Machine Maintenance

Cleaning • The machine should be carefully cleaned of

dust, lint, and thread before it is used and again before it is put away.

• Thread, carelessly left, often results in damage to the shuttle and in the blunting of needles.

Oiling

• Oiling keep the parts working smoothly and without unnecessary wear.

• Only a drop of oil once a week may be required.

• Places on the sewing machine which require oiling include:– two or more points on the treadle– two points on the band-wheel crank– one point on the band wheel

• The head of the machine has many more point which needs to be oiled.

• If a more thorough oiling is necessary, the upper thread, presser foot, face plate, slide plate, bobbin, bobbin case, and throat plate should be removed. The shuttle case should then be cleaned and oiled.

The arrows show where the machine is to be oiled

The arrows show where the machine is to be oiled

Caring for the Sewing Machine

1. Wipe off dust from the exposed parts.2. Lower or raise the head by holding the arm

carefully.3. With soft cloth, clean the:

– tension regulator – take-up lever and thread guides– bobbin case and shuttle– machine surface holes

4. Do not use detergents for cleaning

5. Using the lint brush, clean the:– feed dog– shuttle (area under the throat plate)

6. Sew a line of stitching on a scrap material to remove excess oil

7. If there is a need to disassemble some parts, remember how they were placed

8. Replace each part carefully using the correct screwdriver

9. Lubricate the bottom part of the machine by tilting the machine back and oil parts indicated below

10.Put 2-3 layers of swatches between presser foot and feed dog. Keep the sewing machine in its bed and cover.

1. Clucking noise. This happens when the top tension is not properly or correctly threaded. Re-thread the upper tension from the thread guide.

2. Stuck balance wheel. This happens when threads tangle around the bobbin. Gently rock the balance wheel back and forth to untangle the thread. Slowly pull out the thread with tweezers.

3. Puckered stitches. This happens when the point is blunt or bent. Replace needle with a new one.

4. Machine skip stitches. This is caused by using the wrong size of the needle specified for the kind of fabric being sewn. Make sure you have the right size of the needle.

5. Fabric does not move. This happens when the feed dog is not adjusted to the correct sewing position. Raise the feed dog by turning the feed dog regulator or darning knob.

6. Uneven stitches. This is caused by holding tight or pulling back the fabric while sewing. Hold the fabric lightly as you stitch.

7. Needle breaks. This happens when the needle strikes the presser foot or around the needle hole. Tighten the presser foot to avoid misaligning the needle, the presser foot and the needle hole.

8. Thread breaks at the needle eye. This happens when the needle eye is not threaded correctly. Thread the needle properly following the direction of the arrow indicated in the throat plate. The needle must be placed with the needle groove turned toward the side from which the needle is threaded.

By: CJ Fajilan

- from reference books and internet -