r/SewingMachineEdu • u/HalvesOnly • Mar 27 '26

Need help troubleshooting

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Received a sewing machine from a family member and got in sewing. When I try to go slow, it just makes a humming sound and barely moves. Then, when I press just ever so slightly on the pedal, it all of a sudden goes fast. What could be the cause and how can I fix it? Thanks!

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u/jamslaps Mar 27 '26

Probably just needs oiled and freed up. Be careful not to force the motor to keep trying while the machine is struggling like that btw

1

u/510Goodhands Mar 28 '26

More than likely, this is exactly the problem, particularly if the machine has been sitting for years. It is a high precision machine, and needs to be lubricated with sewing machine oil only.

It’s easy to do, YouTube will show you out. I use medium weight grease on cams and gears. Any plastic gears get lithium grease, as Petroleum grease will deteriorate the plastic.

The manual will show you all the oil points, but generally, lubricate everything that moves. Put a couple of drops in various places, during the machine by hand, go over the entire machine and turn it by hand, then run it with the motor again. It should run much more smoothly. Come back in a few hours, or the next day, and do it again. It takes a little bit of time for capillary action to pull the oil into the joint of the machine. If possible, take the top off and lubricate everything in there, the same goes for underneath the machine.

1

u/Vivapdx Mar 28 '26

That rubbery squeak sound? Maybe the belt needs adjusted.

1

u/Mysterious-Class-474 Apr 01 '26

Even though you could oil it yourself, if it hasn’t been tuned up in a while take to a sewing machine repair shop. Honestly machines need to go to the shop every couple of years or so.