Feed dogs don't feed

It would be helpful if you provided a bit more information about the machine, i.e. model number. For instance, my 1960 Singer 401A has a lever at the right side of the base which allows me to lower the feed dogs for certain tasks, like when I do buttonholes or free hand embroidery.

You may find the manual for your machine here:

Yes, definitely! ;-)

Beverly

I cannot add much to what Beverly has said, but it might be worth a look UNDER the machine! My Singer 15-88 has the adjuster for the feed dogs undernieth.

Hi John,

I've got a couple Dressmakers, and I suspect the feed dogs are in the 'down' position on yours. The feed dogs on this machine can be disengaged for doing darning. =20

There should be a knob, or possibly two buttons, situated on the right side, right where the machine 'fits' onto the bed -- turn the knob, or depress the button (they may be marked 'up' and 'down', or one may already be depressed in that case press the other one).

If your machine is like mine it is a workhorse, all metal and very strong stitchers. HOpefully it had a 'check up' before you received it (cleaned, oiled, etc). =20

-Irene=20

-------------- You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.=20

--Mae West=20

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Thank you Irene. It has the knob to raise or lower and it is in the up position. I got the machine at a thrift store for $30. She thought it hadn't been used at all. It's a Dressmaker S-9000 Deluxe Zig Zag and has a box of cams with it for fancy embroidery stitches.

John

I've got a couple Dressmakers, and I suspect the feed dogs are in the 'down' position on yours. The feed dogs on this machine can be disengaged for doing darning.

There should be a knob, or possibly two buttons, situated on the right side, right where the machine 'fits' onto the bed -- turn the knob, or depress the button (they may be marked 'up' and 'down', or one may already be depressed in that case press the other one).

If your machine is like mine it is a workhorse, all metal and very strong stitchers. HOpefully it had a 'check up' before you received it (cleaned, oiled, etc).

-Irene

-------------- You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.

--Mae West

--------------

I have the manual for it. Nothing in it about adjusting the dogs. It's a Dressmaker S-9000 Deluxe Zig Zag with a bunch of cams for fancy stitching. John

John

I can email digital pics if it would help anyone solve this problem. It's easy to remove the 4 bolts that hold the metal base on. John

Hmmm....I suggest taking the bottom cover off, if there is one, and looking things over to see if the knobs are connected properly. There will be springs or levers attaching them to the feed dogs. Something may have come loose. May have been why it was given to the thrift :)

-Irene

-------------- You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.=20

--Mae West=20

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I'll send you a picture of the under side of the machine, and a close-up of the adjuster.

John, one other thought. There is a adjustment for foot pressure on the fabric on these machines, and it may be your machine has this pressure set so lightl that wouldn't feed the fabric.

This adjustment will be on the top left, as you face the machine, right above where the presser foot is located.=20

-Irene

-------------- You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.=20

--Mae West=20

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It' possible that the feed dogs are "glued" into place with a putty of oil and lint. Tip the machine back to see if you can access the area around the base of the feed dogs to get in there and pull out any wadded thread and lint. It's also possible to remove one screw to take the feed dogs out of the machine entirely to clean underneath them, but let's leave that for now and see if you can get in there and remove any gunk. If you have one around, an old dental pick is a wonderful tool for this purpose.

When cleaned out, it should be possible to see the feed dogs raise and lower as you turn the knob.

OK thanks. I will check my hotmail account. John

Ok, thanks. I will take another look but, don't see anything there. The pressure foot seems to clamp down pretty tight. John

This adjustment will be on the top left, as you face the machine, right above where the presser foot is located.

-Irene

-------------- You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.

--Mae West

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