Wheel seems to be jammed, can only turn it less than 1/4 revolution either direction. Had been using it all day with no problems, when back to use it and it was jammed.

The last time mine did that I found out I had the thread running off the bobbin in the wrong direction.

Most likely there are jamming threads at bobbin room under the machine stepping pedal, try to dismantle it to get rid of these threads.

Hello Jenny hornsey

This may sound traumatic, but there is no easy way to pin point where the tie-up is located. So proceed as follows.
Cut all the threads as they come off the antennas.

Open the front cover and pull-out all the threads by pulling them straight toward the back. If they do not come easily, try moving the hand wheel back and forth by a 1/4 revolution .. this is like a rocking motion. If still not budging, start cutting back the threads and removing them in sections until all the threads are cleared. If this step is still challenging; check that there is no residual fabric or threads still wrapped around the loopers or other part/s of the serger. If so cut them out bit by bit until everything below is cleared.

Great. Now check for threads wrapped and/or jammed anywhere above.

Since the overlocker jammed, it is possible that the needles were bent. This will continue to cause issues in stitch formation. So just to make sure; change the needle/s. Make sure that the correct needle type is being used. Every overlocker is engineered to be used with a specific needle type. The needle type will be specified in the manual and will also appear on the needle package. If the needle types are not the same, do not use those needles.

Re-thread the overlocker and stitch test on a piece of fabric before pressing down on the foot control.

This should get the overlocker back on track and you back to overlocking.

Please let me know how this works out for you.

Happy overlocking
Sewingirl/

If this is an older mechanical machine (ie, NOT computerized), sounds like it has not been cleaned and oiled in quite some time and the old oil has solidified. DO THIS ONLY IF IT IS A MECHANICAL MACHINE! Consult your owner's manual, get some good quality sewing machine oil (not your grandmother's oil tin, 3-in-1 oil, WD-40, or cooking oil). Start with 1-2 drops of oil each place as directed by the manual. Gently hand-rotate the wheel (do not try to run the motor until the internal mechanics of the machine are moving freely!). To speed things up, direct heated air from a handheld hairdryer into the interior mechanism. You may need to repeat the process every day for a few days before things loosen.

The machine should be oiled every 8 hours of constant sewing, every time a new bobbin is installed, before its use after it has not been used recently, or at least every 6 months if it is in storage.

...

you might try manualslib.com

Put a felt spool pin holder (an extra one comes with machine and it's either red or white felt with a circle cut out of it in the center)...remove bobbin, set felt circle in bobbin case to keep bobbin from wiggling. The back and forth motion is knocking the thread out causing it to lay flat against top of the bobbin when you start machine, but felt puts bobbin in correct position! Make sure thread falls into tension slots and carefully pull thread back to left of silver piece (stitch finger). Pull up your bobbin thread. Put in new needle since "bird nesting" or jam may have bent the one previously used. Now it should purr like a kitten...smooth sailing! This is how I fixed my Singer Heavy Duty 4423 when I realized the problem is that the bobbin case is a bit wide and felt takes up slack, raising bobbin also to keep bobbin thread moving smoothly through so it doesn't jump out of tension and rest on top of bobbin!!! Works now!
Jimmy

I was sewing a headliner for a car and this happened. It's jammed. Unplug the machine, remove the item being sewn. By hand, give less than quarter turns back and forth on nthe large wheel that holds the belt. Try to work it free. Check inside the bobbin compartment as well for anything that may have jammed in there, it's stuck on something that came off, you just have to find it and gently remove the remnant. Keep working that wheel forward and reverse by hand gently. I hope this helps! It did for me!

Check the manual for maintenance infromation.

Noise can be from lint in the bobbin area.

After cleaning, re-thread the machine with the presser foot up to see the combination of cleaning and "presser foot up" threading helps.

Okay, so there is a jam. Take out the bobbin case and the hook. Remove the bobbin from the bobbin case if you haven't already.

Try and turn balance wheel now. if it is still stuck than you have a pretty big problem. Chances are the timing has been thrown so far that something is bumping something else and keeping it from revolving. Repair probably required.

If you're really lucky and the balance wheel does turn do this:
Clean bobbin case and hook gently with a tooth bush or some such. Make sure the bobbin doesn't have a bit of needle jammed in it. Examine the bobbin case and hook, looking for any damage. There has to be something preventing the normal revolutions of the machine from happening.
Good Luck and if this was helpful please vote for me. Thanks

Can you post a photo of the machine, cannot find a reference to this model.

1st just check around the bobbin case area for jammed thread, also in/around the *takeup lever (up/down arm) mechanism near needlebar, as thread often gets wound around and jams the shaft

If it really seems like corrosion in an elderly & neglected machine.... disconnect from power, and using a small rocking movement of the handwheel to identify the parts that should move and with all the covers removed and in a dry well ventilated area with old newspaper to absorb excess,

.......give a light spray of WD40 or similar penetraing lubricant on horizontal Top shaft at each end where it joins main body

..... the region that operates the *take up lever cranks and counterbalance

.....the handwheel has a clutch mechanism, so if you can undo the wheel to access this, it may well be dry and need lube.

.....In the base is another horizontal shaft lube each end and a little where the gears meet to change the drive direction under the hook race/bobbin.

With the same gentle rocking motion of handwheel, see if there is any improvement ...but do not force anything......(to stitch forward, the handwheel spins "over the falls" toward you)

You may not see immediate improvement, so leave overnight and be patient, it may take several days........just be very sure there is nothing jammed anywhere.