Sewing Machine Repair

A sewing machine is an equipment used in textile industry to stitch various fabrics together with a thread. One of the most important component of the textile industry, sewing machine has been in use for over two centuries now. Over the time, a considerable rise is observed in the efficiency of these machines. Today we find machines ranging from manual sewing machines to electronic sewing machines, which make the work a lot easier.

Do it Yourself Sewing Machine Repair
Sewing machines have lately become household sewing equipment, with most of the families owing one. With this considerable rise in the number of machines, we also notice a rising trend in sewing machine problems, most of which can be attributed to improper maintenance of the machine. Here are some common problems one comes across with these machines and some simple tips for sewing machine repair.

Cleaning and Oiling
When the machine is not used for a long time the dust that settles on the machine, makes it a bit rusty and decreases its efficiency. In such a case, it is important to clean and oil the machine on regular basis. In order to clean the machine, detach the covers on the top, bottom, side and handwheel, using a screwdriver. You will notice a plate covering the thread bobbin, you have to remove this plate. In some machines, it is screwed to the machine, wherein you will require to use a screwdriver to remove it, in other machines it is either held by a clip or a magnet, wherein you will require to remove it using a Flathead screwdriver. Properly clean the machine from within, if possible use a vacuum cleaner with a crevice attachment to remove the dust. Make sure you remove all the dirt from inside, including the pieces of thread stuck inside the machine. Using a toothpick, clean the teeth on the gear and remove the dirt with a vacuum cleaner. Lubrication is an important aspect of sewing machine repair and maintenance. Apply grease on the gears and oil to the other parts of the sewing machine. White lithium grease is ideal to keep your sewing machine well lubricated. After you are done with the lubrication, reassemble the machine and take a trial run to ensure that you have reassembled it correctly.

Sewing Machine Drive Belt Repair
Drive belt of the sewing machine is one the most important, as well as notorious component of the sewing machines. Irregular maintenance or overuse of the machine can either make the belt loose or wear out, and thus affect the performance of the sewing machine. In either case, knowing the basics of repairing sewing machines, can help you to tackle the problem. If the belt has loosened due to frequent use, you will have to tighten it, and if it has worn out, you will have to replace it. Open the covers of the machine using a screwdriver, and check the drive belt to verify whether it needs to be tightened or replaced. The belt shouldn't flex more than half an inch, if it does, it means the belt is loose. If it's loose, loosen the screws that hold the motor in place and shift the motor away from the hand-wheel to increase the belts tension and tighten the motor at the place where you wish to achieve required amount of tension. If you find that the belt has cracked or depreciated considerably, then you should opt to replace the belt with a new piece. After you are done, reassemble the machine and take a trial run.

These were some of the most common tips for troubleshooting sewing machines. Most often sewing machine problems are related to minor errors such as improper wounding of bobbins or improper fixing of needles. So, in case you come across a situation wherein you think your sewing machine is not working properly, firstly check the basic set up before going for full-fledged sewing machine repair. Check the most minor mistakes that are anticipated first, and then go on looking for the major problems. Knowing how to repair a sewing machine can be of great help, but one should pay more attention to the maintenance part, because proper maintenance will ensure that your machine works effectively and goes without repairs for a longer span of time.