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andrea mace Posted on Dec 18, 2011

Machine locked up

I was sewing and the machine didnt want to go no more so i moved the handle on the right of the machine top one back and forth and it started sewing again and now it will not move at all it will go in reverse and thread the bobbin but thats it

5 Related Answers

A

Anonymous

  • Posted on Jul 20, 2007

SOURCE: Brother XL-5130 Sewing Machine

Put the thread through one of the holes. Then put the bobbin on the spindle. Pull about 3 or 4 inches out of the hole and hold on to it. Start winding the bobbin. After about ten turns, or when the winding thread is secure, you can stop the machine and cut off this 3 or 4 inch tail. To insure that the thread winds up and down the bobbin and not off the top or bottom, there is probably a metal bobbin tension disk that the thread must pass around before it goes to the bobbin. It is probably on the left of the machine and may or may not be part of a thread guide. The thread must pass around this disk on its way to the bobbin in order to put tension on the thread so it will wind properly. If you can't find the disk, which is a small metal button or screw with some type of somewhat moveable spring cap, you can just get the thread to pass through your thumb and forefinger. Hold your hand 6 or 8 inches to the left of the bobbin and pass the thread between your thumb and forefinger so that it makes the thread go in a direct straight line to the bobbin. Pinch the thread only enough to keep it taught but not tight and let it flow through your finger to the bobbin. The thread should go up and down evenly on the bobbin. If not, move your hand up or down to position it so the thread will wind up and down smoothly. It will not be necessary to move your hand once you find the correct position needed for winding.

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Hassy

  • 1388 Answers
  • Posted on Feb 24, 2008

SOURCE: bobbin threading

You may have put the timing out, however, try this before you despair too much......

Ensure the presser foot is firm enough for the fabric you are using and that it will not just pull through easily by hand with the foot and feeddogs together (as the needle ascends), or things will not proceed, and you will be stitching in the same spot.

Generally a setting of 3 seems to work for general purposes, but if you are using very light or very heavy fabric, a sample is always a good idea before you start in earnest....also match the needle to the work for best results.

Ensure that all is clean and free of lint jams....now for tension troubleshooting .......

This solution is for tension problems...if you cannot form any sort of stitch, the issue is quite different, so please let me know if you need a different problem solved.....

It is quite long, but just work through each section in order.
The "knotting up" can reveal a lot. If you have loose threads on one side or the other, the tension on the opposite side will be the culprit.

QUICK SUMMARY FIRST:
Ensure sharp new needle,
Thread guides and Bobbin are Clean & Clear of lint
Set Top Tesion to 4 ....then....
Balance Bobbin to suit.

TOP THREAD TENSION:
If the looping threads are on the underside as you sew, it is the top tension. Top tension ought to be between 4 & 6 (this variation to allow for the different weights of fabric in your
projects).

IS YOUR NEEDLE SHARP ?
If you are using a needle that has seen quite a deal of work, or you suspect it may be blunt, change it for a new one !

TOP TENSION & GUIDES:
Make sure that when you thread the machine the presser foot is up so the thread goes between the discs and not to one side, top tension between 4 and 6, and that you have threaded through all the guides, including the last one, usually on the needle arm, just above the needle clamp.

It may be there is lint trapped between the discs, this will keep them slightly apart and reduce the actual tension, sometimes dramatically.

If tensions appear correct, and the thread is definitely in the channel between the discs, but still too loose and looping, try raising presser foot and remove your thread.

Now, with a 2" (50mm) wide strip piece of fabric 8 - 10" (20 - 25cm) moistened with methylated or denatured spirit, gently insert the fabric strip and clean between the discs with
a see saw / to and fro action.

In the worst cases, gentle use of a needle to pick & remove the jam may be necessary, but be very gentle and make sure the tension is set at Zero and the presser foot is raised, (to
disengage tension plates).... do not gouge or score the plates, they need a polished surface to work correctly.

BOBBIN TENSION:
Far less common, but if the loose threads are on the top, it is bobbin tension that is loose, it too may have lint in the spring and be giving a "false" tension.

I would not recommend fiddling with bobbin tension without good reason, it may end up with missing small screws and spring pieces, however, you can take the needle plate off to clean
the hook race area (where bobbin case sits)

...this is just good housekeeping, my wife does this every time she replaces the bobbin....

just take it out and clean the bobbin case and the fixed metal hook race with a small brush to remove lint. If there is a significant amount of lint, use a vacuum and small brush to get the worst.

Then wipe all this area with a cloth or cotton bud (Q tip) moistened (not soaked) with methylated spirit, especially if there appears to be fine dirty deposits....oil and lint combine to conspire against you.

If it seems likely that you ......really ....do .....actually .....need .....to adjust the bobbin case, first check there is no lint trapped in the metal spring where the thread is tensioned.

TOP LOADER:
Drop-in Bobbin case will look similar to this image with the tension screw in the middle of the metalwork....

4c76dc1.jpg ...the other screw at one end is holding it all together, so beware....it is not a tragedy to undo the whole lot and clean it, but very gingerly and lay the bits out in sequence and orientation, or you risk tearing your hair out !

FRONT LOADER:
....this is a bobbin case from a front loading machine and works in a very similar fashion to the top loader with drop in bobbin, again, if you dismantle it, take care so you can put it all
back properly.
165ca5c.jpg FINISHING UP
GETTING THE BALANCE RIGHT:
When you are certain there's no trapped lint in top tension or bobbin, set the top tension to 4 and the bobbin tension to a point where you just begin to feel resistance.

Try using good quality thread of contrasting colours so you can more easily spot the changes.

Set your zigzag to one width less than maximum (eg. 5 of 6 ...or... 4 of 5 etc) and sew a sample for a few inches and check the result.... adjust the bobbin tension screw very little at
a time, perhaps 1/16 of a turn.

You may find you are playing with this balance for some little while and if you are putting the needleplate on and off each time begin to think it cannot be correct to do this.....BUT....it is,
and eventually, you do get a "feel" for the correct tension and then it happens quite quickly.....as a user you won't be doing it very often unless there is lint built up (or are there small hands at work around the house !?!?!)

OTHER ISSUES:
If you live near the ocean as we do, salt air can play havoc with metalwork inside and out, so to help minimise this, keep a few small packets of dessicant (silica gel) in your machine
case....no case ? then make some sort of cover !

Same applies in any damp or humid environment, keep your machine dry and dust free.

Budget for a proper full service every couple of years (more often if heavily used) and if you don't use your machine for a few years, be aware that old oil will dry out and combining with
dust and form a "clag" like glue (another reason for some sort of cover, even a teatowel !)

FINALLY, A WORD ON THREAD:
If it is worth spending the time, energy and money on making something that you would like to give lasting enjoyment......use quality thread, .......it may seem to cost a little more at the
time, but the results, ease of use and added longevity will be worth the extra, and as a bonus, your tension troubles may be fewer and further between, because there is a more consistant diameter with good thread, and less compensating to be done by your tension plates and less thread breaks !

If you want any more help with this, just post back here, or, drop a line through the "Contact Us" page at www.bargainbox.com.au

Anonymous

  • 1 Answer
  • Posted on Sep 22, 2008

SOURCE: Upper thread wraps around bobbin mechanism, while sewing

IT PROBABLY IS THREADED INCORRECTLY. GO SLOWLY BY THE DIAPHRAGM AND MAKE SURE IT IS THREADED CORRECTLY. ALSO MAKE SURE SPOOL PIN HOLDERS ARE IN PLACE THAT HELPS TO GUIDE THE THREAD CORRECTLY.

Anonymous

  • 37 Answers
  • Posted on Apr 15, 2009

SOURCE: brother xr-65 bobbin problem

Mine does the same thing with the cheap plastic bobbins. I switched to the metal bobbins and no more issue!

sew dutch

Ellen Den Dulk

  • 25 Answers
  • Posted on May 26, 2009

SOURCE: Top thread won't pick up the bobbin thread

re insert the needle, maybe you did not put the needle up as far as it is to go. Make sure the flat side of the needle is to the back of the machine. Without any thread in the machine hand turn the wheel and look to see if the hook of your bobbin would/could catch the thread (to see if timing is right)
then thread the machine and hand turn the wheel and see what it is doing.
Your timing might be off, but I do not think that is likely. Though it is possible that when the needle fell out, it hit something hard, broke, and pushed the machine out of timing. then you need to bring it in.

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