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This archived content is from Mary Wilkins’ sewing and quilting message board “Sew What’s New,” which was retired in August 2007. It is being provided by “Sew What’s Up,” which serves as the new home for many members of “Sew What’s New.”
From: yeepers
Date: 05-05-2006, 05:30 PM (1 of 10)
So there I was happily serging along when all I noticed that I'd run out of thread. No problem...put on a new spool and went to restart and that's when it all went to pot.

Got in a huge tangle from which a recovered but now the hand wheel won't turn and nothing's moving! If I step on the foot pedal the motor is humming but the wheel isn't turning.

HELP!!! Can I fix this or do I need to send it in? I'm still under warranty so I need to figure out if it's just me or a bigger problem.

Any help greatly appreciated!!

-Yee
-Yee
Two Turtles
User: yeepers
Member since: 03-29-2002
Total posts: 52
From: DorothyL
Date: 05-05-2006, 05:45 PM (2 of 10)
Kinda sounds like that thread problem was bigger than you thought and something is still tangled somewhere.
But what do I know.
Dorothy
User: DorothyL
Member since: 12-09-2002
Total posts: 3883
From: bluebirdie
Date: 05-05-2006, 08:56 PM (3 of 10)
That sounds scary! I agree with Dorothy. Possibly thread problems. Is the thread caught on the cone? Easiest would be to cleaning up all the tangled threads, then rethread and make sure all threads are feeding smoothly. Let us know if it still won't move after that.

BTW don't keep on pressing the foot and let the motor run dry for a long time. That's even more scary!
- Robin
User: bluebirdie
Member since: 03-12-2006
Total posts: 139
From: yeepers
Date: 05-05-2006, 09:04 PM (4 of 10)
Hi all,

thanks for the replies. Nope, it's not thread. I cleared is all and there should be nothing preventing stuff from moving. It's like the drive shaft has just seized up :((

The worst thing is that there is no authorized service center near me. I have to drive at least 60 miles to get to the closest one or mail the serger back to Brother directly.

Sometimes I swear it's just worth the extra bucks to buy locally.

-Yee
-Yee
Two Turtles
User: yeepers
Member since: 03-29-2002
Total posts: 52
From: Mom of Six
Date: 05-05-2006, 09:15 PM (5 of 10)
mine did that once & I found that I had missed a semi hidden hook the thread had to go through. It might be worth it to unthread the whole machine then get out the manual &thread 1 step at a time.
Barb
Happiness is having time to sew!!
User: Mom of Six
Member since: 11-03-2001
Total posts: 1115
From: Kylnne2
Date: 05-05-2006, 10:29 PM (6 of 10)
Did you turn your handwheel backwards? Sergers are not the same as sewing machines and can be damaged sometimes when turning the handwheel backwards other than for removing coverhems (on coverhem models) then it is done slowly.
When I read your post it seemed as if the original problem happened after you rethreaded. If your needle threads were not cleared from the feed or if the needles were not threaded last after the looper threads your stitches could not form properly. After the upper looper is threaded the bottom looper thread needs to go over the upper looper then your needles need to be threaded last in other words. Also, if your looper cover door is open the serger will not usually sew..it is a safety precaution. Some brands have several precautions before a serger will sew. Putting the foot down is another precaution before some sergers will sew.
User: Kylnne2
Member since: 07-10-2004
Total posts: 629
From: bluebirdie
Date: 05-06-2006, 01:19 PM (7 of 10)
Oh Yee That sounds terrible. I'm sorry to hear that :-( Did you mean after you cleaned up all the threads and just let the machine run empty (with no threads hooked up to any needle/loopers), it still wouldn't move? That sounds serious and does warrant a return.

How about when you turn the handwheel, does the needle move up and down?
- Robin
User: bluebirdie
Member since: 03-12-2006
Total posts: 139
From: Marilyn in MD
Date: 05-09-2006, 09:08 AM (8 of 10)
By now you may have solved your problem, but here's my two cents' worth. After all you have tried, since it's under warranty, I would take it back to the dealer/repair service. You may be doing something to the machine that would void your warranty, and you certainly don't want to do that.

I know it's a pain in the neck to drive 60 miles for something of this sort, but that's the way of life where I live (Catoctin Mountains, near Camp David) . Hopefully the dealer from which you purchased it is supportive enough to make the drive worthwhile.

It's so frustrating to have something like this happen in the middle of a project, so I wish you the very best or luck.

Marilyn in MD
User: Marilyn in MD
Member since: 03-13-2006
Total posts: 14
From: yeepers
Date: 06-06-2006, 08:48 PM (9 of 10)
Hi all,

Thanks for reading this thread and for replying. Sorry I haven't been back sooner.

Anyhow, it appears that something just seized up/locked up. Very bizarre. It took a little elbow grease (DH did that!)...he was messing around with it and turned the handwheel and it unbound whatever was bound. Let me just say I wouldn't have done that myself but maybe I'm a weakling? In any case, it seems to be running just like before so knock on wood it stays happy.

Now, if I could just figure out how to use this thing properly :D It's so much more complicated than a sewing machine!!!

-Yee
-Yee
Two Turtles
User: yeepers
Member since: 03-29-2002
Total posts: 52
From: esrun3
Date: 06-06-2006, 09:26 PM (10 of 10)
Yee, glad your serger is working again! Frustrating when things break down adn you don't know what to do with them. Enjoy.
Lyn
User: esrun3
Member since: 12-02-2004
Total posts: 2345
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