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Brother Sewing Machine question

khsstitches | Posted in Equipment and Supplies on

Hi all…am new here but I have been sewing since I was 7…..so…..OK, 42 years. I have sewn everything from the simple to queen sized quilts to figure skating dresses to full cast costumes for musicals. I have always had low end sewing machines and a serger. This winter the machine died and I treated myself (on my budget with 2 in college it was a treat) to a Brother PC-420.  I used it a handful of times and then it STOPPED.  The message is that the safety device is engaged. There is nothing in the book nor on the website to help me fix it. The nearest place is 40+ miles away and I’d actually have to take a day off as she isn’t available on Saturdays. Can anyone help?  I have borrowed a friend’s machine several times but I am frustrated beyond belief.  Short of sending it back which isn’t appealing I am at a loss. Thanks in advance…

Replies

  1. gogojojo | | #1

    Hi, I have the same machine. this happened to me once. This is what I did, and miraculously, the machine now works again:

    Re-thread machine, took out the bobbin (on the chance that it wasn't wound properly), put a new bobbin in (and make sure the thread is coming off the bobbin in the correct direction), unplugged the machine for a minute, plugged it back in again, and changed the needle.

    I don't know which thing in this routine worked, but it worked. Let me know how it goes!

    Jo

  2. gogojojo | | #2

    Oh yeah, make sure the machine is turned off when you unplug it!

    1. khsstitches | | #3

      Unfortunately the needle won't move up or down so I can do anything with it! Can't rethread, can't remove the bobbin.  I've turned it on/off.....it did it once early on but I don't know what I did to fix it. This time seems hopeless or at least more complicated. I was just sewing along nicely and boom - it froze.

      1. Tatsy | | #4

        If this is an electronic machine, unplug it and go do something else for an hour or two before you come back and plug it in again. That will allow the machine a chance to reboot its computer.If that still doesn't work, try to jiggle the flywheel back and forth. Something may be broken, bent, or stuck. Good luck

      2. gogojojo | | #5

        Hmm...what position is the needle stuck in, up or down? Mine was touching the presser foot when I got the same message. I had to take the presser foot off, then take the needle out. Is there enough room to take the needle out and then try to manipulate the hand wheel? there could also be a bit of thread stuck in the bobbin case. It is hard to get that metal plate off to get a good view; you need an offset screwdriver. But once you get it off, you have a fairly good view.

      3. Betakin | | #6

        I believe the msg your  machine is giving is either because the thread is tangled or if it has a stop/start button and you were sewing with it instead of the foot control it could have set off the msg. if the button was pressed before the machine was set up correctly to sew. I think if you push the OK key and back arrow key the error msg will disappear and your machine should function again.

      4. khsstitches | | #7

        Thanks to all of you for your thoughtful suggestions. It works!  I don't have a clue, however, which action of what I tried did the trick....I tried them all. It did take a few tries. Of course, I have nothing to sew right now!!! Isn't that the way? But it saves me time, money and frustration and I am just glad that it works. I have never had a machine like this - always had simple electric ones - so I probably need to go slowly with it. I am going to a large quilt show this coming weekend and if there is a Brother rep there I intend to pin him/her to the wall till I find out what it really is! Thanks again!

        1. gogojojo | | #8

          Yay!! What a pain it would have been to send it back. Enjoy!

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