Here are the questions asked by community members. Read on to see the answers provided by the ThriftyFun community.
I just purchased a second hand vintage sewing machine (Singer 5102). The lady said she'd used it only a couple times when she first got it in the 80s, so it's practically new. The problem is after I went through cleaning and servicing it, I couldn't get the needle to move. The hand wheel, belt, and fan bit of motor move fine, but I noticed there is brown thread stuck in a joint of the arm that attaches the needle arm to the thread take-up lever.
I'm assuming she either didn't put the thread in properly or it slipped out somehow. I've tried unscrewing the small phillips head screw at the joint of the arm to remove the remaining thread, but I had to stop because it was too tight and I was just wearing out of the screw. Any suggestions?
Your machine may be stuck in bobbin winding mode. There are two wheels (one within the other) on your sewing machine.
If there is a thread stuck in the arm area this could actually block the arm from moving correctly. You may need to take this apart and see if you can get the thread out of the way. Make sure the inner wheel on this machine is as tight as possible. This will allow the outer wheel to spin and move the needle up and down.
My sewing machine was a gift and has no manual. I just got it back from the shop after having full maintenance done and the needle is jammed. I removed the bobbin and the threads from the needle and it still won't move. I don't want to take it back to the shop, so I hope its something simple.
By rain
Thank you for your comments. My sewing machine is a Nelco Ultra, and the bobbin chamber had shifted and jammed it self in place, but its all fixed now!
I am not sure, but I think that my needle is jammed and when I press the pedal it just goes errrr. It won't move and the retractor thingy won't make it come up.
By Alyssa
I have had this happen. If you have to break the needle an easy way is to also grasp it with a pliers, look away, and break it. If the screw that holds the needle in won't budge, then you will have no choice.
Sometimes, so much dirt and thread will bunch up to keep it from working. The other idea is to take the plate out, like kerly87 suggested, and untangle whatever is keeping it from running. Also, the timing belt might be off just a bit and something is not firing when it should be.
I wish you luck. PBP
I have a newer Janome MB4 S machine and needle 4 got jammed during embroidery. Thread piled up in the bobbin and house. I got most of it out, but it's now not working. It is like there is still thread somewhere binding. I can't turn the wheel and the thread lever on that needle is still down.
What happened and how do I fix? I'm getting the needle bar error and I can't do anything with the machine. Did the timing get thrown from this?In this case you will need to open the bobbin and take it out. There are two levels on each side of the casing that needs to be opened up so you can take out another piece inside there. Now you will see that you can get to the feed dog and remove the rest of the thread and clean out this area.
My single needle machine stop working; it jammed. The motor hums, but it seems to be locked.
I would recommend you do what you can at home before taking it into a shop, Charlene. For instance, very carefully remove all fabric and thread from the sewing area, turn the wheel by hand to raise the needle. If you can get the needle up, check to see if it's broken. Remove the bobbin case and all the thread in that area as well (it's often the source of trouble). Unscrew the plate beneath the sewing area and check for a build-up of lint.
I just got this new Singers Esteem II sewing machine yesterday and the machine was working perfectly fine until I decided to change the thread for the needle. I have the machine correctly threaded and I had my fabric ready underneath the needle and I make the mistake of not pulling the needle and bobbin thread out enough to at least 6 inches.
I started to sew and all of a sudden I get my thread stuck in the bobbin case and then I pulled it out. Then I say OK it's out and I press down on the peddle and it makes this really loud ERRR sound and at this point I burst into tears because this was a $100 dollar machine.
I checked the machine to find any loose thread anywhere, but I don't! Is there anything I can do to get that thread out? I've been told that my machine is either jammed or locked.
By Destiny C.
It's still under warranty - take it back to the store, or to a factory approved Singer repair centre. Be sure to take the receipt, and if you go to a sewing centre, be sure to find out any charges they may make in expectation of you chasing down a warranty based refund for repairs.
To be honest it does sound as though something is jammed in there, it could be a very small piece of thread you can't see. The repair tech will have the tools and knowledge to find the jam and remove it.
I have just acquired a sewing machine the make is a JMB, it's all threaded up etc., but the needle won't go all the way down and it just freezes and makes a buzzing sound. The tension is on 3, but I have tried it on other numbers and still nothing. Has anyone got any tips I should try? x
By Jennifer
Hi Jennifer! Is your model an overlocker or a standard sewing machine? I'm not familiar with the JMB machines at all as I sew vintage and antique Singers exclusively. So I'm going to ask if you have the owner guide (user manual)-that should have a troubleshooting section that might help.
I will say if this were happening on one of my Singers I would clean the bobbin case and area, the tension disc areas, and then I'd try a rethread-I have had the same problem you describe happen on the Singers when I've threaded the machine wrong-lol, usually either passing the thread BEHIND the tension discs instead of between them, or when I've been in too big a hurry and forgot to raise the presser foot when threading the machine.
If you still have trouble, it could be something inside the machine and the best person to have a look is a qualified sewing machine repair technician. If you live in the US or the UK, a good repairman is as close as your local sewing centre-the staff there can recommend someone. The cost varies from country to country, US around $50, UK around £35-£60. You'll get your machine back in working order and it will have been serviced (clean, oil if needed, other potential problems found, repaired if you agree to the work being done). Well worth the money if you love or need your sewing machine!
If you don't have the owner guide, try a Google search using the manufacturer name and the machine model number in the search term. I tried to find a free download for you but since I don't know anything about JMB machines my search wasn't productive.
My Singer Esteem sewing machine has a jam in it. I can't lower the needle enough to catch the bobbin thread. Before I take it to a repair shop, does anyone know what the problem could be. I have taken all of the components out of the bobbin casing to make sure there was no thread mass jammed in there, but it looks clean and thread free. When I press on the foot peddle, nothing happens and I can't turn the dial on the right side of the machine to lower the needle. I just can't figure out what's wrong.
By Carol
I'm not familiar with the Esteem model but have serviced several older, more vintage machines, and caught thread is usually what causes the problems you are describing. The are several causes of what you are describing, but it sounds as though there is thread fluff or even thread bits caught somewhere inside the head of the machine, probably between the tension discs or in the threading path.
If you are handy, and own a good quality digital camera so you can take step-by-step photos as you take the cover off and remove any screws, etc, you might be able to see the thread bits and remove them with tweezers. Then you can use the photos to help you reassemble the machine.
Without a service manual, though, you really are best advised to have a certified technician open the head and have a look-the problem could be a broken part and only a tech will be able to tell for sure.
My Singer Esteem sewing machine has a jam in it. I can't lower the needle enough to catch the bobbin thread. Before I take it to a repair shop, does anyone know what the problem could be? I have taken all of the components out of the bobbin casing to make sure there was no thread mass jammed in there, but it looks clean and thread free. I just can't figure out what's wrong.
By Carol M.
If it isn't a thread jam, I would guess you would have to take it to the repair shop. I might be funny in this respect, but I would take it to the Singer dealer, providing you bought it from a Singer dealer. The Singer dealer where I won't touch a Singer that you buy in other stores. His excuse is they just aren't Singers. When he said that I felt like kicking him in the rear. lol
I am new to sewing, and just got this machine. It is brand new, never been used. I was taking in a pair of jeans when I accidentally ran through some fabric that was too thick for the machine to handle. It stopped sewing, beeped, and now when I try to sew, the top thread is getting caught down where the bobbin is and the needle gets stuck. Have I ruined my machine already? How do I fix my poor, new machine?
By Olwyn
