Sewing Machine Needle Not Moving!!
03-27-2020, 08:15 PM
#1
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2020
Posts: 2
Sewing Machine Needle Not Moving!!
Hi! 😊 I am very new to sewing. I have a Kenmore 158.12391 which was my grandmother's that has been passed down to me. It was recently fully serviced and I had practiced on it a few weeks ago and it was working fine. However, I accidentally dropped my pedal while setting up the machine in a new spot. Now, I am having issues with my needle. When I press down on the pedal, the motor is running but the needle does not move. However, when I turn the handle on the side, the needle does move them. Any suggestions??? Thanks in advance!!
03-28-2020, 01:44 AM
#3
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Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Denver, CO
Posts: 4,248
Welcome, redlipclassic. I'm not finding your model in http://www.searsarchives.com/history.../sewing_id.pdf
My first thought is that it is set for winding the bobbin. Hold the outside of the hand wheel and turn the inner knob to the right. Since you say you can hear the motor when you press the pedal, it doesn't sound like an electrical issue to me.
Janey - Neat people never make the exciting discoveries I do.
Not affiliated with off-site link(s)
My first thought is that it is set for winding the bobbin. Hold the outside of the hand wheel and turn the inner knob to the right. Since you say you can hear the motor when you press the pedal, it doesn't sound like an electrical issue to me.
Janey - Neat people never make the exciting discoveries I do.
Not affiliated with off-site link(s)
03-28-2020, 04:27 AM
#4
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Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Keller, TX
Posts: 1,911
Since the needle moves when you turn the wheel, the pedal must be the problem. Try taking the pedal apart to see if something became disconnected inside. Although, I can't imagine a drop could damage a foot pedal since they get "bunged" around a lot with use. If you cannot determine the damage, call a sewing machine shop, give them your model information and ask if they have a pedal that they can plug into your machine to see if your pedal is damaged. If you are not comfortable taking your pedal apart, I would call a shop anyway to test another pedal. Best wishes
03-28-2020, 04:34 AM
#5
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Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Keller, TX
Posts: 1,911
Here is a link to a new foot pedal. I would order this, if the cost of taking it to a shop is more than the cost of this pedal. it is marked down from $69 to $29.
https://www.sewingpartsonline.com/ke...t=desc&index=1
If this link does not work, go to sewingpartsonline.com and type in your model number.
Best wishes for an easy fix.
https://www.sewingpartsonline.com/ke...t=desc&index=1
If this link does not work, go to sewingpartsonline.com and type in your model number.
Best wishes for an easy fix.
03-28-2020, 04:49 AM
#6
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Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Waterford Michigan
Posts: 7,241
Welcome to the QB from SE Michigan! It does sound like the pedal wiring somehow has been torn apart. Please check in routinely with the board for answers to your questions and to share other fun quilty things.
03-28-2020, 05:03 AM
#7
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Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: Greater Peoria, IL -- just moved!
Posts: 6,042
Welcome to the board, waving from a safe personal distance away in Seattle.
As mentioned, double check that you aren't in bobbin winding mode and that the handwheel is properly engaged/positioned. Also double check that you didn't change a setting, like zigzag mode.
But I'm guessing it is something to do with the pedal as well and Lady Diana's link seems very reasonable, cost effective maybe not right now but timely solution. I know I've gotten things from them before and had excellent service.
I recently dropped my old vintage Remington's pedal when I was trying to set it up, and now have the same sort of problem as you. I can hand crank (and you can sew like that if you really really had to mend something), but no foot power. With my sewing machine there are two plug ins on the side -- if I take the foot pedal plug in the machine slot, the machine starts roaring at full speed and power and only way to control it is to quickly yank out the plug from the socket. I have vision issues and haven't taken the foot apart yet to see if it is fixable, but Hubby is taking Monday off and maybe that would be a good project for him.
I was setting up Remy because my modern Bernina 820 had worked the day before and without changing a single thing other than shutting it off and turning it on, it is feeling cranky and wants to visit the repair shop. Was just about to take it in when all this virus stuff hit the Seattle area. Depending on if I get a "servicing" or repair and whether it is in-house or shipped out, I'm expecting the Bernina to be between $100-300+.
It's another shop that I take my Remington to for parts or service (I found out decades ago that the Bernina dealer did not take the same delight in vintage machines that I do), and I'll probably take it there first in case they have something in the back. Have no idea what they will charge me, but I can't imagine very much, around the $10 range?? Well, after they are open again I can do that.
So right now I am using a very very bottom of the line Brother because working beats non-working! And for those of us who are cheap, doing work ourselves beats paying others -- but when we can't do it, they are worth every cent.
As mentioned, double check that you aren't in bobbin winding mode and that the handwheel is properly engaged/positioned. Also double check that you didn't change a setting, like zigzag mode.
But I'm guessing it is something to do with the pedal as well and Lady Diana's link seems very reasonable, cost effective maybe not right now but timely solution. I know I've gotten things from them before and had excellent service.
I recently dropped my old vintage Remington's pedal when I was trying to set it up, and now have the same sort of problem as you. I can hand crank (and you can sew like that if you really really had to mend something), but no foot power. With my sewing machine there are two plug ins on the side -- if I take the foot pedal plug in the machine slot, the machine starts roaring at full speed and power and only way to control it is to quickly yank out the plug from the socket. I have vision issues and haven't taken the foot apart yet to see if it is fixable, but Hubby is taking Monday off and maybe that would be a good project for him.
I was setting up Remy because my modern Bernina 820 had worked the day before and without changing a single thing other than shutting it off and turning it on, it is feeling cranky and wants to visit the repair shop. Was just about to take it in when all this virus stuff hit the Seattle area. Depending on if I get a "servicing" or repair and whether it is in-house or shipped out, I'm expecting the Bernina to be between $100-300+.
It's another shop that I take my Remington to for parts or service (I found out decades ago that the Bernina dealer did not take the same delight in vintage machines that I do), and I'll probably take it there first in case they have something in the back. Have no idea what they will charge me, but I can't imagine very much, around the $10 range?? Well, after they are open again I can do that.
So right now I am using a very very bottom of the line Brother because working beats non-working! And for those of us who are cheap, doing work ourselves beats paying others -- but when we can't do it, they are worth every cent.
03-28-2020, 07:27 AM
#8
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Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Denver, CO
Posts: 4,248
Originally Posted by redlipclassic
When I press down on the pedal, the motor is running but the needle does not move. However, when I turn the handle on the side, the needle does move them.
I rethought my previous answer and realized that if the hand wheel moves the needle, that the machine is not in bobbin winding mode. Does the hand wheel turn easily and no 'catches' when you do it by hand? There should be two screws on top, one behind the bobbin winder and one close the needle end of the machine. If you unscrew them and take the top lid off the machine, can you see the belt around the inside of the hand wheel? I'm wondering if the belt broke.
It seems like there have been times that sometimes, with electric machines, that a little nudge on the hand wheel when you press the foot controller (pedal) will help make it work. Does it sound different as you press the pedal further?
Originally Posted by Iceblossom
I recently dropped my old vintage Remington's pedal when I was trying to set it up, and now have the same sort of problem as you. I can hand crank (and you can sew like that if you really really had to mend something), but no foot power. With my sewing machine there are two plug ins on the side -- if I take the foot pedal plug in the machine slot, the machine starts roaring at full speed and power and only way to control it is to quickly yank out the plug from the socket. I have vision issues and haven't taken the foot apart yet to see if it is fixable, but Hubby is taking Monday off and maybe that would be a good project for him.
If so, try plugging the machine in the other outlet. A lot of vintage machines have this kind of plugs. Many of them are not marked as nicely as this one.
Janey - Neat people never make the exciting discoveries I do.
Last edited by OurWorkbench; 03-28-2020 at 07:39 AM. Reason: add'l thought
03-28-2020, 08:26 AM
#9
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Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: Greater Peoria, IL -- just moved!
Posts: 6,042
Thanks for that great picture Janey, mine is not marked and basically just seems to be "power" and "foot pedal". So plugged in correctly nothing happens. When I switch the cord the machine takes off at full speed with a might roar!
Remy is older than me, I was born in 1960. It's a post war machine similar to a Morse, it is advanced as zig-zag and has the most marvelous straight stitch. It had belonged to a friend's grandmother and I started using it when my once top of the line machine (last model with cams before computerized!) had a major non-repairable breakdown. That was 20-30 years ago.
With my increasing vision issues, a dear friend gave me her replaced but still modern Bernina with full auto-threading, wonderful lighting and a huge throat space, a very generous gift. I had the decision to use it exactly as I'd been doing with Remy or learning the modern machine. Loving tools as I do, I learned and love the modern bells and whistles, even if I don't exactly need them they are nice to have. Used it hard in many ways for a year before this break, it's definitely worth it to me to have it serviced this time... don't know about next sort of depends on how long from now that is and what is the issue.
Remy is older than me, I was born in 1960. It's a post war machine similar to a Morse, it is advanced as zig-zag and has the most marvelous straight stitch. It had belonged to a friend's grandmother and I started using it when my once top of the line machine (last model with cams before computerized!) had a major non-repairable breakdown. That was 20-30 years ago.
With my increasing vision issues, a dear friend gave me her replaced but still modern Bernina with full auto-threading, wonderful lighting and a huge throat space, a very generous gift. I had the decision to use it exactly as I'd been doing with Remy or learning the modern machine. Loving tools as I do, I learned and love the modern bells and whistles, even if I don't exactly need them they are nice to have. Used it hard in many ways for a year before this break, it's definitely worth it to me to have it serviced this time... don't know about next sort of depends on how long from now that is and what is the issue.
03-28-2020, 08:38 AM
#10
Super Member
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Denver, CO
Posts: 4,248
Originally Posted by Iceblossom
Thanks for that great picture Janey, mine is not marked and basically just seems to be "power" and "foot pedal". So plugged in correctly nothing happens. When I switch the cord the machine takes off at full speed with a might roar!
Janey - Neat people never make the exciting discoveries I do.
