Any help please, Brother PC-420 stopped working, ideas???
 

Hi all,
Well sewing along on blankets for Christmas when my PC-420 did the ole 4 beeps, stop, and jam...it showed error code: The safety device has been activated. Well, hubby (who is mechanical and has fixed machines for me before) and I have taken everything apart, and cannot find any thread or anything that seems to have "jammed" the machine. We cleaned it all, put it back together, I went to try it again, and bam, same problem...I am the one who took out the bobbin case and the parts around it...as I was doing it I said "I should take a pic of this to remember how it goes back."...well, I didn't, and now I am wondering if part of it is in wrong...
What seems to be happening is when we turn the hand wheel the needle comes down and is hitting on the bobbin shuttle/case...so either I put something on wrong, or maybe timing can knock it off??
Is there any of you who have this machine and can maybe take a pic of the bobbin area with the cover removed? So we can see down in and make sure I put the bobbin holder stuff back in right? I have googled pics, and can't find one with the bobbin cover off and the bobbin out so we can get a good look...ANY help is appreciated!!
Lastly, I am fixing to be purchasing another machine anyways, but love this machine...so hope I can get it working. Repairmen in our area charge $75.00 just to look at it...
Regards all,
Kif

give me a minute I've a brother that's almost the same, I'll go get a pic

I'll upload a pix in a second!

Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!!
K

Do you have an OK button to reset the safety? Try changing the needle? Do you need a different pic, should I take off the metal plate?

Does this help?

Wouldn'tcha know? My oven started 'yelling' at me that my meat loaf was ready to come out. But maybe the bobbin case can show you something. It is positioned exactly as it should go back in. See the little bump on the right? It butts up to the thingy and sometimes you have to lift the little bar that's in the way--just a 'hair. [ATTACH=CONFIG]384662[/ATTACH]

leatheflea,
You are a TOTAL lifesaver!!! Pic is perfect!!!! I put the lil bar part on wrong...so, hopefully that will fix it!!! I did hit the ok, and have changed out the needle...I will post back when I see if this works....I am so, so, grateful to ya!!!!
Kif

Thanks for the 2nd pic, too!!! I am soooo grateful!!! My hubby, too!!!!

Question for leatherflea! What kind of camera do you have? I'm wanting a new one but not knowledgeable--your pix is really good (to my eyes) And you need to clean some lint out of the bobbin area--hahahahahahah See how good your camera is? haha

Hey gals,
When y'all turn the hand wheel backwards (which I know is not a normal thing...) will it turn freely or does it hang? When we turn the wheel towards me (right way) it turns freely...if I try and turn it backwards it spins the bobbin holder around and the needle hits on it...I don't recall that happening before when I have needed to turn the wheel backwards, not before it stopped anyways...thanks again!!!
K

Its an kodak easy share c743, its a few years old, about 6 yrs old. And about wore out, its falling apart.

When I spin my backwards it doesnt hit anything.

it turns freely

Did you remove the feed dogs when you took it all apart? When I spin mine backwards the bobbin housing case hits the feed dogs not allowing the bobbin case to spin any further. I get another pic to show you.

Nor does mine..but it SHOULD! lol Just last summer I let thread get wound around the bronze bearing until the wheel wouldn't turn at all. Into repair. But I watched over his shoulder and learned how to repair myself. He turned the wheel backwards and I went "OH you're not supposed to do that!!!"" He said, "But I'm the repairman. And I didn't turn it very much". So from that, gathered that it's not a good thing to do. So I don't.
Thanks, Leatherflea--I've had a Kodak--the one with the printer, but it's shot. It did do good pix, but I think yours is better!

Yes I took them off, and thats exactly what is happening...so its supposed to happen then? I am so sorry to be such a pain in the tushy...but I thank you and my dear sweet hubby thanks you!! He is in a leg cast, surgery on Nov 8th, cast on until Jan 9th...and he is so NOT an indoor guy....so I guess this is giving him something to do....just not anything fun!!!...
Thanks,
K

see how the feed dog is hitting the bobbin housing?

So it is supposed to hit the bobbin housing when you turn the wheel backwards, right? Thats what mine is doing...it turns freely going forward, but go backwards and it hits the bobbin housing...you really are a life saver, I feel like you are earning pay for helping me...maybe a fq or 2 or 3 even???
Kif

okay so if the feed dogs stop the bobbin housing whats your needle hitting?

When I turn the wheel backwards the bobbin case turns and the needle hits it...when I turn forwards it is fine and turns freely...does this make sense???
k

yes the bobbin housing is supposed to hit the feed dogs.

Its hitting the bobbin casing, but only when I turn it bacwards...forwards it is fine...
K

So its hitting the black plastic?

Did you change the needle? it could be bent.

This is like reading a mystery novel! I want to know the ending so keep posting.

yes, the needle is hitting the black plastic only when I turn it backwards, we turn the wheel backwards, the bobbin case and feed dogs move and the needle hits the black plastic on bobbin case. Then reverse turn wheel forward and all turns and moves fine and freely...

Okay I went and played with my machine. I held the bobbin casing as I turned the wheel backwards. When I did that it let the bobbin casing slip under the feed dogs allowing my needle to hit the casing. So my thinking is either your timing is off or your feed dogs are not installed properly.

I did change the needle, 2 times now...when we turn the wheel backwards the needle hits the bobbin casing instead of the feed dogs..then when we immediately reverse and turn the wheel forward it all moves fine and freely.. my bobbin case does turn a little bit freely when you just touch it...but I think its supposed to do that...

have you tried to sew with it?

I'm like BellaBoo. this is better than the show I'm watching. I hope the outcome is good.

Thats my fear...is it is the timing...on the feed dogs you can move them slightly sideways prior to tightening the 2 screws..hubby has tried them in several positions and it still happen...sigh...when I told him someone is posting this is like a mystery, keep posting to see how it ends...he said here is how it ends, you buy a new machine....for once, I really don't want a new machine...I have loved this lil Brother so much!!! And if I do get a new one, I am leaning toward the Janome Horizon 7700...which is a lot of money...but I can't see taking this one in and paying $75.00-$100.00 for just the service call...I paid about $400.00 for it new less than 2 years ago....Thanks again, so very much, you have been so helpful!!!!!
Kif

Hubby is putting it all back now, and I am going to give it a go and see if it sews....fingers, toes, eyes crossed!!!
K

Just dont hit reverse!

For sure!!! I will be lucky if it sews at all...and if it does, I don't know if I even want to try the backstitch...lol...I have to laugh to not cry....I guess you and I are now the stars of CSI: QB....haha...thanks again for taking so much time and the pics to try and help me...
K

You know I've been know to smack and curse my machine, it seems to help, well with my frustration....Maybe you need an Irish coffee, It works for me!

As I sit here on pins and needles, I wonder if the needle bar has shifted?

Hmm....how to check that?? You should really be a sewing machine repairman/guru!!! I am fixing to give it a sew, now...be back in a bit...

It is sewing!! Its doing a straight stitch and also does a zig zag...it even does a backstitch...I did not sew very fast, because I am scared to....lol...also when I tried to use the auto thread cutter it makes a weird kinda grind noise and doesn't cut...but I will worry about that later....at least for now it sews!!! Thank you again so much!!! You are my sewing machine, picture taking heroine!!!:thumbup:
Regards,
Kan
PS I will let you know if we decide to check why the auto thread cut isn't working...IF....lol...thats what scissors are for, eh?? Though the auto cut and the knee lift are 2 of the main reasons I went with this machine...ah well, at least its sewing!!!
Thanks so much!!!
K

Hubby is already brainstorming why the thread cutter isn't working...I am guessing something got put back in wrong or something...will have to look at the thread cutter part closer...we also have your close up pics that we can refer to, I just need to find the part where the thread cutter is put in....by the way, I didn't notice the lint at all.....lol....I was just so happy to see a close up pic!!!
K