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.

 

How To Repair Bernina Activa 130

BERNINA Activa 130

The Bernina Activa 130 is a popular and in many ways classic Bernina sewing machine.  Historically, the Bernina line has proudly used an oscillating hook system known as the CB Hook.  In an oscillating hook system, the hook is set to the left of the needle and moves from left to right behind the needle picking up the thread loop.  It draws the upper thread around the bobbin case containing the bobbin wrapping the upper thread around the lower thread.  Then hook retraces its way back to the original position to the left of the needle.

 

Above you can see the hook in the center.  Notice that it is shaped like a half moon.  The bobbin is inserted into the bobbin case shown on the right.  Another feature of the BERNINA line is its heavy duty presser foot series. 

With covers off you can see just how rugged its internal skeleton is.  Antique sewing machines commonly had an outer skeleton casting with parts inserted inside, but modern sewing machines usually have an internal skeleton or frame.  Parts are attached to this frame giving the machine great strength and stability.

Modern computerized sewing machines replace many of the gears, levers, and AC motors used in mechanical machines with electronics and DC Pulse motors.  This gives the user a much quieter sewing experience with far better control over the entire sewing process.  When repairs are needed on the computer side, it generally requires replacement of boards, motors, switches, and fuses.  Attempting to repair computer boards is not advisable.

 

This machine required replacement of small flat 12 volt bulb, and one of the two fuses on the power board.  Other possible parts commonly replaced include the timing belt, drive belt,  and power cord.



Older BERNINA sewing machines are fairly straight forward to work on, however, the newer more advanced machines are very complicated and should not be attempted by a novice.  If you have a BERNINA from the Artista series, it is best to have an experience BERNINA technician available.

To learn more about sewing machine repair, check out Fix Sewing Machines Institute at http://www.fixsewingmachines.com.  Live trainings and comprehensive correspondence courses teach technicians and hobbyists how to repair sewing machines for fun or profit.

Also check out our many sewing machine repair videos on youtube.com.

Needle Bar Movement                   http://youtu.be/zGuCsESCO-I     
Points Of Adjustment                     http://youtu.be/ccuTm2eMvbA
Technical Training                         http://youtu.be/6NSrbv0TW7E

Repairing A White Futura 464

Repair Sewing Machines: White Futura 464

 

It is important to understand the operation of a sewing machine from the standpoint of stitch formation and the design type of the machine.  Here we have a classic sewing machine with a side loading bobbin and an oscillating hook.  

When we understand the key elements going into how the stitches are formed, it becomes quite easy to adjust the machine.  For example, tensions consist of two thread sources with various guides, tensioners, twists, and turns.  One thread comes from above, and the other from below.  If the resistance on both top and bottom are equal, the thread will from a stitch knot inside the fabric.  If either one pulls harder than the other, that side of the fabric will collect excess threads. The same principle applies on this machine and virtually every other lockstitch sewing machine ever made.

 

 

The stitch selection may vary from machine to machine, but the function remains the same on most mechanical machines.  A lever is used to increase or decrease the stitch length.  On most machines stitch width and variations are added in similar fashion.

 

Sewing machine timing is not just a single adjustment.  Instead it involves the alignment of needle bar assembly, feed dog assembly, and hook assembly.  All three must be adjusted to work together. 

 

For Videos On Sewing Machine Repair check out the following:

Fix Sewing Machines Institute http://youtu.be/g6v-zOjIK1M

Sewing Machine Disassembly http://youtu.be/KqdGGQwjwiA

Sewing Machine Repair http://youtu.be/KABZ6Zo8AH4

Invention Of The Sewing Machine http://youtu.be/_LBWar-MF6A