rryder

Well, I couldn't see how to open up the foot controller, but there were lots of twists in the wire connecting the foot controller to the machine---how in the world that happened I don't know (maybe it gets spun around when I chase it with my foot???). I untwisted the wire and straightened it best I could. Stitched a little on it and the same thing happened while I was stitching fairly slowly. Turned machine off and then back on and did some FMQ stitching pretty fast and it didn't happen. We'll see what happens in the next couple of days.

Rob

Cactus Stitchin

I have a Brother Innovis 5000 but the needle down light flashing then shutting down the machine brought back many 'not so fond' memories for me. I had something similar happening with my machine and had no luck describing it to the repair technician over a period of about 18 months so it continued to get worse, and then much worse over time. Finally, I watching the light flash red to green, red to green, every time I wanted to sew. By then the repair technicians were as frustrated seeing me as I was with the overall situation.

Finally they broke down and called Brother directly with me present to hear the conversation; bottom line - the switch where the foot pedal plugged into the machine was faulty. Once it was replaced - machine works great! There is a test the technicians can run to test the pedal as well which probably should be done. The key for the technicians seemed to be the flashing needle down button.

Gay

A few years back my machine kept sewing after taking my foot off the pedal. Someone told me it could be a fuse in the fuse-box on the house, can you believe that? Well a week later a fuse did blow, and after I had it replaced there was no more problem with the machine. It was a Brother embroidery machine, computerised, so maybe a bit touchy.

But I would still have your pedal checked

Peckish

YES.

I took apart my foot pedal and it was fairly clean inside. I cleaned it anyway but it continued to stop working. So I went and got another foot pedal to test it (I have more than one Brother and fortunately the pedals are interchangeable) and that solved the problem. So I purchased a replacement pedal for the 1500, problem solved permanently.

BTW, Rob, you might be interested to know there is a service manual available in the files of the Yahoo group for this machine. A service manual, not an owner's manual. A valuable piece of info, especially if you're handy.

quilt9226

I concur with foot pedal being thr culprit. The same thing happened with my older Pfaff and once the foot pedal was replaced, all was well. I am embarrassed to say that a huge clump of dust/lint/batting fell out of the area where the light is (right to the left of the needle carriage. I never looked there. Now I know.

rryder

Thank you for pointing out the service manual! Using their trouble shooting guide I was able to determine that there is a broken wire in the foot controller. So I will be ordering a new foot controller ASAP.

Rob

pacas

To the lady a few weeks ago who had a similar machine which shredded the cotton while sewing free motion (mine was doing that same thing) The mechanic found the culprit was the free motion foot (not threading, cleaning or anything else) The cotton was snagging on the little hole so he drilled out a new larger hole in the plastic and no more problem. And of course that explains why I never had a problem when I was just sewing with the ordinary foot. Didn't know about the Service Manual - sounds a great idea.

carol45

My Innovis 4000D sometimes has a similar problem--the red light would come on and off, and it wouldn't sew when the red light was on. My dealer gave me a new foot pedal, and it was fine for a while, but then started again. I found the solution on this board. Every time it's a problem I extend the foot pedal cord as far out as it will go and I vacuum in the opening. That solves it for at least several months. Somehow lint/dust gets in and messes things up.