Im missing stitches on my toyota 40 71 machine?

Hello Marie,
Don't despair, first of all put a new needle in and make sure you have it in the right way round, thread the machine and when you put the thread through the tension discs make sure you have the presser foot up so the discs are open, also make sure that when you thread the machine the takeup lever is in the up position, your tension should be set about number 5 but a way to check te top tension is to have the machine threaded and with the presser foot down put your thumb just above the eye of the needle and you should just about be able to pull the thread through, if you can't then the tension is too tight, if the thread pulls through without any effor whatsoever then the tension is too loose, adjust it bit by bit if you have to, use a good thread not the cheap thread with lots of flaws running down it.
Take the bobbin case and bobbin out and make sure you have the bobbin in the case the correct way round, it makes a difference, hold the bobbin in your left hand with the finger to the top, with the bobbin in your right hand the thread should be on top of the bobbin, pop the bobbin in the case and make sure the thread goes right under the spring, with the bobbin in the case you should just be able to pull the thread through evenly, if it is very loose then just tighten the large screw a little bit until you feel some tension, if the thread is very tight then just slacken off the screw very slightly and you should be okay, very important to make sure you thread the machine correctly, make sure you put the needle in the correct way round, these are very simple mistakes and lots of people make them, try this and if you get stuck letr me know.
Ken

drivewithken@blueyonder.co.uk
July 2007