How to Repair a Sewing Machine

Basic repairs to sewing machines like cleaning, oiling and replacing the drive belt may be done at home. However, sewing machines are still heavy duty appliances and so one should seek professional assistance for repairing more complex sewing machine problems.

You will need:

1. Sewing machine oil
2. Replacement drive belt
3. Sewing machine oil
4. Vacuum with crevice attachment
5. White lithium grease
6. Tweezers
7. Round toothpick
8. Small flathead screwdriver

Instructions

Oiling and cleaning the machine:

1. Remove the covers of the machine which are usually on each side and on the hand wheel, using a screwdriver to remove the screws holding them in place.
2. On the thread bobbin, there is a plate or a magnet covering it; remove this by using a screwdriver to unscrew it or pry the magnet up.
3. Use a vacuum with a small attachment to get into small areas, and clean all the openings in the machine by getting the small pieces of materials up. Often cloth or lint is hard to remove by a vacuum, so pliers or tweezers may be required to remove these pieces.
4. The gears of the machine have teeth that are full of grime and oil due to the excessive force used; vacuum around this area and use the tip of a toothpick to loosen the grime.
5. Ensure that all of the mechanical parts are lubricated correctly. Most sewing machines need white lithium grease for the gears teeth and regular sewing machine oil for all the other parts.
6. Gather the covers and reassemble them, placing the screws back into place.

Replacing or fixing the drive belt

1. Take out the screws on the covers just like you would if you were cleaning it.
2. Find the drive belt and inspect it. If it is either broken or cracked, you may have to find a replacement from a local store or order it from an online manufacturer if they do not carry the product.
3. To install a new belt, loosen the screws on the motor and shift the motor so that you can put on the new belt.
4. To increase the belt’s tension, shift the motor from the hand wheel then tighten the screws on the motor-mountain so you can check the tension on the belt.
5. Ensure the belt does not flex more that ½ on inch. If it does, you will have to increase the belt’s tension by shifting the motor-mountain screws again.

Tips and warnings

• Over-oiling a sewing machine will encourage grime build-up and can lead to premature part failure. Apply just one drop of oil to each location.
• To keep the sewing machine operating smoothly, clean an oil it after every 8 to 10 hours of operation.
• To avoid electric shock and prevent your fingers from getting jammed between moving parts, always unplug your machine before working on it.