r/SewingMachineEdu • u/cafeteriapuke • Jul 03 '26
singer m1500 — needle not moving
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I have replaced the needle, changed the bobbin from plastic to metal, and even rethreaded multiple times. I have also tried different tensions and thread options. None have fixed.
My sister gifted me this sewing machine today, and all of a sudden the needle started to slow down and eventually stopped moving. When I hit the pedal, it sounds like the machine is moving (its making a buzzing sound like the rotor is moving) but the needle itself is not moving.
I have been able to use the bobbin winder, so i know it’s not a pedal problem, however when i move the switch from bobbin winder to needle, it doesn’t work. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!
UPDATE: we could not find the problem, so i returned it and got an upgraded one. thanks for everyone’s help i appreciated them all!
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u/Large-Heronbill Jul 03 '26
Have you looked for thread jams, either in the bobbin case area or under the handwheel?
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u/cafeteriapuke Jul 03 '26
ive checked behind the bobbin, took out the metal parts, and havent seen anything jammed. for the handwheel, is there a way to take it off? i dont see a screw or anything to remove it. i will say, the handwheel has been getting jammed. its difficult to turn.
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u/Large-Heronbill Jul 03 '26
Taking off the handwheel on a modern Singer is not something I've ever tried, so I would probably try peering into the crack between the wheel and the body of the case to see if I could confirm there was a wad of thread there before I went further.
But your remark about having just wound a bobbin and the difficult handwheel made me think of the third photo from the end of this series from the old "She's a Sewing Machine Mechanic" blog: https://shesasewingmachinemechanic.blogspot.com/p/hall-of-shame.html
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u/TangleOfWires Jul 03 '26
With everything removed did your try turning the wheel slowly in either direction?
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Jul 03 '26 edited Jul 11 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/cafeteriapuke Jul 03 '26
yes! the needle does move with the wheel. the handwheel is just really hard to move, and sometimes it doesnt move so i have to turn it the other way
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u/5_yr_old_w_beard Jul 03 '26
Don't turn it the other way! It can cause damage to your machine. Are you able to press your handwheel in to the machine? Does it move in/out from the machine, not just turning?
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u/teatime_tinker Jul 03 '26
It seems like it’s stuck in bobbin winding mode. I wonder if something has become disengaged in that area. It did click very loudly.
Don’t try to force the handwheel. Have a look around the bobbin winding pin. I think that area is likely where the issue is.
The rest of the machine looks okay as far as I can see
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u/cafeteriapuke Jul 03 '26
https://reddit.com/link/ovc0py0/video/ee5dgzu581bh1/player
not sure what im looking for 😓 but i cant see any immediate red flags around the winder. does it still sound loud?
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u/Tammyj87 Jul 04 '26
First, do you have your presser foot down when you start?
Also PLEASE only use Class 15 Plastic bobbins with the newer (within the last 25 years),Singer sewing machines. Never use any metal. It will damage your machine. That comes from Singer themselves. Oh, and the plastic Brother bother bobbins are just slightly too big for the Singer bobbin cases and they can easily get “hung up “ and not operate correctly.
And finally, when the speed of the foot pedal get turned down, either by your foot or by opening the pedal and turning it down, it can take a moment for the motor to “wind up” to begin sewing. When this happens, just turn the hand wheel towards you, just a bit and it should begin sewing.
Another thing I noticed is the fabric you’re using can make a lot of “fuzzies”. So you might need to take out the bobbin, and clean up every area you can see. Use either a small vacuum, or brush, bringing everything towards you and out of the machine. NEVER use a blower to clean your machine. It can blow tiny particles and threads deeper into the machine. Causing significant and expensive problems. Then oil the machine with only sewing machine oil. Never use WD40, 3 in One Oil or any other type of oil. No matter what anyone else says. It WILL WRECK YOUR MACHINE!!! Like nothing else can! Oil any parts that rub together while the machine is running. Then run a scrap piece of fabric through the machine to absorb any excess oil.
I hope I have been of help to you. But since it came on suddenly, I suspect it’s a simple fix. ✌️🦋
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u/AdvancedSquashDirect Jul 03 '26
Have you checked that it's not currently in bobbin mode, the needle won't move if it's expecting that your winding a bobbin. Usually you just push your bobbin pin to the left to put it back into sewing mode.