Sewing Machine Repair 101

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Sewing Machine repair 101

Without the sewing machine, the world would be a very different place. Like the automobile, the cotton gin and countless other innovations from the past 300 years, the sewing machine takes something time-consuming and laborious and makes it fast and easy. With the invention of the mechanized sewing machine, manufacturers could suddenly produce piles of high-quality clothing at minimal expense. Because of this technology, the vast majority of people in the world can now afford the sort of sturdy, finely-stitched clothes that were a luxury only 200 years ago.

In this article, we’ll take look at the remarkable machine that makes all of this possible. As it turns out, the automated stitching mechanism at the heart of a sewing machine is incredibly simple, though the machinery that drives it is fairly elaborate, relying on an assembly of gears, pulleys and motors to function properly. When you get down to it, the sewing machine is among the most elegant and ingenious tools ever created.Sewing machines are something like cars: There are hundreds of models on the market, and they vary considerably in price and performance. At the low-end of the scale, there are conventional no-frills electric designs, ideal for occasional home use; at the high-end, there are sophisticated electronic machines that hook up to a computer. Textile companies have many machines to choose from, including streamlined models specifically designed to sew one particular product.

Denver Sewing machine tips and steps for repair

Cleaning and oiling the Sewing Machine for all our Denver Metro customers:

  1. Step 1: Unfasten the top, bottom, side and handwheel covers, using a screwdriver. Set the covers aside.
  2. Step 2: Remove the plate that covers the thread bobbin. If it is screwed in place, use a screwdriver. If it is held by a clip or magnet, use a small flathead screwdriver to pry up the plate.
  3. Step 3: Thoroughly clean inside all the openings, using a vacuum with crevice attachment. Remove any stubborn lint, and use tweezers to take out any thread that is wound around the parts.
  4. Step 4: Clean the teeth on the gears, using the tip of a round toothpick to loosen the grime. Vacuum to remove it.
  5. Step 5: Lubricate all the moving parts. Use white lithium grease on the gears, and sewing machine oil on the other parts.
  6. Step 6: Reassemble the machine and plug it in.

Tightening or replacing the drive belt

  1. Step 1: Remove the top cover, bottom cover and handwheel cover, using a screwdriver to take out the screws.
  2. Step 2: Inspect the drive belt. If it is slack, use your screwdriver to loosen the screws that hold the motor in place, then follow step 4, below, to increase the belt’s tension. If the belt is cracked or broken, get a replacement from your sewing machine supplier.
  3. Step 3: Install the new belt. Loosen the motor-mounting screws, and shift the motor toward the handwheel so you can slip the belt over the parts.
  4. Step 4: Shift the motor away from the handwheel to increase the belt’s tension, then tighten the motor-mounting screws and check the tension. The belt should flex no more than 1/2 inch (12 mm). If it is too loose, increase the tension.
  5. Step 5: Reinstall the covers and plug in the machine.