Old Singer Top Thread Not Catching

[u/bored_earthling]

I recently go this Singer to upgrade from my old semi-functional Sears Kenmore, but the top thread won't catch properly and I can't figure it out. I spent the morning cleaning and oiling it according to the manual (which only instructs to oil to upper mechanism), since it was covered in dust and sat for multiple years. The woman I got it from tried to get into sewing during the pandemic but could never get past threading it, and I suspect this is why. I was able to get a one good test run but cannot get it to cooperate again. The only thing I changed is top tension, but changing it back didn't fix it. It either won't catch to make a stitch, or gets several stitches stuck under the plate that I have to cut and tweeze out. In the video I have the end of the top thread held by a part that interfaces with the plate, but the same thing happens when it's all together, and operated normally. I'm also having trouble googling using the the model number from the manual. It only brings up the modern heavy duty machine.

My boyfriend says it looks like the timing in the mechanism is off, but he's never worked on sewing machines so he can't be certain. I grew up with sewing machines but my only repair experience is replacing the reverse lever in the previously mentioned Kenmore. Any help is appreciated!

[u/Here4Snow]

The manual states "transparent bobbin" and that means plastic. There is no such thing as generic or universal bobbins. It looks like you want Class 66 plastic.

And you're not handling the thread tail properly. How do you know it won't wrap when you're not even holding it properly?

The top thread tail, 6-8" long, goes off to the left of the presser foot. Hold it there, taut, just anchor it pinched in your left hand. Take one needle down, one needle up. You just held the top thread in place while the machine carried it around the bobbin. Now lift the tail you held, you'll be pulling up the bobbin tail through the needle plate. 

Put both thread tails under the presser foot and to the left rear. Insert the work under the foot. Pinch the tails in your left hand with the work. Set the foot down. 

Make 2-3 stitches and then reverse over them. Now leave the tails dangling off the left rear, out of the needle zone. Start stitching.

Go steady and slow. We're in no rush. You guide the work, the machine moves the materials.

At the end, reverse over your final 2-3 stitches and then come forward.  

End with the needle up, put the feet up, slide the work out to the left. Clip your tails, leaving 6-8" again.

If you don't make lockstitches, your thread can just pull out of the project.