HELP!! My FW is being a Naughty Girl!!
 

I have been just sewing away on my FW and as I start a new seam, she decides to stop. The needle is 1/2 down in the hole and the hand wheel won't turn to raise it. I can take the bobbin out and there doesn't seem to be anything wrong with that part. It sounded like maybe the needle bent and there was sorta a "crunch noise" when it jammed. Help, still sewing Christmas projects (although it's not like I don't have another machine to sew on!).

I just want to sew on my FW!!

I would think take the bobbin out and stitch plate then try removing the needle. Hope that helps

I agree - take out the bobbin/stitch plate and clear out any thread. I have had this happen before. Someone either told me or I read that this can be eliminated on a FW if you always start to sew with the thread take up lever in the highest position. I am now in the habit of when I stop sewing, just turning the hand wheel until the thread take up lever is in the highest position before I remove the fabric and cut the thread. That way, I am ready to start my next seam with the lever in the right position. Also, remember to keep your FW oiled and lubricated. Good luck!

In the days before auto needle up and down this is what we did. Good Luck!

Thanks for the great suggestions! I have taken the bobbin out but I can't remove the stitch plate because the needle is almost in the total down position. Don't know what will happen if I loosen the needle clamp...will it fall down in the bobbin mechanism (can't think what to call it)?

I usually do start and end with the needle in the up position and then I clip the thread.

Oh well, just don't want to have to take it in to SM repair guy!!

Good luck hope you get your FW up and running fast

you won't hurt anything by loosening the needle clamp and trying to take it out either from the top or bottom.... just try to work it down out of the slot and then try to work it out of its jam....it may be tangled with threads, etc., but if the needle will come out of the slot, you may have a chance.... and

on starting and finishing... finish with wheel (and therefore needle) in UP in highest position, begin new seam by placing needle all the way DOWN while holding onto threads...no tangles ever if the threads are in your left hand when you push the foot feed..

You can do this! Yes, undo the needle. It may drop a little, but there is no where for it to go and then just pull it out. Take the two screws that hold the needle plate cover off and you should be able to see if there is thread there. Easiest way to see if that is the problem. Just pull on the thread and at the same time rotate the hand wheel an inch or two back and forth while you pull on the thread. If you need more info, just add a post.

*********Save yourself some money. you can almost always fix the FW yourself. if you did not hold onto the
threads at the start of a seam, it did a bird's nest or at least caught a very short piece of thread somewhere.
loosen the needle clamp. the needle will not hurt anything if you do not turn the handwheel. then remove the
needle. but first, take a flashlight & seek any thread that may be caught somewhere. use a tweezers. you can
also take off the bottom plate & look at bobbin area. it does not take much thread to make a problem !
**while you have the bottom off, give the machine an oil job, unless you have just done that**
carefully remove screws of the throat plate and clean that area & check for threads. replace the needle, oil the
bobbin case. bet you have solved your problem.
Get Dave McCalums book on the FW. worth it's cost to any FW owner.

Try taking the face plate off and see what is in the mechanism to stop it. Mine stopped too and I found a wad of thread and fuzz in a ball causing the needle to jam. Yes, I fixed it.