Our senior citizen sewing group has been given a J.C. Penney delux machine, fairly modern with built in extra stitches. The tag on the back says "retail #1710. catalog # 868-0670, serial # 00497" There is also a C-912 in the corner of the tag, maybe the model #. The machine is clean and appears well cared for- but doesn't work. I suspect some small mis-adjustment. Does anyone have this model? I'd love to get an instruction booket.
Try
When you say it 'doesn't work' what do you mean? It doesn't turn on? The needle doesn't go up and down? It doesn't make a stitch when threaded properly...?
-Irene
If you've got someone who's handy with basic tools, you might take the problem over to the yahoo group "wefixit" -- lots of help there on sewing machine repair and care and feeding of machines.
Kay
I should have been more specific. The motor runs, it will spin the bobbin winder, but it won't run the needle. It feels as if it meets a resistance and can't move further. I also missed mentioning a 933D on the tage- perhaps that's the model number.
That sounds like what happened to one of my sewing machines that lost its timing when I tried sewing something too heavy with it.
If it is spinning the bobbin winder but not moving the needle, maybe it is set up temporarily to wind bobbins. If so, maybe turning the nut on the flywheel will engage the needle and disengage the bobbin winder. At least many of my older machines work that way. JPBill
Something may be seized, or inserted improperly, or the needle may be bent.
Try turning the handwheel by hand and watch to see if the needle may be strking the needle plate. If it is, try a new needle. If the needle is not striking the plate, watch to see if it is striking something under the plate.
If it's an oscillating hook machine, take out the needle, bobbin holder, hook race, etc. and then try turning the handwheel. If it turns freely, try inserting everything again and see if it still turns freely.
If it's a rotary hook machine, take out the bobbin case but leave in the needle. Turn the handwheel and watch to see if the needle strikes the bottom of the rotary hook. If it does, check to make sure the needle is inserted properly (all the way in). If the needle is properly inserted and the needle strikes the bottom of the hook, you likely need to take the machine to a technician to reset the needle/hook timing.
In both types, oscillating hook and rotary hook, there is a possibility a gear is damaged and/or binding. Again, a likely case for a technician.
gwh
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