Fix Sewing Machines Institute

Fix Sewing Machines Institute

If you ever thought you might like to learn sewing machine repair, look no further.

If you imagine yourself as a professional sewing machine technician, the key to your success may be closer than you thought.

If you want to build your own business as a sewing machine technician, check out the one resource with proven track record.

 For many years, David and Jeremiah Trumble have provided thousands of  students with the knowledge and skills to become highly successful sewing machine technicians. 

Study at home materials are available through their Pro Training Series of 7 E Courses and Video Series.Five times each year,  In their comprehensive correspondence program, the include the complete Pro Training Series, Video Series, and a massive set or manufacturer's service and parts manuals and resource. 

Fix Sewing Machines Institute hosts a live professional sewing machine repair institute about five times each year in Killeen, Texas with students coming from all across the US and several foreign countries. 

The live institute lasts three days and provides comprehensive training in mechanical, computerized, and light industrial sewing machines as well as sergers and embroidery machines.  When a student completes the course, they receive a diploma certification as sewing machine technicians, and are ready to begin work as technicians for dealerships, factories, design and production companies, institutions, or  in their own business.

Below are pictures of our July, 2015 Institute.

Brother VX Repair

Repair Your Brother VX
Sewing Machine

 

The Brother VX series is a popular line of low end sewing machines. 

It may be purchased through big box stores like Walmart.

This Brother VS 820 is a bit older,

but represents the line pretty well. 

 

As with most sewing machines, the major problem is maintaining it.

If the machine sits in a closet for a year, it should be serviced prior to use.

If it is used ten hours a week, it may need service more often.

The key element is to remember that the lubricants and moving parts

are exposed to whatever is in the air: moisture, dust, sun, dirt, lint, etc.

The lubricants dry out over time and become sticky and eventually

harden into a crusty material. 

These old lubricants and all debris must be removed.

Thorough cleaning is essential.

Then re-lubricate.

 

 

Fix Sewing Machine Institute provides both a comprehensive

correspondence training program and live training institutes

that include instruction on mechanical sewing machines,

computerized sewing machines, sergers, and more.

If you are hobbyist, the training will make your hobby easier

and more fun then ever.
If you aim to become a sewing machine technician,

Fix Sewing Machines Institute offers the finest

All Brand Sewing Machine Repair School available.

Sewing machines either use an oscillating hook assembly like this one,

or a rotary hook assembly like most top loading sewing machines.

Needle bar adjustment is always a concern, but the

adjustments are very similar from one machine to another.

 

Viking 620 Repair

The Viking  is a bit different to service. 

Instead of removing front covers to reach the main parts of the machine,

you service it from the rear.

Here you can see the rear cover removed.

On the left bottom is the drive motor.

The belt on the left control the rotation of

the upper and lower shafts. 

Across the bottom left to right are the shafts

to control the hook and feed assemblies.

At the top center you see the cam stack.

The motor is an electronically modulated AC Motor.

 

The Drive Belt is an item that required

checking when doing a service. 

If it is too tight or loose, the belt will not function properly.

 

Using the finger flex test, press against the belt.

If it flexes an eight inch or so, it is good.

If it fails to flex or appears to have slop, adjust it.

To adjust the tension on the belt adjust the tensioner

shown here. 

Cam stacks must turn freely and their trackers

must align with their appropriate grooves.

These may require adjustment due to

sticky old lubricants, misalignment, or debris

 

To learn more about sewing machine repair,

check out http://www.FixSewingMachines.com.

 

Singer 640 Golden Touch And Sew

The Singer 640 is one of several models in the Touch And Sew series by Singer produced during the 1970s.   One of the most interesting aspects of the model was its ability to wind the bobbin in the bobbin carrier.  As a top loading full rotary hook sewing machine, the bobbin was placed on the carrier.  At the push of a lever or button, the assembly would raise or lower.  This permitted the machine to wind the bobbin, and then reset to sew.  Unfortunately, many of these machines suffered from minor adjustment issues from time to time requiring frequent repair by a sewing machine technician.

The Singer 640 offered straight stitch and zig zag with full stitch length and stitch width control.

 

Note the outer silver grey colored circle.  This is the hook.  Inside the hook you will note the bobbin carrier also silver grey colored circle.  Inside the carrier you see the bobbin with two white stripes and a clamp holding it in place.   Also notice the black bracket extending from the bottom right.  This bracket has a spring on it facing the carrier.  This bracket must be properly set to permit the movement of the thread around the bobbin.  Too tight and the thread binds up.  Too lose and the thread flops around.  At the Far lower right is an eccentric used to adjust the bracket.  To remove the carrier, the black bracket must be lifted and moved to the right.

 

The front surface mounted tension assembly is held in place by a set screw under the cover.  It may be removed for service, replacement, or repair as needed.  Please note inside the tension assembly is a small metal rod about 1/25 inches long. Do not lose or forget to install this rod when servicing the tension assembly.  The presser bar lever presses against the pin or rod to open and close the tension assembly.  Always thread with presser foot in the up position relieving the pressure on the tensions.

 

Replacing the gears is pretty easy.  Always replace gears in sets.  A gear with 2 or more set screws will rest on the round portion of a shaft and may be adjusted around and along the shaft.  A gear with 1 set screw sits on the flat of the shaft and may only be adjusted back and forth along the length of the shaft.  To remove gears:  remove motor mount to the right and anything that prevents moving the shaft to the right.  Release guide set screws and move shaft to the right.  Remove gears.  Replace gears.  Reassemble paying very special attention to proper tooth alignment.  

 

The challenge of gear replacement is not removal and replacement of gears.  The challenge is resetting all affected settings on the sewing machine: feed, hook, needle bar, and over all balance.

 

Repairing older sewing machines is fun and rewarding.  To learn these special skills, check out Fix Sewing Machines Institute.  They offer a comprehensive correspondence program for sewing machine repair plus the top rated all brand sewing machine school.  For live classes see http://www.FixSewingMachines.com

 

Sewing Machine Repair Resources

In order to better serve those interested in sewing machine repair, we have added a few websites and videos that may be of interest.

Fix Sewing Machines Institute                                        http://www.fixsewingmachines.com.

Sewing Answers                                                             http://www.sewinganswers.com

Facebook For Fix Sewing Machines Institute             https://www.facebook.com/FixSewingMachines

Facebook For Sewing Answers                                   https://www.facebook.com/SewingAnswers

Sewing Machine Repair School                                   http://www.sewingmachinerepairschool.com

Sewing Machine Repair Courses                                 http://www.sewingmachinerepaircourses.com

Sewing Machine Repair Training                               http://www.sewingmachinerepairtraining.com

Sewing Machine Repair School Video                 
                        https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=g6v-zOjIK1M

Sewing Machine Repair Technician
                        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6NSrbv0TW7E&feature=player_detailpage

Fix Sewing Machine Institute Testimonial Videos
                       https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=HlCRL79692U

                       https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ib1_knfgrr4&feature=player_detailpage

Sewing Machine Repair Disassembly Video
                        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KqdGGQwjwiA&feature=player_detailpage

Fix Sewing Machines Video
                       https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KABZ6Zo8AH4&feature=player_detailpage


Sewing Machine Timing Video
                        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8H0BQVVaw0c&feature=player_detailpage

Bernina Sewing Machine Disassembly Video
                        https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=o0Zh2c3Pk44

Invention of the Sewing Machine Video
                       https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=VTlLuQTbxPg

Learn Sewing Machine Repair Video
                        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pm73_42jvws&feature=player_detailpage

Sewing Machine Repair Timing - 5 Principles Video
                      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZ6yJd4s2_g&feature=player_detailpage

Sewing Machine Repair - Hook Systems
                      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y4RJmORYNVM&feature=player_detailpage

Sewing Machine Timings - Point Of Adjustment
                     https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ccuTm2eMvbA&feature=player_detailpage

Repairing The Singer 6012C

Singer is the number one sewing machine brand of all time.  

Since the patent wars of the 1850's more Singers have been made and sold than any other sewing machine.  Isaac Singer was a canny marketer who watched all the advances made by others, and copied them, improved on them, and marketed them.  

There have been thousands of different models, but during the 1970's and later, Singer began to specialize in full rotary hook sewing machines.  Some models even wound the bobbin in the top loading bobbin carrier.

Singer 6012C is one of many top loading rotary hook sewing machines.  Singer sewing machine repair requires professional training because there is such a wide range of issues and models.

This machines offers straight stitch and zig zag sewing with three preset needle positions and a four step button hole.  This was a very popular sewing machine and thousands are still in use today.  Notice the front mounted bayonet styled upper tension assembly.



The open bottom of the machine reveals a cogged belt to control the rotary hook movement.  This belt often gets worn and needs replacement periodically.  It also shows two bar shafts to control the feed system. 

Notice the gear driving the hook assembly has two set screws on it.  This enables you to adjust the hook position at the gear, but it may also be adjusted at the opposite end of the belt.

 The tensioner shown here keeps the appropriate amount of pressure on the hook drive belt to keep it from slipping.  It should be adjusted so that the tension on the belt flexes just a bit.  The belt should not be overly tight or loose.  Professional sewing machine repair training gives the technician the knowledge and skill to repair sewing machine of all makes and models.

The needle plate has been removed to show the hook assembly.  Note this are must be regularly cleaned.  Place one drop of sewing machine oil on the hook race (the groove on the inside top of the hook assembly)  every few hours of sewing.

The plastic cam allows the machine to create different stitch types.  Note the metal finger the connects to the cam.  This finger rides over bumps and grooves on the cam moving the needle bar accordingly.

 

Professional sewing machine repair is a highly respected profession serving millions of passionate sewers, quilters, and embroiderers.   Learn how to repair sewing machines for fun or profit at Fix Sewing Machines Institute.  For details check out http://www.FixSewingMachines.com.

 

Disassembly: How To Repair Sewing Machines

 

How To Disassemble A Sewing Machine.

 

One of the most time consuming parts of any sewing machine repair is the disassembly.  On many machines this is as simple as removing a few screws, but on other machines it can be a bit more complicated. 

Many of the newer machines use a snap fit system that requires the technician to find the snap points, and release them by pressing one side of the cover in while the other remains rigid.  Unless all the appropriate screws have been removed and the proper order followed, removing the covers can be quite frustrating. 

Keeping your parts including screws well organized is essential.  Otherwise, as you reassemble, you will find extra screws and the covers may not align.  For this reason, be sure to keep covers with their correct screws.  If necessary, tape the screws in place temporarily.  The more complicate the machine is, the more important organization of parts becomes.

 

Disassembly should proceed from right to left.  Remove the tray, the lower arm cover, and the needle bar cover.  Remove the needle, needle plate, bobbin carrier or case, and the hook cover and hook.  Begin removing screws across the back from right to left.  Remove any other screws as needed from hand wheel side, and bottom of the machine.

 

Once the covers have been removed, proceed to brush and blow away debris.  Use solvent to dissolve old lubrications.  Use pure clean sewing machine oil, and place one drop everywhere metal touches metal.





 

Notice this Brother XL sewing machine has an oscillating hook system.  You can see the bracket for the hook inside and the race outside.

 

 

To learn  more about sewing machine, serger repair, embroidery machine, and industrial machine repair, check out http://www.FixSewingMachines.com.  The Fix Sewing Machines Institute offers comprehensive sewing machine repair training in both live institutes and by correspondence.