|
Serger Troubleshooting – What To Do When Something Goes Wrong
Serger troubleshooting is what will have to be done if preventive maintenance and serger care is neglected. There are some issues other than those related to nonexistent or inadequate serger care and maintenance.
Here are some common serger troubleshooting issues and their solutions.
Problem and Solution • Fabric feeds poorly • The stitch length should be increased • The presser foot pressure should be increased for heavier weight fabrics • The presser foot pressure should be decreased for lighter weight fabrics
The needle breaks
• Insert the needle correctly • Do not pull the fabric through the feed dogs while sewing, allow fabric to be automatically fed by the feed dogs • Tighten the screw that holds the needle in its slot • Use a larger needle on heavier fabrics
The thread breaks
• Check the threading • Check for thread that is tangled or caught • Check to be sure that needle is inserted correctly • Check to see if needle is bent or blunt, if so, insert a new needle • Use only high quality thread • Loosen the thread tension, it may be too tight Skipped stitch
• Check to see if the needle is bent or blunt, if so, insert a new needle • Check to see if the screw holding the needle in place is loose, if so, then tighten the screw • Make sure that the needle is inserted correctly • The size of the needle may not be correct for the fabric being sewn, change if necessary • Check to make sure that the machine is threaded correctly, if not rethread the serger • The presser foot pressure may need to be increased • The thread may be poor quality, use a high quality thread
Irregular stitches
• The thread tension may not be just right, fine tune it • Check for tangled or caught thread, which could be on the stitch fingers or feed dogs, or loopers • Check to make sure the serger is threaded correctly, if not rethread it
Puckered fabric
• The thread tension may be too tight, loosen it • Check for tangled or caught thread, which could be on the stitch fingers or feed dogs, or loopers • Use high quality lightweight thread • Shorten the stitch length • For lightweight fabrics decrease the presser foot pressure
Irregular trimming of fabric as serge forms the stitch
• Check the alignment of both knives and correct it if the alignment is off • Replace one or both knives, the knives may be dull The fabric jams
• The looper cover may be open, close the looper cover • Check for tangled or caught thread, which could be on the stitch fingers or feed dogs, or loopers
The machine does not operate • Check to make sure that the machine is plugged in
The above guide is a sample trouble shooting guide from a Singer serger manual, the trouble shooting guide for each machine should be checked in the owner’s manual for each manufacturer and model of serger.
For a general serger troubleshooting guide click here on the link to The New Sewing with a Serger by Singer Sewing Reference Library Proper use, operation, care and maintenance will reduce the number of problems with one’s overlocker, but problems do still occur and there are serger troubleshooting solutions.
To Serger Repair Page
|
