms and diagrams.
Pay attention to the condition of the needle plate. Hole e should not be “broken” or have jagged edges. It is better to replace such a plate.

5. The position of the Seagull’s shuttle is the reason for skipping and looping

Incorrect position of the hook of Chaika sewing machines leads to thread breakage and the appearance of other stitching defects, including gaps. Skips usually appear due to the incorrect position of the shuttle at the moment of meeting the needle - the nose of the shuttle does not capture the formed loop, it passes by and a skip is formed. The reasons for skipping stitches on a sewing machine can be many other factors, for example, a “twisted” thread, a bent needle, the thickness of the fabric does not correspond to the thickness of the needle, etc., but the main one is too large a gap between the needle blade and the nose of the shuttle.

In order to correctly set the meeting position of the shuttle nose and the needle, it is necessary to correctly adjust the position of the shuttle nose. To begin, turn the machine on its side and find the shuttle fastening on the left side, tightened with two M10 bolts. You need to unscrew them with a spanner wrench, in the worst case an open-end wrench, but not with pliers.
Loosen these two bolts, and carefully, using a powerful screwdriver, move the shuttle mechanism so that the nose of the shuttle is almost flush with the needle blade. First, you must already remove the needle plate, bring the presser foot and needle to the hook nose. To more accurately set this gap, use a magnifying glass. Just as you brought the nose closer to the needle, only in the opposite direction, you can also move the stroke away along with the shuttle in relation to the needle. The shuttle rotates on an axis rather than moving back and forth. This is a very important point. There is no need to pull it out with a nail puller or hammer it in, it easily turns on its axis. It is difficult for an inexperienced person to immediately understand what is being said, but also to explain. All that can be added is to look carefully before twisting anything, much less unscrewing it. There should be no remaining parts after repairing the Chaika sewing machine.

6. Interaction of the shuttle and needle of the Chaika sewing machine

We are getting closer and closer to the most important secret of the Chaika sewing machine - why does it loop? But first, let's finish adjusting the gap between the needle and the nose of the shuttle, and learn something more about the structure of the Chaika sewing machine and its modifications.
At the moment of the meeting between the nose of the shuttle and the blade of the needle, the following parameters must be observed: the gap between the nose and the blade is approximately 0.1 - 0.15 mm; when the needle comes out from the lower position to a height of 1.8 - 2.0 mm, the nose should approach it above the eye of the needle by 1 mm, at least, but not more than 2 mm. By the way, this is a very important point - raising the needle from the lower position. This parameter affects the formation of the needle loop and should be paid special attention to. In order for the spout to grab the thread from the needle, it is necessary that a loop is formed, where it passes, hooking it. That is why the needle must first go down, and then, having risen a little, meet the tip of the looper, thereby forming a loop for capture.
The position of the needle is adjusted by the needle bar. There is a special screw on the sleeve holding the needle bar. To roughly understand what we are talking about, you can see how its position is adjusted on an industrial sewing machine 1022, class 22.
All of the above parameters are suitable for all modifications of Chaika and Podolskaya sewing machines and are universal for almost all lockstitch household sewing machines. You can use these recommendations to repair sewing machines of other brands, except those discussed below.

7. Models of Chaika sewing machines have differences in setting the shuttle stroke

If you set these parameters, the Chaika sewing machine will work relatively normally. But, unfortunately, the repair is not finished yet. There are also many other settings that are quite complex and necessary for the Chaika sewing machine - this is the repair of the shuttle stroke. It is there that the reasons for thread looping and such a rare phenomenon for sewing machines are hidden - the bottom thread breaks. The difficulty of presenting this material is that for almost any model of the Chaika sewing machine, engineers have provided their own specific settings for setting up this unit and, moreover, it also requires a lot of experience from the performer. We will deliberately not give recommendations for setting it up, since it is almost impossible to do them yourself. The master adjuster usually selects one single position of the shuttle nose relative to the needle, varying between three defects: thread looping, lower thread breakage and upper thread breakage.

Let us briefly note that the main position of the shuttle nose is adjusted in relation to the needle when it is in the left position, with a left injection. Having passed the needle just above the eye, the nose should finish its movement and go further (to the left) beyond the needle by 1-3 mm. This parameter is 1-3 mm. for each model of the Seagull there is “its own” and it is on it that how the stitching will be formed depends. If the shuttle extends too far beyond the needle, it pulls out the excess top thread and loops appear; if it doesn’t “reach” the thread may break.
Adjust the machine so that with the left and right injections, the nose of the shuttle confidently grabs the loop from the needle. If the machine still has stitching defects, then contact a sewing machine repair specialist.
In order to change the position of the shuttle (the nose goes behind the needle), find a lever sleeve connected to the main (upper) shaft on the far right side of the shaft driving the shuttle device. Using a wrench, loosen the sleeve fastening, tightened with an M10 screw, and turn the shaft slightly, holding it with pliers. You need to hold the flywheel with your other hand.