Sewing Machine TroubleShooting Guide

Sometimes your machine just doesn’t want to cooperate.  The thread breaks, needle bends, or skipped stitches ….  Don’t get frustrated!  Take a deep breath and check out our 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.

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