iFixit - Active Questions With Device "Sewing Machine"

Sewing Machine: Smoke from the engine

Tue, 31 Mar 2026 14:17:48 -0700

Bernina Bernette 330 from the eighties, apparently in good shape.

Turning the wheel, the needle moved. I turned the engine on, light went on but the needle didn't move. After a couple of minutes, a buzzing noise and a whisp of white smoke. It smells like paper smoke. Is there something I can do?

Janome 3160QDC: The up and down mechanism is jammed

Thu, 19 Mar 2026 07:29:32 -0700

The mechanism that makes the needle go up and down is jammed, it doesn’t go up and when I try to continue sewing the screen shows Lo.

Any idea why this could happen?

⟐ Answer edited March 19, 2026 at 7:29 MST

Janome 3160QDC: “As soon as I start using my Usha Janome machine, the thread gets tang

Wed, 18 Mar 2026 03:55:52 -0700

“As soon as I start using my Usha Janome machine, the thread gets tangled on the fabric and the stitching doesn’t happen. I have to cut the thread again and again.”

⟐ Answered March 18, 2026 at 3:55 MST

Bernina 730 Record: How to fix bernina 730 record timing

Tue, 24 Feb 2026 21:52:40 -0700

Timing gone wrong. How can i get it back?

⟐ Answered February 24, 2026 at 21:52 MST

Sewing Machine: machine starts beeping after two stitches

Thu, 12 Feb 2026 17:33:41 -0700

My Singer 2638 machine stitches a couple of times and then beeps and then stops. The handle is really hard to turn. I have opened it all up, cleaned out everything but not sure what gear might be bad? Or where to look?

Sewing Machine: Stuck bobbin, unable to remove

Sun, 08 Feb 2026 01:31:25 -0700

I have a Bernina 560, the bobbin and case is stuck in the machine. There is no lever on the right of the bobbin to quickly disassemble the bobbin closure. I have removed the top silver plate and tried different wheel positions. It’s stuck.

⟐ Edited February 08, 2026 at 1:31 MST

Kenmore Series 158: Why is the sewing art not going up and down but the belt still turns

Fri, 06 Feb 2026 10:35:06 -0700

The motor runs the belt turns but the sewing part won’t go up and down

Singer M1500 Sewing Machine: Why does the machine get stuck?

Fri, 12 Dec 2025 08:23:48 -0700

When i try to use it the needle gets stuck inside the bobbin case. The bobbin case doesn’t work and is stuck

Singer Brilliance 6180: Singer Brilliance 6180 Shows Error E7

Wed, 10 Dec 2025 09:48:06 -0700

I have E7 error how solve this

⟐ Answered December 10, 2025 at 9:48 MST

Brother CS6000i: My bobbin winder is just spinning but not winding the bobbin

Sat, 06 Dec 2025 14:50:56 -0700

when I slide my bobbin winder to the right it just spins its not winding the bobbin

I can hear it running but not turning the bobbin

Sewing Machine: Need Help Finding Manual for Kenmore 2142 or 158.960

Tue, 18 Nov 2025 18:59:36 -0700

Old machine that needs tlc. Looking for manual or question on features. It has a button on right side that operates a lever on bottom under machine-what is that about? ty! reply to [email redacted].

⟐ Commented November 18, 2025 at 18:59 MST

Sewing Machine: Consew 230 assembly, troubleshooting, changing oil?

Fri, 31 Oct 2025 01:50:12 -0700

I just got a Consew 230 sewing machine secondhand, and I am having trouble finding any info online about how to set it up (and it's the kind of machine that's built into a wooden tabletop, so I can't exactly bring it to a local shop). I had to disassemble it just to get it home, separating the machine, motor, tabletop, and legs; this model evidently is self-lubricating and has a built-in oil pan, which completely spilled during dissassembly. So, my main questions are:

What kind of oil do I need to refill the oil pan?
How much oil should I put into the pan, and how do I know if everything is connected correctly?
Is there any other good resource for troubleshooting or assembly? The only stuff I've found online are user manuals that explain how to change a bobbin. Nothing mentioning the industrial motor or oil pan mounted to the underside of the table...

⟐ Answer edited October 31, 2025 at 1:50 MST

Sewing Machine: Basic help required getting the bobbin thred to pick up

Thu, 30 Oct 2025 11:24:44 -0700

Recently bought this Riccar 3500. I removed various bits of thred from the bobbin area, guess this problem isn't new. Any ideas how I move forward?

Singer Esteem: Very loose thread at the back

Wed, 29 Oct 2025 14:12:48 -0700

My machine gets stuck very often and I can see the thread extremely loose at the back. I think that the hook is not timed with the needle eye at the lower point but I don't know how can I coordinate the circular motion of the hook since there is nothing to adjust it. Please help

Sewing Machine: Brother cs-6000i sewing machine sews backwards

Sat, 13 Sep 2025 15:03:57 -0700

Machine is clean and sometimes works but when turned off and on again it sews backwards.

⟐ Answered September 13, 2025 at 15:03 MST

Sewing Machine: problem with the threads connection

Fri, 12 Sep 2025 05:04:05 -0700

the sewing machine does not connect the upper thread with the lower thread

Pfaff Tiptronic 2020: I need a light on my sewing machine but I dont have the accessories

Thu, 14 Aug 2025 01:55:07 -0700

where can i purchase sewing machine light removal attatchment?

⟐ Answered August 14, 2025 at 1:55 MST

Baby Lock Ellegante 2: computer frozen touch is not working

Sat, 10 May 2025 09:45:35 -0700

When I turn on my machine, the message that always comes up and I must press OK to move on will not respond to me pressing it. Nor will anything else. But when I turn the round thing on side manually to adjust the needle I can then use the buttons on the front of the machine just not the ones on the computer.

⟐ Commented May 10, 2025 at 9:45 MST

Sewing Machine: machine stuck on zigzag and wont sew straight

Sat, 10 May 2025 09:37:12 -0700

My old imperial sewing machine dial is set for a straight normal stitch. However it keeps doing zigzag. The two settings are side by side on selection dial but not sew straight stitch

⟐ Answered May 10, 2025 at 9:37 MST

Brother XR-40: Troubleshooting the pattern selector wheel will not movr

Sat, 10 May 2025 09:32:41 -0700

Troubleshoot the cause for Pattern Selection will not move

⟐ Answered May 10, 2025 at 9:32 MST