20 Most Recent Simplicity Serge Pro SW432 Mechanical Sewing Machine - Page 3 Questions & Answers

I have a Simplicity serger SL880 that was my mothers. She past away about 8 years ago. I was trying to use it but appears the motor may be locked up that moves the feed dogs. Is there a place to oil it? If so where? Thank you.

not necesarily, can you see a knick in either of the two blades? use a magnifying glass and see if you can see any damage first.

Then try changing the fixed bottom blade only first, you may have got a replacment top blade in your accessory bag new with the machine.

The blades themselves are very high grade steel just like scissor blade so should last for quite a long time, provided they don't come into contact with a pin.

You can buy the bottom blade for your machine here http://www.sewingpartsonline.com/lower-knife-babylock-60544.aspx along with the top blade and other spares.

Also, remember to clean the blades of lint regularly and give them a wipe with a cloth moistened with a little clear sewing machine oil from time to time.

your machine should have a stitch length dial on the right hand side above the flywheel, it might have numbers from 0.5 to 3 or 4, higher number for longer stitch (effectively this moves the foot and feed dogs faster in relation to the needles to make the stitch longer).

If you have the Serge Pro SW432 that your enquiry is linked to and you have not used a serger before, then definitely get hold of the manual, you will need it. Sergers are very different to sewing machines - once you've mastered one, its easy, but there is a learning curve.

Firstly, ALWAYS extend the thread aerial up, you'll see loads of images of sergers sitting nicely with the aerial in the lowered position, great for moving them to avoid damage. But they won't work well, a serger seams at 1500 stitches per minute and the thread streams off the cones so you need to ensure there is a good clear feed via the aerial to the tension dials.

Buy good quality thread cones and keep it out of the sun and dust. Cover your machine when not in use (lower the aerial first). You could start with white, grey and black thread as this will cover a lot of fabric prints/colours etc. To change thread colour, you will need to cut and knot on the new thread for the two loopers (right hand side cones) - do this about 6 inches above the first thread guide, and then chain off to feed these through down to the needle plate, when you see the new colour come through okay, stop. Repeat the process for the needle thread or threads (3 or 4 thead depending on what stitch you are sewing) but stop chaining when the thread knot is above the needles. Stop, loosen these tension dials and pull the thread down, cut out the knot with scissors and thread the new colour through the two needles. Use threading wires if you have them, or tweezers. Pull both these and the two looper threads together under the pressure foot, lower the foot, turn your tension dials back to 5 and chain off. The thread sequence is important, mostly top looper, bottom looper, then needles, this is so much easier demonstrated than explained.

If you can find a classroom/shop offering overlocking user lessons, go take a couple, its well worth the money. Otherwise go to you-tube and watch all the videos you can search on sergers, threading, etc.

Good luck with your serger, please respond with 4 thumbs if this has been helpful to you. :-)

How frustrating, I've tried to find a manual on this model so I can see how you make the change to the thread finger on the throad but couldn't see one. So, I'll go through the set up for 3 thread rolled hem on mine, it probably won't be identical but it might help.

First, remove thread from left needle and remove the left needle from the holder leaving just the right hand needle in place. Most sergers have two seperate needle screws so this can be done but as you mentioned, recheck again that the right needle is right up into the housing as high as it will go. I presume you are using a fresh smaller size needle, especially if this is on a fine or lightweight woven like organza, I'd put in a size 70. If a mid weight then size 80.

Now there should be a thread finger on the foot you change with your screwdriver. Or a little switch you flick so that the throat plate is a different shape to form the narrow seam. Your manual should have this step.

Now if you have some, put wooly overlock thread into your top looper, I cut the thread about 10 inches above the tension dial, put the new spool on, knot it to the existing thread tail, turn tension to zero and pull it through and through the looper eye.

At this point, you should have the two looper threads loose, lift the pressure foot and pull these two threads under the foot and out the back. Turn tension back to about 3 on top looper and tighten up lower looper to 5 or 6 and leave needle at 5.

Adjust blade to cut quite wide, ie wind it to the right side. Now thread the right needle and pull this thread out the back too. Lower the pressure foot, introduce a piece of fabric in under the foot, press the pedal and start trimming and chaining off.

You should have a chain stitch happening now - if not, recheck your threading, particularly the needle, sometimes the thread looks like its in the needle eye but is hooking around the looper. If you still can't get any joy, then it is possible that the timing is just slightly out and this is affecting this stitch. You could try setting up for a normal three thread seam and see if this chains okay.

If you are getting a chain happening now, then adjust down the stitch length to make it denser so it is covering the fabric and check the underside, adjusting top and bottom looper tensions so the thread is enclosing the fabric end rolling to the underside and covering any little fibres.

I hope this is of some help - however, if it still isn't giving you a chain, it could be the timing is out in which case, unfortunately service time.

You can purchase complete sets of Allen wrenches in either SAE (U.S.) or Metric sizes at most hardware stores, home improvement stores, Radio Shack stores, etc. for relatively short money. If you can bring the screw with you or find out what size it is from inside your manual - you might be able to purchase only the particular wrench you need. If you can't find the size of the screw documented in your manual, you'll have to check both SAE and Metric sizes for the best fitting wrench .

Sewing machines often use very small fasteners and are precision devices through and through. Simply using a wrench that "fits" as opposed to the one that is the "correct size" will affect how many times you'll be able to loosen and tighten that screw. Using a wrench that "fits" will eventually wear out the screw head making it impossible to turn in or out, much quicker than using the correct size Allen wrench.

I hope this helps and good luck. Please rate my reply. Thank you.

change the needle & tension

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_U2xP3Rhemg

http://www.sewingmanuals.com/
you should be able to find something close

Hi,...if the lower looper thread is breaking before you sew six inches or more then I suspect a threading problem.When the lower looper thread breaks, You MUST unthread the needles before you thread the lower looper. Thread the looper and then rethread the needles.

Hope that helps,
Doug

I recommend that you use only the type an size needle specified by the manufacturer. If I had a model number I can help find one for you.

Zashiban

Sergers can be tricky to thread.

Remove the thread.

Raise the antenna to it's highest position.

Open the tensions - setting zero.

Lift the presser foot.

Open the door on the serger and turn the handwheel until the upper looper is at it's highest point.

There should be a threading guide on the front of the machine or on the inside of the door.

Follow the threading sequence as this greatly affects the stitching.

Size 14:

Organ 15x1SP.
Schmetz ELX705.
Singer 2022 .

Extra fine quality screw driver set is what you need. they come with a variety of small flat head and X heads...Make sure the driver is not too small for the head of the screw so you don't strip it out when unscrewing!

Hope this helped!

Go to their website at http://www.shop.simplicityhomecare.com and type in BLV-SERGE in the search box and click. They are $9.99 plus s&H. Hope this helps.

Go to their website at http://www.shop.simplicityhomecare.com and type in BLV-SERGE in the search box and click. They are 9.99 plus s&H. Hope this helps.