the entire part that won't come up. The handwheel won't budge! Any help? I already got angry enough to cut the quilt off of it and slam a few cupboard doors. I'm a Taurus don't ya know.

oh my gosh, please don't think me mean but I just read all these posts & I can't stop laughing! Oil this & switch plate that overhaul the motor, hold your temper get the whiskey, forget the coffee, belts & beds & broken nails! Oh my gosh I can't stop laughing this is hilarious, I was reading some of this outloud & my sister said what the heck are you reading an auto-mechanic site? She wouldn't believeme when Isaid embroidery! hahahaa She had to come & read it for herself!

oh jeeze Lee-I had that problem with my very 1st Singer zig-zag machine(grad.gift from mom & dad 1975).I used that machine for alot of years no problems-then out of the blue-same thing-locked right up-long and short-took it back to the Singer store-had a bent arm inside the machine head-the guy supposedly fixed it-I had that machine back and forth to the shop 4 times within a 2 week period for the same problem-I finally got fed up with the whole thing and the BS the owner/mr.fix it of the store-still remember is face and name-kept giving me-I wrote a angry letter to the company-they made him issue me a brand new machine-which was actually a newer version-even up. He wasn't too pleased that I went over his head but by that point-I didn't care-got a new machine out of it-never had another problem and he eventually closed up shop because other people had similar problems with him and his service.
Yadda,yadda,yadda-sorry I rambled-hope you get your problem fixed Lee- oh and BTW-I do still have that 1975 Singer machine-and it still works! ~linda~

5 comments

by lindalee757 03 Mar 2011

Oh do I feel sheepish-sorry Deb-I did it not once, but twice-leenova-screen name and I addressed you as Lee-call me "Airhead" LOL

by leenova54 03 Mar 2011

Don't worry about it, my screen name confuses people. It is actually my middle name and most of the last name, without the 54 (birth year)I use it for ebay, with the 54 I use it for facebook but I only have people who I actually know or am related to on it.

by lindalee757 03 Mar 2011

lol-clever-mine would be leerozon57

by leenova54 03 Mar 2011

All versions of my name were taken on ebay so that is what I finally ended up with.

by meganne 04 Mar 2011

And I think I have always just called you Lee, because it is easier than going through all the posts trying to find that one where we all put our real names, coz there is no way I can recall everyone's real names from my brain archives, it hurts too much thinking that hard. LOL!!!!

And after all, "A rose, by any other, name still smells as sweet"
hugs n love, Meg

Ya'll are SOOOOO funny. You do have one thing going for you - ITS A KENMORE!!! and they are nearly indestructible. I think you could leave that thing out in the rain for 3 years and with a little love it would work again. I'm a Taurus too and I know it isn't in your nature but now that shes sat a bit - go kiss her. Shes probably a Taurus too and shes just a little cranky because shes cold. She just needs a sweater to keep warm because she metal - so promise to keep her well oiled and warm and make nice with her. I know - this isn't your nature - but you know how you like it when people make up with you.... Just remember - they are great machines and they are well built. It really will take a lot to destroy it. A little time on the porch isn't going to do it! Hope today goes a lot better for you!!

1 comment

by leenova54 03 Mar 2011

Oh Katrina, how smart you are! Rugged machine, tangles thread in the bobbin a lot but other than that she's good. I took it apart, bottom off, top off, oiled her and she moves smooth already! Now I won't feel so bad when I take her back out to the enclosed porch! Once I get all the oil to stop running down to the needle I can finish up hemming the quilt (store bought) and sew together the fabric bowl I have been wanting to finish! I promise to love her and treat her better!

You poor thing. Hope you get the machine sorted soon. Have you thought of talking to it nicely and maybe give it a kiss or two. Lyn

1 comment

by leenova54 03 Mar 2011

Right now she is all oily so I am not gonna kiss her but she is moving smoothly again. My fault for years of neglect!

Gee gals, this post had me laughing at all the funny responses. I also would have said check out the bobbin case and dog feed! Hope it all works well tomorrow. Love Chris

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by leenova54 03 Mar 2011

All oiled and smooth moving. I treated her like most wives are treated, ignored her and only touched her when I wanted her to do something for me, lol. If she was a child she would have been taken away for me neglecting her. I'm happy that I didn't have to pay someone to do this, the machine hospital can be expensive!

oh that happened to me last week...I couldn't budget it for the life of me..can't remember what I did...I was so mad at it I think I pulled the bobbin case out...there was thread stuck in there my needle was bent so I just broke it when I turned the knob as hard as I could.....well not sure if it works that great...still mad at it..hehehehe

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by leenova54 03 Mar 2011

All she needed was oiled. I never took the bottom off before and I may have opened the top once or twice in about 25 years so it is all my fault but everything is moving smooth again!

Had the same thing happen to me about a month ago. Took the front panel off and oiled everything. Let it set overnight and gentlely worked at it the next day. It took a bit of time but I got it moving my hand, then oiled it some more and kept moving it by hand. When it moved nicely by hand and wheel I then ran the machine by the pedal for a bit. Let it set for about an hour so the opil could settle, and set to work at cleaning out the excess oil and any excess lint etc that I hadn't gotten to prior to. Check your bobbin case and make sure its not nicked while you have everything apart as well.

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by leenova54 03 Mar 2011

Thanks, that is exactly what I plan to do. It can wait till tomorrow and I will finish the sewing when it is all better. My embroidery machine doesn't seem to like to do regular sewing as much. It makes a mess of the lower thread even after threading the upper thread and changing the bobbin and needle so I prefer to use the old machine for regular sewing.

Sorry cannot help but you have a lot of help here...hope it all works out fine. the older machines keep going forever...perhaps it is a bit jealous of your newer embroidery machine. Heheheh! Hugs Sally

1 comment

by leenova54 03 Mar 2011

Perhaps it is sick of being ignored on the porch while the new machine has a comfy spot in it's own room, lol!

Had that happen to my sewing Machine. hubby help me take the outer case of and we oiled every thing. We let it set over night , then got it to work. I hope you get yours to working.

1 comment

by leenova54 03 Mar 2011

That's the plan. I'll keep everyone posted cause I'll be thrilled when it works again and I think it will get a new home inside the house rather than on the enclosed porch.

If your bobbin area is an area that is usually to be oiled, give that area a good dose of oil and let it sit. It should help loosen any threads that might be hiding in there. Just be patient, you may be able to work the invisible/hiding thread out.
Good luck.

1 comment

by leenova54 03 Mar 2011

Patience is a virtue I don't seem to possess but I plan on oiling it and going gently till I get it working again.

Oh Debra, I hope you manage to come right and it is nothing too serious. I am also a Taurus so know exactly how you feel!!!!

2 comments

by leenova54 03 Mar 2011

Thanks, so far I have only backed off from the machine before I did more damage. It will sit till tomorrow and I'll find the manual and see all the spots that get oiled. Boy isn't that Taurus temper terrible? I am known for my stomping and slamming doors the most!

by airyfairy 03 Mar 2011

I don't slam doors - just fume and mutter.

I sure hope you got yourself calm now. Nobody can think straight when they are upset. The first thing I always do is turn it off and then on again. May not help but can't hurt. then you will need to try and see what is going on in the bobbin case. definitely follow Meg's instructions, but make sure you have calmed down first.

3 comments

by leenova54 03 Mar 2011

I did turn it off and unplug it but it isn't computerized so it didn't help. Took out the bobbin and it's all clean in there. I did break the zigzag foot by trying to pry the whole bar up, not to menation the fingernail down far.

by fannyfurkin 03 Mar 2011

OH dear! sounds like you need to take it to the shop. I wish I was there to help you.

by leenova54 03 Mar 2011

Thanks Alice, you are a doll. Everyone on Cute is so helpful and funny.

Now Lee, patience is required and if I could be there to do it for you I would, but just listen to Meg... take a few deep breaths, go and make yourself a coffee or a good stiff drink before you go near that poor machine again.

Once you have got that Taurean temper under control (I was married to one so I can imagine the puffing and blowing and foot stomping going on there right now)

Anyway, it sounds like your material and all could be bunched up underneath, Yes?

Can you get to the screws and remove the sewing bed, the top part all around your bobbin casing?

Then you need a good strong pair of tweezers or better still, locking forceps.

Get a good hold of the stuck material with your left hand and with your right hand take hold of the handwheel.

Now, with as much patience as you can muster, start wriggling/pulling/wriggling the material while forcibly trying to move the handwheel, in whichever direction it will move. NOT LIKE A BULL AT A GATE!!! Sheesh, be a little bit careful there girl!!!

You may even have to cut out pieces of the material to remove them, but you can do it, take your time and if you feel that steam rising again, go and have another drink.

At the end of the process you'll have either fixed your problem or be too drunk to care.

Hugs and love, Meg

PS, yes this has happened to me, many, many times!!! Hence my love of Scotch Whiskey LOL!!

6 comments

by leenova54 03 Mar 2011

Well, whiskey sour is my drink of choice and I hate coffee but, got the temper cooled down. It's not material or lint in the bobbin, it's the whole thing froze up. Probably needed a check up and oil long ago so it is my own fault and the machine in about 25 years old and had very little care taken.

by meganne 03 Mar 2011

hmmmm! That's very sad.

You could try giving it a massive dose of oil but it sounds to me as if it has seized the drive shaft.
Older machines are pretty darn tough so there is still hope for it.

If I was there I could strip it right down and oil it all up which may free it.

Otherwise it sounds like a trip to a good mechanic is in order.
Good luck, I hope it comes good for you.
Hugs, Meg

by michele921 03 Mar 2011

meg I could have used you last week. my hubby just hid when my machine decided not to hold an upper tension, and of course it was my son's bday and I was trying to make him an ITH needless to say it went to shop but not until I gave it a piece of my mind LOL

by meganne 03 Mar 2011

LOL!!! I love those old machines. I have two old Singers that I have stripped down, cleaned out and oiled and they both purr like contented fat cats now. :-) One of them, I inherited with the new house, was so filthy it looked like it had never been cleaned in its 35 years. I love to see nice clean machines. hugs n roses, Meg

by leenova54 03 Mar 2011

All it took was some good oiling, removed the bottom and oiled, opened the side and oiled (that's what got her moving again) and opened the top, once I clean up the excess oil and put in a new needle she'll be good to go.

by meganne 04 Mar 2011

That is wonderful news!!!!!
Sometimes all we ever need is a good lubricating!!!
Scotch always works for me so how about we have one now to celebrate, HIC! LOL!!!
Hugs, Meg

I just checked another site on-line & it said that there could possibly be thread or lint in the bobbin case too! Take it out & I use a paintbrush ( from the dollar store) to clean the lint out of the nooks & cranies in & around the bobbin case & under the switch plate too! I hope that it's this easy & that I have helped! I hope that your quilt can be salvaged too! Good Luck Hugs Loralye

3 comments

by hightechgrammy 03 Mar 2011

Loralye, you had me laughing, in the US the switch plate turns the light on to the room! I pictured Deb taking off the room's switch plate and cleaning that out too!

by leenova54 03 Mar 2011

I'm not very smart, buy I wouldn't clean under my light switch, lol, mostly because when we replaced the ceiling light we screwed it up and the switch doesn't work anymore in the bedrooms so we have to pull the chain, lol!

by leenova54 03 Mar 2011

Should say "but I wouldn't clean" typos!

OH Debra that's awful,I feel terrible for you! I wish that I could help you but maybe brainstorming we "cuties" can come up with something sew here goes! Needs oil, re:surge bar? Lint under needle carriage? Am I making any sense or spurring on any ideas?

1 comment

by leenova54 03 Mar 2011

It needs oiled I'm sure and I hope it isn't too late, I stopped so I wouldn't burn out the motor cause I'd hate to have to replace it with one made of plastic parts. It's old and usually it is the thread all bunched in the bobbin but not this time. No lint inside either but what's a surge bar? I even busted a nail way down far on the side of my index finger. Gotta find the manual and see where all needs oiled.

Oh NO!!! Definitely get away from it for now. I don't have any advice for you, but a shoulder to cry on. Maybe you could go outside and stomp on the porch. I like to growl when things like this happen. I'll growl for you. grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
My computer won't highlight and when I printed it made all the sounds like it was printing but the paper was totally blank !!! grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

Lots of empathy here grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr and a flower! hugs Jan

When I was teaching, one of my students told me I was the only teacher she ever had that growls! grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr try it, it feels good grrrrrrrrrrrrr

2 comments

by meganne 03 Mar 2011

Are you a Leo by any chance Jan?

I growl too, and if I'm not growling I damn well ROAR or else I'll go off into a corner, turn my back on the world and lick my wounds, which includes wounded pride. LOL!!!!

by leenova54 03 Mar 2011

I just emailed a friend and wrote GRRRRRRRRRR! LOL!

Sorry Deb, don't know. Has it been oiled recently?

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by leenova54 03 Mar 2011

No it hasn't, my own fault too. It sits out on the enclosed porch but it is not computerized and has been out there about 3 years, maybe that long since it was oiled cause I use it so infrequently.