The Sewing Place

PE150 needle not hitting fabric

Goth Gardiner

PE150 needle not hitting fabric
« on: February 04, 2020, 21:48:42 PM »
I've got an old Brother PE150, that I've not used much over the years (bought it second hand from someone in the village).  It was working beautifully yesterday.

Then I got a message to check that the upper and lower thread had not been cut.  They hadn't.  But I can't get it to work.

I've cleaned everything; no real fluff or anything and I've tried running bias binding through the tension mechanism. I've changed the needle.  I've changed upper and lower thread.  I've changed the needle again .... I've tried re-hooping with different fabric.

It's really odd; it just seems as if the needle is hitting the fabric and not going any deeper.  But when I checked it without the hoop in the needle seemed to be going right down into the bobbin holder thingie.

I'm at a loss.

Help anyone?
There's no workman, whatsoever he be, That may both work well and hastily

fajita

Re: PE150 needle not hitting fabric
« Reply #1 on: February 04, 2020, 22:42:01 PM »
Have you checked below the bobbin holder thingy. I think a lot of my problems are the ‘washer’ below it displacing.

Goth Gardiner

Re: PE150 needle not hitting fabric
« Reply #2 on: February 04, 2020, 22:56:49 PM »
@fajita
Yes I have and the circular washer seems to be firmly in place.
I've got really quick at unscrewing the throat plate!
There's no workman, whatsoever he be, That may both work well and hastily

Goth Gardiner

Re: PE150 needle not hitting fabric
« Reply #3 on: February 04, 2020, 23:07:13 PM »
I have been watching it on slow speed and when seeing a pattern the needle isn't going up and down.  Nor does the needle move when using the hand wheel.

But if I switch it off and use the handwheel the needle does go up and down.
There's no workman, whatsoever he be, That may both work well and hastily

Wychall

Re: PE150 needle not hitting fabric
« Reply #4 on: February 05, 2020, 21:20:52 PM »
I don't know the PE150 but does it have a way to turn off the bobbin and upper thread sensing.? I'm thinking perhaps one of the sensors is dirty or faulty so the machine doesn't want to work. Turning off the sensors may get it stitching again.
Present 'garage' contains 2 x 28K hand crank, 99K hand crank, 66K hand crank, 66K treadle, 201K treadle, 99K electric, 416, 6104, 401G, Futura 1000, Innovis NV1250 and a Jones CS treadle. New arrival Brother XE1 Stellaire
www.wychallembroidery.com

fajita

Re: PE150 needle not hitting fabric
« Reply #5 on: February 05, 2020, 21:49:00 PM »
Are your ‘grub screws’ tight?  (Ignorantly repeating what the man said).

Goth Gardiner

Re: PE150 needle not hitting fabric
« Reply #6 on: February 05, 2020, 22:58:52 PM »
Hi,

No way of turning off the sensors that I can see.

Having googled grub screws ...  no idea as I can't see any even using a magnifying glass.   It then I don't have a grub screwdriver either.

Have been playing around. If I move the needle manually by using the wheel it goes up and down. If I use the electronics to see a pattern the needle doesn't move, it does the first stitch then stays at its highest position.

Crying doesn't seem to help.
There's no workman, whatsoever he be, That may both work well and hastily

Lachica

Re: PE150 needle not hitting fabric
« Reply #7 on: February 06, 2020, 07:26:53 AM »
Sounds like it's the electronics. :'( no other suggestions I'm afraid.
Mary
2020 stash: not gonna count, not gonna feel guilty.

Bodgeitandscarper

Re: PE150 needle not hitting fabric
« Reply #8 on: February 06, 2020, 09:42:24 AM »
I presume you've tried different designs?  I'm sure you have, but just in case...  Or a basting stitch?  Or swearing at it a lot?  Otherwise, it does sound like it may need specialist attention  :(

Ohsewsimple

Re: PE150 needle not hitting fabric
« Reply #9 on: February 06, 2020, 17:40:52 PM »
Definitely sounds like it needs to go in somewhere.  It might be expensive so you’d have to decide whether it economically viable.  Service engineer will be able to tell you.   :(

Goth Gardiner

Re: PE150 needle not hitting fabric
« Reply #10 on: February 06, 2020, 17:41:04 PM »
Different designs. Different thread both top and bottom.
Doesn't do a basting stitch.
Multiple swearwords and various threats.

It's an old machine that I got second hand years ago. It's not had much use, but I had was going to make some lace bats and butterflies to add to an evening dress.

As it's had so little use I couldn't justify buying a new one, but it was nice to be able to make the odd decorated bag etc.

Sigh.
There's no workman, whatsoever he be, That may both work well and hastily