Troubleshooting Juki Sewing Machine Problems (Repair Guide)
Car owners saved a lot of money do their own repair work. You can follow their example on your sewing machine no matter what brand it is.
When your Juki sewing machine stops sewing you are not alone. You have help through a variety of sources including your owner’s manual. Simple repairs like lubrication and cleaning need to be done regularly and keep a schedule so you do not forget to do it.
To learn more about repairing your Juki sewing machine just continue to read our article. Repairmen are busy and they are expensive so doing some of the repair work yourself gets you sewing again a lot faster and without the expense.
Troubleshooting Juki Sewing Machines 101
Juki Machine Not Stitching
One of the problems that comes with this issue originates from the stitch slide plate. If it is in the straight stitch position then it will not allow you to do any other kind of stitch. Just slide the stitch plate to where t will allow you to do other stitches.
If you have cleaned the bobbin of jammed thread and your machine still won’t sew, remove the needle, bobbin and bobbin case and force the hand wheel to turn in its normal direction. You shouldn’t harm the hand wheel by doing this. Once it comes loose run your machine at full speed for about 30 seconds.
Another simple fix is to check the threading on your machine, check to see if the bobbin is inserted correctly and if the needle is inserted into the right position. Re-thread if it wasn’t, re-insert the bobbin till you hear a click and change the needle position.
Also, on older machines, the parts just may be wearing out and it is time to replace them with newer ones. Things age and like humans the older the parts get the harder it is for them to do any work.
Juki Sewing Machine Won't Turn On
To avoid being embarrassed by the repairman check two items first. Number one, see if you turned the power switch on. People get so engrossed in figuring out how to do their project that the simple things like turning the machine on slip their minds.
Along the same lines, number two, check to see if you have plugged your machine in. As you know the machine won’t work if there is no power. Now if both of those requirements are satisfied you may have an electrical problem. If it is a loose or frayed wire you can tighten those up or replace them.
Sometimes the power switch may turn on but it has gotten old or something has happened to it and it won’t connect correctly. Time to replace the power switch. Then check your foot pedal for loose or frayed wires Repair them as needed.
Other issues could be that your machine needs oiling, cleaning, the thread is jammed or threaded wrong, and so on. Check your needle to make sure it is inserted right. Just take the appropriate steps to solve those problems.
Bobbin Winder Not Working
This is a job for the sewing machine oil. If your bobbin winder is not working, and this instruction comes from a repair of the DDL 8500, then it may have got stuck due to a lack of regularly oiling the machine.
To test this possibility out, use your thumb and forefinger and grab the bobbin winder. Next, turn the device and if it does not move, then you need to oil it. If it does move and still does not wind the bobbin, it is a task for the qualified repairman.
We say qualified a lot in these articles for a couple of reasons. One is that your machine may still be under warranty and anyone else handling the repair voids that protection leaving you to pay a lot of expensive repair bills if they arise.
Two, qualified repairmen generally know what is wrong and what it takes to fix the problem quickly. They can get to the heart of the matter and have your machine running in no time.
Needle Threader Not Working
While it is a simple problem to fix, it comes with a variety of sources. Discerning which one is the actual culprit may take a little time. Unless you hit the problem in the first place you check.
The list is fairly long here and deals mostly with your needle. First, you may not have threaded the machine right, second, your needle is bent or the thread is too thick for the needle.
Fourth, your thread hook is dull or bent, the needle is not at its highest point, or you are using a dull, bent, broken, or incorrect needle. Finally, your needle is not inserted correctly or the spring to your needle threader is broken.
The simple fixes are re-thread your machine, replace the needle or thread to a thinner style, raise your needle up, replace the spring, or re-insert your needle. The fixes are easy to do. It is the search for the correct problem that will take up your time. Have a little patience and you should be able to discover the problem quickly.
Juki Machine Stuck in Reverse
First, if you are using a computerized Juki sewing machine, try turning it off for a couple of hours and let the machine reboot itself. If that doesn’t solve the problem you may have to take your computerized machine into the shop for a repair.
If you own a mechanical sewing machine, you can try the hairdryer trick to unstick some oil and let it make its way through the parts. Sewing machines usually have a reverse lever or a push button and both can get stuck due to no lubrication.
Then your feed dogs may be stuck and only work in reverse. Then the lever or push-button reverse function may have an internal break. The best thing about these problems is to go to your qualified repairman and let them handle it.
Sometimes a good cleaning will solve the problem. Make sure to keep an accurate record of your cleaning times so you know if this is the problem or not. Just pay special attention to the feed dog area.
How do I Fix the Timing On My Juki Sewing Machine?
First off, you should check all other easy to fix problems before you tackle the timing. Adjusting the timing takes a little skill, a little know-how, and a lot of patience. Second, if your sewing problem is not those other problems, do a timing test next.
To do this test you need to leave the needle threaded but remove the switch plate, plate covers, and the bobbin case. Now just slowly turn your hand wheel and check to see if the shuttle hook is smoothly grabbing the thread.
If it isn’t you need to adjust the timing. To do that takes a little work and your owner’s manual. If your sewing machine has timing marks then loosen the needle bar and slide it up or down depending on what your manual says.
If there are no timing marks, lower the needle all the way then raise it up 3/32 of an inch. Then move the needle itself till the eye is 3/32 below the shuttle hook. Next, you need to use the hand wheel to lower the needle bar to its lowest point.
Now you loosen the gears at the bottom of the machine and make adjustments until the hook and needle are 0.01-0.16, inches apart. Your owner’s manual should have the correct spacing for your specific model.
Now do another test to check the accuracy of the needle and shuttle hook. If all goes well, reassemble your sewing machine. Make sure to clean and oil those areas if they need it.
Juki Foot Pedal Not Working
The repair for this problem may depend a lot on the age of your foot pedal. If it is new and has a computer circuit board or chip in it, then take it to a qualified repairman. Don’t mess with the computer chips.
If your sewing machine is mechanical then your foot pedal may have a frayed wire, a short or even a loose wire. If you are not afraid of working with wires then replace or tighten them up but make sure to unplug your machine first.
Next, check the power cord to see if any damage has been done to that. If so, simply replace the cord with a new one. Another source for your foot pedal problem could be that the speed controller shorted out or was damaged in another way. It could have just worn out as well. Replace that part and you should be good to go.
The easiest way to fix this problem is just to replace the foot pedal. But they may be more expensive than you want to pay. It is your choice how you handle this problem.
Juki Sewing Machine Repair Manual
The best place to start is with Juki itself. They have a manual download web page that makes replacing your owner’s manual very simple. Just click on this link to get to that page.
There is a drop-down menu to help you find your specific model. If you do not see your model in any of the lists, contact Juki for help.
The next places to go are the ones we have recommended for all brands of sewing machines. The price may be about $10 or it may not cost you anything as the website displays the individual pages at the top.
Then there is the second place we recommend. Its manuals cost between $10 and $20 but at least you have one on hand. Again if you do not see your model number go to Juki and talk to them to see if they have it. Click here to get to that second location.
Finding Juki Spare Parts
It may be that your sewing machine is well used or older and the parts are starting to wear out. There is some good news as Juki makes over 100,000 spare parts available through its website.
To get to that part of their website hit this button. Then you can always check with your local sewing machine repair shop and see what parts they have available or your Juki sewing machine dealer.
If those places are not handling the part you want to check the classifieds, Craigslist, eBay, and other places where people list extra parts for sale. Because Juki is a top brand there should be no problem finding a spare part or two.
Unless you own a very old Juki sewing machine then you may have a little more trouble hunting down the part you need. You can always go to auction houses, antique dealers to see if they have vintage Juki’s lying around or up for bid.
Buying a non-working Juki sewing machine that is the same as yours is a good idea as then you may have lots of usable parts at your disposal.
Some Final Words
Fixing a Juki sewing machine on your own is like fixing other sewing machines. There are simple quick fixes to common sewing machine problems. The only thing you have to worry about is your warranty. Don’t do something to void it.
Then if you do not like working with your hands or doing lubrication or cleaning, take the machine to your qualified repairman. That is why they are there. They will gladly work on your machine if they have the time.
