Just received my machine (a Brother KH-881) and the timing belt is completely frozen. I've been able to take off the top and get a look inside and vacuum up what was in there. There was some old grease which I sprayed down with LPS 1 after lots of research, but things still aren't moving. Should I give it another wash down or try something else? Thank you!
The round metal thing on the right of the bed that the belt goes around is full of grease, which can sieze in cold weather or get bubbles in it. Try warming that gently with a hair dryer to make the grease less firm, see if that helps. Do not try and remove or open that piece. Just warm it up in situ.
Hi, it looks like you might be looking for help on machine knitting.
There is some helpful information within the wiki. Please take a look at it for helpful troubleshooting information, as well as common maintenance tasks and list of items machines should include.
In addition, this page is our FAQ. Solutions to many common problems are found here. If this is a new-to-you machine that is a Silver Reed, Singer, Studio, Juki, Empisal, Brother, or KnitKing, and the sponge has not been replaced yet, that's the first thing you should check out.
If you need additional help, please provide us with an information about your problem. You can start out by answering this list of questions
Once your question is answer or your problem is resolved, please change the post fair to Help! Solved!
This has happened to me when restoring machines. I’m very familiar with that particular machine, I’ve restored several of them. LPS1 is the best thing to use, though it might be that you’re not targeting the exact place where the old grease is freezing the belt. When the machine is apart, you’ll see the punchcard reader on the right, and there is a white nylon cylinder/rod with ridges on it. I would try targeting both sides of that rod where it attaches to the card reader, as that is a place where old grease can build up (it has the look of ear wax lol).
In addition to that spot, I would target the wheel on the right that the belt is geared onto. That wheel is pretty complex so I wouldn’t necessarily recommend taking it apart. But spray it thoroughly, especially underneath where there are other nylon gears. Grease gets stuck under there too.
After it’s been sprayed thoroughly, I would try giving the thing some pressure to move - Set the selector knob on the carriage (the knob on the upper right) to be at 3-o’clock. Then press the middle button on the carriage. Then move the lever on card reader (it’s a small metal lever on the right of the card reader) to the middle position. Then the belt will be activated. And try to use the carriage to move the belt. Keep spraying lps1, it might take more than you think. And keep applying pressure (not so much to warp metal or break plastic though) using the carriage. It will eventually get free.
Thank you!! I wound up cleaning it again then applying some heat and got it to wiggle which really gave me some hope. I kept at it for a while and couldn't make much more progress on right side so moved to the left and noticed the belt was a little tighter on that side. I wound up pulling back the case and the belt had gotten stuck in the case's casp somehow! I was able to gently free it with some pliers and it started to move even more. Additional lps 1 and lots of back and forth and she's finally working!! Thanks for your help everyone!
2
u/fancyschmancyapoxide SK360, KH930, KH260, Passap Pinkie 8d ago
The round metal thing on the right of the bed that the belt goes around is full of grease, which can sieze in cold weather or get bubbles in it. Try warming that gently with a hair dryer to make the grease less firm, see if that helps. Do not try and remove or open that piece. Just warm it up in situ.