My machine froze up.
 

I was doing straight stitch quilting with a walking foot using my Brother 1500. It stopped sewing with needle down. The wheel wouldn't turn at all to raise the needle. Got the needle out. I took the top cover off and found the problem a big spring at the top right had come undone and was blocking the gear from turning. I moved the spring out of the way and the machine wheel and gears were free. I have no idea what this spring does. The machine sews fine, the bobbin winds fine. Why on earth was it there in the first place. Anyone know? I'll take it to a shop eventually but it sure is a mystery.

This machine froze like this once before but then it was a pin had found it's way in the housing and was blocking a gear from turning. Maint guy said that was a rare occurrence.

l wonder if that spring was supposed to ''pop'' the bobbin after it finishes winding? Not a necessity for sure, but now you may need to release bobbin before it overwinds.

That is why it is so helpful to know a maintenance technician. Once my Bernina 1530 froze up. Come to find out I had a ton of dust bunnies which I could not reach or see.

Maybe time for maintenance. I wouldn't want to keep using my machine if a part popped off.

I agree, that part may be important and you could be doing damage to the machine. I would take it in

I called the nearest Brother dealer and the repair guy said no problem using it to sew. He said when I get a chance bring it in and he'll put it back in place. I didn't get to talk to him, I left a message with an employee and the employee called me back with what he said. Weird.

Call him back and ask what the spring does......also, their maybe a repair manual online for your machine. Good luck

It sounds to me (by the location of the spring) that it does have something to do with the bobbin winder. I have the Juki 2010Q, which is very similar in design to your machine. I had a minor panic one day when mine wouldn't sew, and it turned out the bobbin winder had been engaged by mistake. Once I popped it back into place, all was well. So that's my guess.... for what it's worth. :)

The spring is the reverse lever spring. It is a big spring and popped off and jumped up to block a gear from turning. When I push the lever down it auto springs back up when released. Without the spring I have to lift the lever back up when I push it down. A minor thing. I rarely use the reverse anyway as I use this machine mostly for machine quilting. It does not hinder the sewing at all.

It really was a tight spring to jump from the lever to the top of the machine. !