Most of us live our lives with certain expectations.
We wait for the light to come on when we flip the switch. We expect our cars to go away when we hit the gas.
So when we press the control pedal of our sewing machines, we expect the sewing machine to work.
Sometimes we come to think of your sewing machine as a friend or, in a sense, as a real person. We talk to him. We touch it. We listen to it. Sometimes it can appear that our friend is affected by an infection or illness. This is especially true when we push the power down and very little happens.
When you press the foot control, does your sewing machine hesitate? Groan a little? Does it spin very slowly or maybe it doesn’t spin at all?
If so, then your sewing machine may have the dreaded Sewing Machine Motor Fatigue Syndrome.
You can determine if this is your problem fairly quickly with some basic tests.
You set up your sewing machine and you are ready to sew, but when you press the foot pedal, the machine hardly moves. It is as if the machine is tired of a long and hard summer. It doesn’t matter how hard you press that foot control; no matter how much energy you put in; the sewing machine just crawls.
The two most common sources of this problem are potential binding of the sewing machine mechanism and motor problems.
To check if it is stuck, turn the steering wheel by hand and look for any undue resistance. If the machine is stiff, your problem may be the mechanism. If the machine is moving freely, it is probably a problem with the motor.
The AC motor in your sewing machine, or mounted behind the head of your machine, will often collect debris inside. This debris can consist of partially burned carbon deposits, dust and dirt, and old lubricants. Gradually, this debris takes a toll on the engine’s performance.
You don’t have to be an engine expert to understand how debris deposits can make it increasingly difficult for your engine to perform as expected. Over time, the motor loses its ability to function properly and may not even turn at all.
One solution to this problem is to remove the deposits by burning them. By running the engine at full speed for several minutes, it is often possible to do just that.
Follow this procedure: In the center of the steering wheel is a brake that causes the machine to turn when you turn the steering wheel. Release it to allow the steering wheel to move freely without turning the machine. Hold down the power pedal by hand or use a clamp or weight to hold it down. The motor should start to turn slowly. If not, carefully turn the flywheel while applying electricity to the motor to help it turn. Once the engine is cranking, keep it cranking at full speed for about five minutes. Let it cool down and try it again.
Assist the machine while you have it running. Beware of extreme heat, sparks, or engine smoke.
Engine combustion is often very effective in burning old carbon deposits, debris, and dirt. Essentially, you are heating up the engine so that it melts and burns the debris. In the process, the engine may get too hot, excessive engine smoke, or sparks may come out. Be very careful that they do not become a problem. Turn off whenever you feel the burn getting out of control.
In some cases, the burning engine does not work. The damage to the engine is too extensive. In such cases, you can remove the brushes from the motor and replace them. You can disassemble the motor housing and clean the dirt from the contact points and the armature. If you do, be careful. The use of solvents in electrical appliances can be extremely dangerous. Before applying electricity to any motor, make sure it is 100% dry and free of anything that could ignite, burn, or cause damage.
You can usually fix sewing machine motor fatigue syndrome with a ten minute motor burn or service.
