Sewing Machine Trouble

[Persephone]

I just got a sewing machine off Ebay. It's a 20 something Kenmore. For some reason, when I try to sew with it, the thread tangles and it won't budge. I have tried adjusting tension on the bobbin and the top thread, and also cleaning out the shuttle. Nothing has helped, and it makes a screeching noise and stops after just one stitch. When I do it slowly, I can't really see much of a problem. Does anyone know what it might be? Or is it time to take it to a repair shop?

[Kari_mom]

Repair shop. You really have no idea when the machine was last serviced or even oiled, a visit to the sewing machine spa will make your machine feel and look like a new woman!

Or at the very least, you will learn exactly what is wrong with her and if it can be repaired (that is the pessimistic about ebay side of me ). But it is probably just fine.

Karen, who hasn't had her own machine serviced in over 5 years but likes to tell other people what they should do.

[kerc]

how full is your bobbin? kenmores seem to have a thing for not liking nearly empty bobbins.

My general routine for stuff like that:
take the bobbin box apart
vacuum it out
put bobbin box together
make sure I have the bobbin threaded correctly
try sewing
if it doesnt' work ---> repeat
still doesn't work ---> get it repaired/cleaned/serviced.

but mind you the repair guy charges me 80 bucks to service it and i'm cheap so i try to clean it myself first.

other ideas: do you have the bobbin in correctly?
is the thread threaded correctly (i.e. seated in all the little catches?)

[Persephone]

Thank you both. I think that it was the thread tension. I didn't have any idea of where it "should" be, and I think I had it too tight. Not to mention, it does need a good oiling. Would WD40 work?

[kerc]

i don't think I'd try wd40 -- for one it's kinda messy.
they sell sewing machine oil at a place like joanns or hancocks. or a small bottle of similar oil at a local hardware shop might do the trick.