Kenmore Machine Won't Sew Hand Wheel Locked?

I have a Kenmore 385.11 sewing machine. I was filling a bobbin the other day and had the hand wheel turned in that position. Then when I was done I put the hand wheel back into the sewing position, but it locked. The hand wheel will not move and machine will not sew. What do I do now?

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Answer

poehere
Bronze Post Medal for All Time! 105 Posts

April 23, 20200 found this helpful

Normally this is caused by a jam in the bobbin area of the machine. You will need to take this apart and clean out this area. Remove the bobbin and the casing that it sits in. Check around and make sure there is nothing at all blocking the needle from moving up and down. When it is apart try turning the wheel of the machine and see if it moves. If you can't find anything there then you need to remove the case from the machine and check to see if there is an issue with the belt.

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Ana
Bronze Post Medal for All Time! 140 Posts

April 23, 20200 found this helpful

Most of the time this happen from debris like, Threads, fabric pieces, lint and dust. This can easily build up in and around your bobbin housing, making your machine jam up.

Clean out thorough , rethread correctly (this also can hinder the movement of your machine). Start a new!

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cybergrannie
Gold Feedback Medal for All Time! 949 Feedbacks

April 24, 20200 found this helpful

First - please - as a safety precaution - unplug your machine before trying any suggestions.
There are several things that could be causing this problem but most likely the biggest is the bobbin. It may be dirty but it never hurts to clean out the bobbin and the case - everything - around it. Did the bobbin fill correctly?

You can always plug in your machine after each 'repair' to see if anything changed.

Generally problems in the bobbin first try but then all the debris, lint, and crystallized lubricants should be removed. So, if you have not gave your machine a good cleaning lately (or ever?) now would be a good time to tackle this job.

There are quite a few videos to show you how to do this as well as several sites that offer very clear instructions. All of the instructions may not be for your specific model but most will still be along the correct lines.
I generally go to the Sears site for any problems with my Kenmore and if I cannot find what I need, I contact them and they have always been very helpful but if they service your machine it may be a big ticket charge (just so you know).
here are a couple of links to get you started. Please take your time and search the site for help. There is also a link to a free manual if you put in your correct model number. You can also find your local Sears Service Center (Google with your zip code) as they can sometimes help also and they can order any parts you may need in the future.

www.searspartsdirect.com/.../smac930011

www.searspartsdirect.com/.../kenmore-38511703700-mechanical-sewing...

There is a discussion about this problem on this site that has some very good suggestions for all around help as well.

www.shopyourway.com/.../1203942

Google always has videos on YouTube for problems like this.

www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-d&q=Kenmore...

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