Bobbin thread won't pick up on Singer 457, please help?

Question

I have an older Singer 457 which until yesterday ran great but as I sewing denim, my needle hit something and would not down. I took the face plate/slide plate off and discovered the metal piece that the bobbin case sits in had moved and the needle was hitting the bottom plate. I moved it slightly and now the top thread will not pick up the bobbin thread. Does that bobbin case holder have to be in a certain position? And is it supposed to turn? It will turn occasionally when I put the needle down but then only for a second. I have tried everything but still cannot get the bobbin thread to pick up. Please help, I am in the middle of a project. No stupid answers, please........ Thanks.

Answer 1

Yes--bobbin holder must be in certain position or will not work. Did needle break off? Might be something in there that prevents it from sitting correctly in place. No--it should not turn.
Probably what happened is that the thread tension got screwed up. Check that. There also might be something in or under the bobbin holder. Take everything out (don't unscrew anything) and give it a very good cleaning. This should be done periodically anyway because lint gathers and gets trapped under the bobbin casing. You'd be surprised when you see it.

Take out casing, etc. The best tool I found to get out the most lint was a small headed nail--you can try a Singer lint brush but that only moves the lint around. Try the nail--Just keep a good hold on it!

Answer 2

You should have heard a click when you placed it back in, usually, that little arm is pointed upwards and you leave a couple inches of thread poking out from it.