Modification to Singer 316K bobbin case !!

[pcatterall]

Long shot but you never know unless you ask!!
The machine is working fine thanks to help on this forum.
One little niggle is the shortage of needles! they are special ones with a short point. Trying to use standard ones result in the needle hitting the bobbin case!
A chap called Andrew Caddle (andrewcaddle.com) developed a mod to the bobbin case which allows it to use standard needles ( cutting or widening the slot with a Dremel)
I would like to give this a go but cant find the mod on line nor contact him using that address.
One of the needle issues is that size 16 is now the largest available ( expensive too).
Has anyone else seen this conversion or anything similar for this model please?

 

[Martin_J]

I was first going to ask if you meant that your expected needles were short in overall length, or just short from the eye to the point..

I do now wonder if you're thinking of a modification to the shuttle hook though, whereby grinding a deeper groove into it, there could be less chance of needle strike. Sailrite do this...

Shuttle Gib Hook for Ultrafeed® & Leatherwork®




You don't however want the needle to go so low it hits other parts.

Maybe one possibility is that the needle bar height needs to be raised (and timing reset as necessary).

Have you double checked timing after trying the different needles?

 

[sarabande]

Seen this ?

adjust needle bar height singer 316 - Bing video