Steve's Appliance Service Advice

Howdy, my name is Steve. I live in Perth, Australia with my wife and our two lovely kids. On this blog, I will be passing on everything I have learnt about servicing household appliances. I should point out that I am not a professional when it comes to this subject, but I have learnt a lot over the past couple of years. I spend my days working for an investment bank, so when I get home, I like nothing more than to spend some time in the kitchen cooking with my wife. I rely heavily on my kitchen appliances so I decided I would learn how to look after them. My brother-in-law is an appliance repairman and he gave me some great tips.

How to Troubleshoot Common Sewing Machine Problems

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Sewing machines are indispensable pieces of equipment due to their fast operating speed. Although there are different makes and models of sewing machines, the fundamentals are almost similar. However, a sewing machine might operate sub-optimally due to a myriad of issues, including bad motors, tangling of threads, broken needles, and inability to feed a fabric. This article examines common problems with sewing machines and how to troubleshoot them.

Motor Unable to Run

A common issue with electric sewing machines is the malfunction of a motor. When a motor fails, the problem might lie in different areas, such as locked drive gears, faulty drive motor, bad foot pedal, or wiring failure. Remember to unplug a sewing machine from a power outlet before attempting to troubleshoot it. To narrow down to a specific issue, try checking the wiring connections linking a motor and a foot pedal. Check for loose or damaged wires and repair accordingly. A multimeter might be required to check for continuity in the circuit. If measurements in a multimeter indicate that there is no continuity through a foot pedal switch, you need to replace the pedal.

Another issue with motor failure is the binding of the drive system. In such a case, try spinning the handwheel and subsequently clean and lubricate the internal parts to free up the gears. Also, listen to the sound that a motor makes when a sewing machine is plugged into a power outlet. When a motor buzzes without running, then the problem could be a faulty motor bearing. In this case, try replacing a motor for a sewing machine to operate. Also, replace a motor when it won't turn or make any sound.

Feed Dogs Not Working

Feed dogs are essential in a sewing machine because they feed a piece of fabric through the machine. However, problems with feed dogs might prevent a piece of fabric from moving during sewing. One of the leading causes of this problem is setting stitch length to zero. However, if the stitch length is set correctly, but a piece of fabric does not move, then you should inspect the height of the feed dogs. Most importantly, feed dogs should be adjusted at a certain height to push a fabric forward during sewing. Apart from height adjustment, feed dogs might become loose or break. Therefore, check for loose or broken components and repair or replace them accordingly.

Broken or Bent Needles

Broken needles can be frustrating when working with a sewing machine. It is advisable to use the correct needle type and size for the right application. For example, ballpoint needles are ideal for sewing knit fabrics, while sturdy and sharp needles are suitable for sewing denim, vinyl, or leather fabrics. If you still encounter broken needles when using the right needle, then have a technician inspect the mechanical system of your machine, including the timing mechanism.

If you're experiencing these or other issues, consider reaching out to sewing machine repair services. 

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10 September 2020