sewing machine troubleshooting

Rikki

Barneysmom wrote: »

I'm just thinking aloud.......
Maybe the motor's turning but the belt is loose, and that's the whirring sound you're getting.........see, it'll power but not turn the mech if it's worn loose....does that make sense to you, does it sound like the belt's whizzing round but not catching the mech/cog?

Hoping it's not the motor gone.

The two zigzag fabric feeders is there any fabric or thread stuck in there, have another look underneath, get a torch so you can see really clearly.

Have a look see if there's anything on this page.....

http://www.sewandserge.com/tshoot.asp

I agree with barneysmum. It sounds like a loose belt or boastful man all noise and no action.

Its wanting to go but something is stopping it. Have you tried moving the wheel by hand at the same time to get it started. This is just a stop gap as it sounds like it will need a service or at least belt change.

welshgirl78

Well...

I took it in to work today and the DT technician looked at it, turned the handle a milli-fraction... and it's fine!!!

I believe as was suggested above I may have "locked" it - although I couldn't work that out for the life of me!

Thanks for all your helpful comments and support

danielley

Hello all,

I am a novice sewer; I have inherited a lovely old machine and just had it serviced, but when I started trying to use it yesterday the thread keeps knotting itself, it seems to be within the bobbin area, after a few stitches.

Sometime it sews ok, but other times, it does this knotting.

I have only been using scrap pieces of material so I dont think that the material is the issue, and also as i've just has it serviced I dont think its the machine... is it me?

Any advice would be great, I am a bit of an impatient thing, so I just want to get going, while I am feeling motivated.

Thanks

PS I have also posted this on the Sewing Room thread, but that thread is within the Xmas thread, so I didn't know which place was best.

Busybody

Are you threading it right and is the tension right?

Seakay

It sounds to me as though the tension might be the issue. I'm not hugely experiened myself, but if you Google the make and model of your machine then it is possible that the instructions or some other details will still be available online, to tell you how to make tension adjustments.

danielley

Thanks for your replies

I think i'm threading it right and the lady in sewing shop (where I had it serviced) said the tension was set up all right so I wasn't to touch it...

I think I will lug it back to the shop tomorrow and see if they can help me.

valk_scot

Bent or blunt needle? You're supposed to use a new needle (appropriate size for weight of fabric) for every new project you start, remember. Needles get blunt very quickly and they're cheap so don't skimp here. Also it's easy to bend a needle, by pushing or dragging the fabric though while sewing or, when you lift the foot to pull and cut the thread, make sure the needle is it the uppermost position or you'll bend it. If you've hit the throat plate (the cover plate over the bobbin) at any time you're almost sure to have nicked the tip off the needle.

Incidentally you really should learn to adjust the tension. The tension required can change with the weight of the fabric and thread used, the number of thicknesses of fabric and a host of other details. It's by no means set it and forget about it, oh no. Your machine shop is in error here, sorry.

Seakay

Good idea - it's often easier to be shown than to have it explained! You do need to alter the tension according to the thickness of the fabric that you are using so I am a bit worried if she said never to touch it at all.

valk_scot

I wonder if she meant the tension on the shuttle feed? You're not supposed to touch that unless totally necessary. The top tension adjustment though is supposed to be used.

LJM

sounds like the tension to me also, could you not just ring if they remember you they may be able to explain it to you if you are sat in front of your machine, just a thought would save you lugging it back to shop