carolinequilts Posted February 12, 2011 Report Share Posted February 12, 2011 I'm trying to time my machine. I adjusted the hook collar and now the hook assembly is too close to the needle. I've loosened the 3 screws on the hook collar but cannot seem to rotate or push the hook assembly at all (like it says in the instructions). I'm afraid I have made a real mess. Anyone ever time their machine? Should the hook assembly just rotate easily after the screws are loose? Do I have to take the screws right out? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kloar Posted February 12, 2011 Report Share Posted February 12, 2011 Unfortunately, I had to retime my twice. (Don't ask- LOL) I have the instructions if you need them and can email them. You shouldn't have to take out the 3 screws. Did you loosen/remove the hook retaining finger? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ffq-lar Posted February 12, 2011 Report Share Posted February 12, 2011 You don't need to remove the screws completely. You may need to loosen the hook assembly on the spindle by using two large screwdrivers to get some leverage. Instructions on where to insert the ends of the screwdrivers are in the manual. You place them behind the assembly and twist the ends until the assembly is unstuck. Sometimes when the screws are tightened "man tight" at the factory, a gouge is dug into the spindle by each screw and it's hard to get the assembly to move. Once it is off the spindle, use a strip of sandpaper to sand down the gouges. Then sliding the assembly back on the spindle is easier. Good luck--you can do this! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carolinequilts Posted February 12, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 12, 2011 Thank you Linda - I'm going to try this now. I had to 'remove myself' from the studio for a bit and take a walk - or else I might have been picking up the machine and throwing it! I do have new instructions from Dawn and I have removed the hook finger. So I guess I just need some muscle. Yes - those screws were 'man tightened'. My man had to untighten them! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carolinequilts Posted February 12, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 12, 2011 So I tried walking the hook to the front but the whole shaft moved forward. Now the hook doesn't turn when I run the machine. I broke it didn't I? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carolinequilts Posted February 12, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 12, 2011 Hi - Help! How do I know if I've loosened the bushing from the shaft? I think my whole shaft is moving forward and back about 1" and I think I've broken the gears. Are then any dealers or maintenance people on the forum this afternoon? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farmland Quilter Posted February 12, 2011 Report Share Posted February 12, 2011 Oh, Caroline, I can't help you but I just wanted you to know someone out here heard your cry and can feel your pain. Get out of the room take a deep breath. Put your feet up. Have a cup of tea or cocoa preferably liberally laced with an "adult beverage". Then come back an check the forum in an hour or so and hopefully TA DAH the answer will be here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Myrna Ficken Posted February 12, 2011 Report Share Posted February 12, 2011 Caroline. I can't imagine that you broke the gears . Are you sure the shaft is moving in and out Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carolinequilts Posted February 12, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 12, 2011 Hi Myrna - yes the shaft is moving. When I turn on the machine the needle bar goes up and down, but the hook doesn't turn. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Myrna Ficken Posted February 12, 2011 Report Share Posted February 12, 2011 UGH That does not sound good and I just don't know what to tell you to do. You did this just by using the screwdrivers to coax the hook loose? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carolinequilts Posted February 12, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 12, 2011 I started with the screwdrivers at the top and I think it must have slipped and used the opening on the side to brace itselt and I felt the slip. I think this is when the shaft started to move. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carolinequilts Posted February 12, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 12, 2011 Ok, so I think (from reading though some posts) that I have disengaged the shaft from the gears. :mad: Does anyone know if this is something I can fix? If not, I'm bracing myself for the worst. I've checked Google maps - it is a 13 hour drive to Iowa!! And, I have already emailed my customers that there will be a delay with their quilts. So I'm depressed. So what. It will blow over and things will be back to normal before I know it. I've just poured myself a big glass of wine (even though it is still pretty early in the day) and plan on spending the rest of the day eating chocolate and watching my recorded soaps... Until this is cleared up, maybe I can even do some piecing - or bind my lovely DWR... Lot's of opportunity here! Maybe not so bad afterall.. Always look for the bright side! :cool: It's there somewhere, lurking in the shadows.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Busy Quilting Posted February 12, 2011 Report Share Posted February 12, 2011 Oh Caroline please bind "the Lovely DWR" so we can all share it with you. Timing ...no help here, but I am sure the wind helped. Lyn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beachside Quilter Posted February 12, 2011 Report Share Posted February 12, 2011 Caroline: I sent you a U2U! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RunningThreads Posted February 12, 2011 Report Share Posted February 12, 2011 Caroline; Try calling Carol Cunningham, our Ontario APQS dealer in Beamsville. We have found her to be very helpful even though we didn't buy our machine from her. Nigel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quilting Heidi Posted February 12, 2011 Report Share Posted February 12, 2011 Caroline, I'm sorry this happened. I sure hope somebody is able to help you out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carolinequilts Posted February 13, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 13, 2011 Thanks Heidi (and everyone else). Dawn called (on the way home, but ear phones on). She's so great to get back to me on a Saturday, but I suspect my phone call probably sounded rather urgent! She agrees that it sounds like I disengaged the gear shaft. Amy might be able to help me on Monday, but there is also a good chance I will have to send my machine in. Once I come to grips with that, it can't be a bad thing. I've been quilting a lot lately and neglecting other things, so maybe this is a sign to take a break and do something else. I can deal with that - I only feel back for my customers. I have 30 quilts in my backlog and they are the ones that this will affect the most. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SandraG Posted February 13, 2011 Report Share Posted February 13, 2011 Caroline, sent you a U2U. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barbm Posted February 13, 2011 Report Share Posted February 13, 2011 Caroline, I know exactly how you feel. Last fall I (stupidly) sucked a cleaning cloth into the hook assembly, causing a clicking noise in the gear box. Really thought I was going to have to ship my head to Iowa - it's a LOT longer than a 13-hour drive from here! I wound up opening up the gear box, scooping out all the grease, cleaning out all the remainder of the grease, then visually examing the gears. I was lucky - no damage, probably an air bubble from the sudden stop of the hook assembly. I really don't know whether re-positioning the gear shaft is something you can do yourself - you'll have to find that out from Amy - but if you need on-the-phone help, don't hesitate to call me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carolinequilts Posted February 13, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 13, 2011 Thanks Barb. Since my shaft is just sliding back and forth now and turning, I'm pretty sure something is disengaged on the inside. Maybe when I call Amy tomorrow we can try something like opening the gear box and it will be somethiing I can fix here. I'm keeping my fingers crossed. BTW - I finally go the hook assembly off, I sanded the shaft a bit, but still when I put it back on it gets stuck again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RunningThreads Posted February 13, 2011 Report Share Posted February 13, 2011 Caroline When you get your shaft back in place you can turn your machine on and hold a small piece of sandpaper against the shaft as it turns. That will knock off the high spot in a few seconds and then the hook will slide on easy. That's how I do it. Nigel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carolinequilts Posted February 13, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 13, 2011 Great advice Nigel - thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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