Sewing Machine TroubleShooting Guide

Symptom

Root Cause

Corrective Action

• Sewing machine suddenly stops on sewing.

• Light is on, and hand wheel can be turned easily by hand.

• Sewing machine has been run at a low speed for an extended period of time.
• To prevent overheating, motor power is automatically turned off.

• Turn power off and wait about 20 minutes. Safety device will reset, and machine will be ready to operate.

• Needle will not move.

• Upper thread has run out.
• Presser foot is up.
• Bobbin winder shaft was left in winding position.
• Buttonhole lever was not lowered when machine was placed in buttonhole mode.

• Replace empty spool and thread machine.
• Lower presser foot.
• Move bobbin winder shaft back fully to left.
• Lower buttonhole lever.

• Sewing machine will not run.

• Presser foot is not correct one, and needle hits presser foot.
• Needle has come out and is in hook of machine.

• Replace presser foot with new one.
• Remove needle and insert new one.

• Upper thread breaks.

• Threading is not correct.
• Thread has a knot in it.
• It’s tension is too tight.
• Needle is bent or blunt or has a sharp eye.
• It is wrong size.
• It has been inserted wrong.
• Needle and thread does not match.
• Starting to stitch too fast.
• Thread take-up lever has not been threaded.

• Correctly thread machine.
• Remove knot.
• Correct thread tension.
• Replace needle.
• Replace needle with correct size.
• Properly insert needle.
• Start machine at a medium speed.
• Use proper thread or needle.
• Check threading order.

• Bobbin thread breaks.

• Bobbin has not been fully inserted in bobbin case.
• Bobbin has been incorrectly threaded.
• Bobbin does not turn smoothly in bobbin case.
• Lint in bobbin case or shuttle.

• Securely install bobbin into bobbin case.
• Correctly thread bobbin case.
• Check to see that bobbin has been wound evenly.
• Clean bobbin case and shuttle.

• Skipped stitches.

• Thread tension is too tight.
• Needle is bent or blunt.
• Needle is wrong size.
• Needle and thread does not match.
• Thread take-up lever has not been threaded.
• Light pressure on presser foot.
•  Incorrect setting of needle.

• Correct thread tension.
• Replace needle.
• Replace needle with correct size.
• Use proper thread or needle.
• Check threading order.
• Increase pressure on presser foot.
• Reset needle.

• Stitches are not formed properly.

• Thread has not been pulled into thread sensor guide.
• Threading is not correct.
• Bobbin case has been threaded wrong.
• Spool cap is wrong size for thread spool.

• Fully pull thread into thread sensor guide.
• Correct threading.
• Correctly thread bobbin case.
• Replace the cap with correct size.

• Irregular stitches.

• Incorrect size needle.
• Improper threading.
• Loose upper thread tension.
• Pulling fabric.
• Light pressure on presser foot.
• Loose presser foot.
• Unevenly wound bobbin.

• Choose correct size needle for thread and fabric.
• Rethread machine.
• Tighten upper thread tension.
• Do not pull fabric; guide it gently.
• Increase pressure on presser foot.
• Reset presser foot.
• Rewind bobbin.

• Fabric puckers.

• Stitch length is too long for material.
• Needle point is blunt.
• Incorrect thread tension.
• Light pressure on presser foot.
• Fabric is too sheer or soft.
• Using two different sizes or kinds of thread.

• Decrease stitch length.
• Replace needle.
• Reset thread tension.
• Increase pressure on presser foot.
• Use underlay of tissue paper.
• Upper thread and bobbin thread should be the same size and kind.

• Bunching of thread.

• Upper and lower threads not drawn back under presser foot.
• Feed dog down.

• Draw both threads back under presser foot.
• Raise feed dog.

• Needle breaks.

• A thin needle was used for sewing a heavy weight material.
• Needle has not been fully inserted into needle bar.
• Needle clamp screw is loose.
• Presser foot is not correct one.
• Presser foot is loose.
• Pulling on fabric as you sew.

• Use correct size needle.
• Properly insert needle.
• Securely tighten needle clamp screw.
• Use correct presser foot.
• Reset presser foot.
• Do not pull fabric, guide it gently.

• Loud noise is heard.

• Knocking noise, machine jammed.

• Dust has accumulated in feed dogs.
• Lint is in hook.
• Thread caught in shuttle.

• Clean machine.
• Clean machine.
• Disassemble machine and clean shuttle.

• The machine does not feed material.

• The stitch length has been set to zero.
• The presser foot pressure is too low.
• Feed dogs are lowered.
• Threads are knotted under fabric.

• Reselect the proper stitch pattern and length.
• Set presser foot pressure adjustment lever to “normal”.
• Raise feed dogs.
• Place both threads back under presser foot before start to stitch.

• Threading cannot be done.

• The needle threader will not turn.

• The threading hook will not enter needle eye.

• The needle is not in highest position.
• The needle threader is designed not to turn to protect it self if the needle is not up.
• The needle has not been fully inserted into needle bar.

• Turn hand wheel until needle reaches its highest position.
• Properly insert needle.

• Needle threader cannot be returned and the sewing machine stops.

• The threading hook is left in the needle eye.

• Sewing machine was accidentally started while threading hook was still in needle eye (during threading).

• Slightly turn handle clockwise and remove threader.