My own sewing machine repair

[Monique]

Yesterday I decided it was time again to clean the lint from the bobbin area. I did so but then realized I had a little tick tick tick going on. It seemed to come from the bobbin area. I tilted the machine and removed the bottom plate and WOW there was a lot of lint in there as well. I gave that a good cleaning but I still had the ticking.

Did a little research on line and VOILA, I put a new needle in, ticking is gone. Who knew?

[MRoy]

Re: My own sewing machine repair

Your needle may have been a little dull. Sometimes dull needles make a clicking or popping noise as they go through the fabric.

[Caroline T.]

Re: My own sewing machine repair

Isn't it very satisfying when you are able to diagnos and fix something yourself? It always makes me feel good when I can.

Gunther (my Singer 201) has a boo boo also. Earlier last week while FMQ a quilt everything was going good, then I heard something hit the floor, looked down, didn't see anything figured I knocked off the sewing cabinet one of my small tools (i.e. seam ripper or an extra bobbin), so continued to quilt. Things were still going pretty good, then my thread breaks.

Ok, no biggie, pull out the small mess, rethread the machine, check tension, etc, continue...a few minutes later, top thread breaks again - repeat process. After this happening a few more times, I figured, stop for the night, I'm tired and missing a step in the process. Didn't connect the sound of something hitting the floor to potentially being the problem.

Next night, try again, same problem. Give up for the night on fmq, and instead did some fabric organizing.

Well yesterday, I decided to give it another try, starting from scratch. New needle, newly wound bobbin, rethread machine, good cleaning & oiling (although all this was done before starting the fmq of this quilt). Still not able to fmq for more than a few minutes before thread breaks again. So I figure Gunther is being stubborn and just doesn't want to work on this quilt today, so we'll go on to a different project.

Flip Gunther over, to re-engage the feed dogs, and notice a shaft feels "loose", so I break out the manual (can you believe I still have the original manual on a machine that's 60+ years old?). And compare the diagram to my machine, and sure enough, Gunther thru a screw. AHAH moment, that's what that something was that hit the floor.

Down on my hands & knees looking for that screw, pick everything up off the floor (several tubs under the cutting table), sweep the entire floor, use a magnet and my hands thru the schnibbles that I swept up. Run the magnet everywhere that the broom wouldn't reach and I still can't find that **** screw.

Today, I'll call my service guy, and hopefully he has one in stock, or can get it quickly. I feel good that I was able to diagnos the problem, I'll feel better when Gunther is all patched up!

[grammaterry]

Re: My own sewing machine repair

You all are so clever

[Debbie Watters]

Re: My own sewing machine repair

Learned a lot from your "sick" machines. Hope they recover and stay well for you! Thanks.

[Midge]

Re: My own sewing machine repair

Caroline T, I am in awe of your machine repair skills! Hope there is a fix in Gunther's future.

My machine also makes that tick tick tick noise when the needle is dull, but also when I need to remove the throat plate and really search for lint balls. Amazing how those two things clears it right up.

[Caroline T.]

Re: My own sewing machine repair

Caroline T, I am in awe of your machine repair skills! Hope there is a fix in Gunther's future.

My machine also makes that tick tick tick noise when the needle is dull, but also when I need to remove the throat plate and really search for lint balls. Amazing how those two things clears it right up.

My local service guy didn't have the screw/nut on hand, and didn't think he could get it. So after doing some websurfing, found a guy who specializes in vintage Singer machines, emailed him, and he responded that Yes, he has it. Yippee! so it's on order, and Gunther will be well and back in business very soon.

Now watch, the day after I get him all patched up, I will probably step on the missing screw

[seaturtle]

Re: My own sewing machine repair

I always head to the bobbin area for a cleaning when I hear those clicks. Now I'll know to check my needle also. I'm not very good at remembering to change the needle. I'm one of THOSE quilters!

[stitchwishes]

Re: My own sewing machine repair

Monique, I recently did the same thing and found a nice bit of lint underneath. I am hands on with my machine and didn't know it was even a removable plate until I was just having a good all around inspection because I was bored!

Caroline T, that is amazing you still have the manual! Gunther sounds like quite the character, I'd almost swear he threw a tantrum, lol! And we all know that screw is going to appear the day after your new one arrives, haha!

I am really into maintaining my machine, I love knowing what every part does and making sure my cheap little beast lives as long as possible. Well, just after cleaning and oiling I've been working on a small Holiday project. I keep hearing a light chiming noise and I know there is nothing wrong with Shanice. Metallic noises are never good. Did I break something? Alas, no, it was Jesus, honestly! I keep a thumb ring with a cross and a verse on it and wear it when I sew, and I always put it on the bobbin wonder when I'm done. I forgot to put my ring on, and it's been chiming at me as it vibrates around the little metal post while I sew....

[Lyndaj]

Re: My own sewing machine repair

Good work Monique

[Jean Sewing Machine]

Re: My own sewing machine repair

Wow, we learn a lot from investigating, don't we?

I have 2 troubleshooting stories to share. I was making a whole flock of free standing lace butterflies on my embroidery machine. I did two or 3 and things were fluttering along, then that dreaded clunking noise telling me I was getting thread nesting. That means the top thread came unthreaded or the bobbin wasn't turning. I cleaned out under the bobbin, but that didn't fix the problem! So I tried to take the bobbin case out, and it was like glued in place! I had to pry the bobbin case out, and found a whole mouse of lint under there! I was embroidering with a linty thread, now I know to clean out much more frequently!

My 2nd story is about screws. Needle screws are fairly precious, and I found if you loosen them, remove the needle and then forget and run your machine, the screw will fly out and be lost! My serger uses a special set screw and I lost it once when I took my needle out for narrow rolled hamming. It is the size of a grain of rice, so I never did find it. The other needle screw I lost was to my longarm. I was trying to finish a quilt for a friend to present to her the next day. I had a couple of hours set aside to work on it, and for some reason decided to take out my needle as I ran the machine to wind my bobbins! Again, BAD IDEA! The needle screw flew off somewhere into my utility room! Or right down the floor drain right next to the frame! I panicked as finding a replacement was going to be a real challenge! I called a few places locally to no avail then found some place in my state that had one! It cost an arm and a leg to purchase it and FedEx it to me quickly, but I was desperate! I went downstairs to shut everything off for the day, and saw a little glisten in the middle of the floor in plain view! There it was, the screw, right before my eyes! I swear, Divine intervention had been in play with this, because I had searched and searched on the floor on my hands and knees looking for it and this was right in plain sight! Now I have 2, my original, which is always tightened, and my $20 replacement!