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:: April 4, 2006 Help!
My sewing machine is making extremely unpleasant screechy noises as it sews and feels like it's having a hard go of it when the needle is coming down. I suspect it needs oil but I lost the manual a while ago and don't know how to do it. (No, the manual is not available online.) And my blockswap blocks (3 down, the rest still in pieces) must be sent by Friday! Are there general principles of machine oiling, or are machines too different from one another to diagnose sight unseen? I've unscrewed the covers to take a look inside but don't know where the problem spot could be. I've already tried de-linting. Sigh. update: Anonymous asked in the comments what my machine is -- it's a Janome 4612 Travelmate with a front-loader bobbin. Thanks everyone! update #2: I took the machine to All City Sewing Machine Service. The shop is old school -- one of the very few holdouts from South Congress' days of crack dealing and x-rated theaters, so I appreciate that. The proprietor said he'd have it for me in a day or two, and gave me a free pen. My local Janome shop takes weeks, and that's what I thought I was facing, hence the small panic. Thanks for the responses everyone -- I will compile them into a post at some point. posted by in Sewing
Comments Well, I'm not a sewing machine repair person yet. But it is something I want to learn. I could be totally wrong, but I doubt it has anything to do with oil or lack of. Call your local repair shop tomorrow morning. And ask if they have rentals or loaners. Some do rent or loan machines while yours is in the shop. Good luck! I know how it feels - my old machine started smoking a couple of days before a big project was due in college. The computer panel in it fried. It was not fun. Posted by Anita on April 5, 2006 12:35 AM I think Anita is probably right, especially since you already de-linted. But try slightly greasing the case the bobbin goes in and see if there are any red dots on your machinge. Those were the oiling points on the old Berninas. Posted by Karin on April 5, 2006 2:43 AM I'm not a sewing machine mechanic but I have pulled quite a few apart and I ocurrently own.. um... 23, no, 24 machines. Here's what I'd do: OK. First - DON'T PANIC!! 2nd: have you completely unthreaded and re-threaded your machine, top AND bottom? [thread can get caught up and jam the machine. Try "flossing" between your tension discs, too.] From the "labouring" sounds I suspect a jam is the most likely cause. 3rd: Take the bobbin out completely and dust both the bobbin and where it came out of with a soft brush; and then put a single drop of oil wherever you can see metal parts rubbing against metal parts, wipe it out with a Q tip, then oil again. [the first lot of oil cleans away the old gunk.] 4th: Have you tired a new needle? often a small burr on the needle, or a slightly bent needle, can make the bobbin grumpy. 5th: Tell me what sort of machine it is, I have quite a few manuals hanging about... I'll do what I can to help! Posted by Anonymous on April 5, 2006 3:16 AM Can't compete with anonymous (wow is all I can say) but it sounds like it might also be that your timing is out. This is a problem I used to have with my old machine. Take it to the shop - sorry! Posted by sooz on April 5, 2006 3:27 AM well, when my machine is being a brat i take it to a local repair place here...is there one near you? Posted by teresa on April 5, 2006 8:50 AM Hi! I have a Janome 4618 if I could help let me know. I do have the booklet too. Posted by catrina on April 5, 2006 6:31 PM My serger was making a bad noise and when I finally figured it out, it was an easy fix. After replacing the needles, I found that the old needles nicked the presser foot and made a burr that the new needles rubbed on. I took the foot off and used a fingernail file to smooth out the burr. It worked great! I hope your's is that easy of a fix. Posted by tks on April 5, 2006 11:15 PM I wasn't supposed to be anonymous, I just forgot to fill in the little form thingy! (and then the post kept being deined for "Questionable contenet", which, while it's my favourtie web comic EVAH, didn't seem relevant, LOL! I'm really Caitlin, my blog is called Princessandthepea. But see - now you have someone who has the manual - sweeeeeeeett!! Posted by Anonymous on April 6, 2006 6:31 AM |