Sewing Machine questions

It does sound like a pedal/foot control problem. They can be replaced.

Julia > My machine is a Kenmore Elite. I am having problems with the needle

Sounds to me like there could be something jamming/loose in the foot pedal. Could you take it apart and clean it? Or at least look at it from the outside to see if a bit of something got caught. Allison

sounds like a loose wire/connection. take it to the repair guy, he can fix the problem and you may not have to buy a new one.

amy in CNY

If it occasionally stitches without the foot pedal, I'm thinking the SM just might be haunted. Don't sleep alone in the house with it until you make yourself a necklace of garlic or something. No . . . that's vampires, isn't it? To be on the safe side, perhaps you'd better unplug it until you can get it to a repairman. Polly

"amy in CNY" sounds like a loose wire/connection. take it to the repair guy, he can

i had the same problem years ago. i unplugged the whole foot pedal assembly from the machine. unscrewed all the screws i found on the outside so i could get into it to check the metal connections. there was a whole mess of dust in there. cleaned it out, cleaned the metal where they touch with some rubbing alcohol so there was a good clean connection, screwed it all back together and it worked a treat. has been fine ever since. now that might not work with your pedal, might need a repairperson or might need to be replaced but i first fix things if i can. what have you got to lose. if you cant fix it, repair or replace. you fixing it saves money for more s.e.x. :)) good luck, j.

"Allison" wrote... Sounds to me like there could be something jamming/loose in the foot pedal. Could you take it apart and clean it? Or at least look at it from the outside to see if a bit of something got caught. Allison

Marilyn, I am not sure who makes your Kenmore but I had a lot of problems with the new controller for my Janome 6600. I was told when the machine continued to sew after I stopped pushing on it to unplug it from the machine. If that stops the machine than it is the controller. If the machine still goes on it is the machine. My problem was the controller. SInce I had no warranty coverage my husband took it apart and cleaned it and it seemed to be ok for awhile. Last month I started having the same problem. He had warned me the poor design and all our hairy pets would mean the controller might need to be cleaned often. He again took it apart and cleaned it but this time it didn't help. So he took it apart again. He re-soldered the contacts and used a micro file on the points of the slide resistors. He checked the capacitor but that was fine. I am knocking wood that it will stay working as good as it has the last couple of weeks. The machine speed is consistent and working properly for the first time in the year and a half I have had it. I have really been frustrated with the machine but it seems to be behaving for the first time. A new controller for this machine was around $100 so it was worth fiddling with it. DH was an electronics tech so that helped. I would suggest a good sewing machine repair guy over a Sears tech. Good luck with it and let us know how you do. Taria

That's why I like mechanical devices instead of all electronic - it's very satisfying to go in and clean things up and make them happy again! Allison

jeanne-nzlstar* wrote:

I agree with Polly! After all, this problem falls between Friday the 13th of February and Friday the 13th of March. That HAS to be significant!!! Dum de dum dum .... PAT in VA/USA