Ur video did not state how to fix the problem

Yes, I have experienced this problem. The stitch regulating lever pivots on a shouldered screw, and between the head of this screw and the lever is a belleville washer. This belleville washer provides the friction to keep the lever in the position where you put it. These belleville washers will crack and then no longer hold the lever tight enough. You will have to find of make another belleville washer for your machine. A less common cause is the shouldered screw has loosened off slightly. In that case, go ahead and remove it and the belleville washer and clean both parts off and inspect the belleville washer for cracks. Oil the screw shoulder before reinstalling. You can make a new belleville washer by getting a bronze washer about the same diameter and thickness as the old one. Next, get a roundhead screw about the same diameter as the washer and a block of wood. Hammer an indentation into the wood with the screw head. Place the bronze washer over the indentation and use the button head screw and hammer again to dish the washer into a belleville washer shape. reassemble everything in the machine. The shoulder screw should tighten up fully without pinching the lever and washer tight if the washer if the right thickness. The adjusting lever may feel a bit too tight initially, but will now stay where you want it.

It sounds like the stitch length lever needs attention. The lever pivots on a shouldered screw and has a belleville washer which keeps it tight enough to stay parked in the position you put it. Too loose is caused by the screw being loose or the washer being cracked or missing, and too tight would be from old gummed oil, dirt or rust. Remove the balance wheel to gain access to the opening in the arm under the mainshaft and remove the front stitch regulator plate and the rear access plate. Then remove the shouldered screw and belleville washer and clean. If you can't work the lever out of place to clean it outside the machine, clean it in place, and clean the lug the shouldered screw screws into where the lever rubs against it. Check the belleville washer as well, it is made of thin copper/bronze and is slightly dished. It is possible the original was replaced with a plain washer and is the reason for your problem. Once everything checks out, oil as you reassemble.

You are going to be limited by the opening in the throat plate for the feed dogs and the geometry of the sliding link mechanism because it will jam at some point if you try getting too much motion

Are you turning the machine the correct direction (over towards you)? If you are running in the correct direction, then the feed motion cam may be 180 degrees out on the mainshaft.

You saved me... my 7 year old daughter is into sewing and just got a machine that belonged to my grandmother and then passed to my mother so now my daughter has it...

#1 question and most likely cause: are you running the machine the correct direction? The hand wheel should turn with the top going towards you.

@@okbridges Yes it is motor driven and the the belt is not crossed. Could it be when I cleaned the rod that has a bullet shape on the end and a spring on it, that I moved something in the wrong direction? It is under the base ,right under the feed dog.

@@paulettelafaver1514 What model is your machine?

@@okbridges It is a Nelco 00312. It is a knock-off of a Neechi and Elna from a engineer Mr. Olson. He had them made in Japan. Made in the 1940's- 1960's. It has a bar that runs from the head to the drive wheel that runs a ruffler. It's a great metal machine. It was running correctly before I cleaned the pressure foot and the rod under the bed that raises and lowers the feed dog.

Best thing to do is to find a new or make a new Belleville washer. On machines that have erratic stitch length, the first place to look is at the Belleville washer and shouldered screw at the pivot of the stitch length lever. If the washer is cracked or the screw is loose the lever will move and the stitch length will change.

@@okbridges thank you

The 201 has drop feed. Are the feed dogs up? Do you have enough presser foot tension?

@@okbridges Hi, yes I checked underneath and the screw is tight and I did try to tighten/loosen the presser foot tension. Sometimes after going forward and reverse it'll just stop moving and jam up. When first got it the bobbin case was jammed and preventing the needle bar from moving. I took it out and put in back in and it solved that problem. The machine looks real clean, doesn't look like it had a lot of use. Agh..time for parting out?

@@joansturgeon5805 l would not part it out.have you had the throat plate off and checked and cleaned there?

@@joansturgeon5805 I think you need to check the thread tensions after re-reading your first post. if the thread tensions are either too tight or too loose, the machine will have trouble feeding the cloth and want to jamb up. Ignore the number on the upper tension regulator and adjust the upper thread to be about the same tension as the lower. Make sure the thread is threaded up correctly, especially the upper. The 201 uses basically the same thread path as a 66. Watch this video kzfaq.info/get/bejne/qbZyhdaHutLSmoU.html and this video kzfaq.info/get/bejne/eLmohqt3p97OhXU.html to get an idea of thread tensioning. I suggest disassembling and cleaning the upper tension assembly, and the tension on the bobbin case and make sure everything is clean. Then reassemble and adjust everything up for the most common thread you plan to use and assemble the tension knob so it points at 5 when using your most common thread, or set it to read 0 when you cannoth tell the difference when pulling the thread with the presser foot up or down. Try these things first before focusing too much more on the feed. Feed issues are usually tension issues if the feed dogs are moving correctly.

I did that on purpose. I explained how it works. How to modify it is derived by the viewer from understanding how it works.

A frequently asked question about this model is "how to make the stiches longer". Therefore, some users have a need for a longer stitch. This video explains how this mechanism works so that users may assess for themselves whether this modification is feasible. I like this approach to answering such a question over simply stating "You houldn't do it" or "it can't be done" as that kind of answer is less satisfactrory to many, and for some is a challenge to try to do it anyway. Thanks for your comment.

I did. I just i had to bend the reverse lever upwards abit. seems with overtime usage it bends downwards since the screw is thin .

I wanted a longer stitch length, because I was not getting 6 stitches per inch, when set as such. I discovered I had a bent lever. I gave it 1/2 turn so it is now bent upward, and I am getting 5.5 stitches per inch.

@@pyarachani6736 This comment was gold for me. The video essentially showed that no adjustments are designed into the machine. I couldn't get less than 8 stitches per inch. I removed the threaded lever and found that it was bent downward. I re-installed it with an extra 1/2 turn so it was now bent upward, and now get 5.5 stitches per inch! I'm happy as a lark!

You are catching on....

bend the lever upwards abit .

@@pyarachani6736 Listen to this guy. I bent my lever up and now get 5.5 stitches per inch.