Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. I earn a small commission when you click a link and make a purchase. Thanks for supporting SewingSociety.com!
Your handwheel is used to manually advance your sewing machine. It should always be turned toward you to prevent messing up the timing of your machine. If you can’t turn your handwheel, you won’t be able to sew. Here are five reasons why you can have trouble turning your handwheel, and what to do about each one.
Your Sewing Machine Is Not Threaded Correctly
Even people who have been sewing for years sometimes thread their sewing machines incorrectly. This is the first thing you should check if your sewing machine is not working properly or you can’t turn your handwheel. You might have a knot in your thread that is preventing your sewing machine from advancing.
Unthread your sewing machine and rethread it from the beginning. Ensure your thread take-up lever is in its highest position, attach your spool of thread, and then pull your thread through your tension discs and thread guides according to the instructions in your user manual. Then, pull your thread through the eye of your needle and leave a four-inch tail of thread.
Your Bobbin Case Is Full of Lint
Lint builds up in your bobbin case as you sew. It can get in the way of your needle and prevent the hook in your bobbin case from forming stitches properly. Thread can also get wound around the components and cause your sewing machine to get stuck. Clean your sewing machine frequently to ensure you can turn your handwheel.
Your Handwheel Needs Oil
Older sewing machines require regular oiling. This includes the gears inside your handwheel. Apply a small drop of sewing machine oil to the gears and see if you can move your handwheel more freely. Never oil your sewing machine without first checking your user manual. Some machines are self-lubricating and don’t need to be oiled, except by a repair technician.
Your Belt Is Broken
If the belt breaks on your sewing machine, you’ll likely be able to turn your handwheel, but your needle will not go up and down. Take your sewing machine to a repair technician to have the belt replaced. If your sewing machine is still under warranty, this service is usually covered. Never take apart your sewing machine yourself unless you know what you are doing because this can void your warranty.
You Are Overworking Your Sewing Machine
It takes a lot to overheat the motor on your sewing machine, but newer sewing machines have an automatic shutoff feature to prevent your motor from getting damaged when it gets too hot. If you’ve been sewing fast for a long time, your handwheel might be stuck because your machine is too hot. Unplug your sewing machine and wait an hour or more before trying to sew again.
Did you find this article helpful?
I can help you solve other sewing machine problems, too! Get a copy of my book, Sewing Machine Problems and How to Solve Them on Amazon.
Your sewing machine is going to give you troubles again.
It’s inevitable…
My troubleshooting book walks you through how to solve the 20 most common sewing machine problems. You’ll be prepared to tackle any problem your sewing machine throws at you. That means more time sewing and less time crying.
The ebook version only costs $2.99. You’d easily pay between $75 and $150 to take your sewing machine to a repair technician. Learn how to do a lot of the sewing machine troubleshooting yourself and save money.
For more information, visit our Sewing Machine Troubleshooting Page.
Share this post on Pinterest!
I have SB1000T machine. Locked completely down. Cannot get screws out of metal face plate to check underneath —-rethreaded. Changed needle. Leaned king out of bobbin casing. Cannot over left hand door on machine to open so I can check out inside there. Help!