Brother XR-65t: stitch length dial is jammed

My wife and I bought a Brother XR-65t from Wal-Mart last night. Setup
was pretty easy but after a minute of sewing, we went to change the
stitch length dial and it would not move from the "SS" position. The
user's manual does not provide any help in this matter.

The odd thing about this is when the "reverse sewing lever" is held
down, the stitch length dial will only move a little bit, but never to
the numbers.

What are we doing wrong?

Now I am a complete newbie to this stuff and don't have a Brother,
however, I did find that on my new Singer 2662, I need to have the
needle all the way up to make stitch lenght and width adjustments.
You may also have to make sure you are on a stitch setting that
doesn't require SS (Super Stretch?).

O.B. wrote:

My wife and I bought a Brother XR-65t from Wal-Mart last night. Setup
was pretty easy but after a minute of sewing, we went to change the
stitch length dial and it would not move from the "SS" position. The
user's manual does not provide any help in this matter.

The odd thing about this is when the "reverse sewing lever" is held
down, the stitch length dial will only move a little bit, but never to
the numbers.

What are we doing wrong?

FtForger wrote:

O.B. wrote:

My wife and I bought a Brother XR-65t from Wal-Mart last night. Setup
was pretty easy but after a minute of sewing, we went to change the
stitch length dial and it would not move from the "SS" position. The
user's manual does not provide any help in this matter.

The odd thing about this is when the "reverse sewing lever" is held
down, the stitch length dial will only move a little bit, but never to
the numbers.

What are we doing wrong?

Now I am a complete newbie to this stuff and don't have a Brother,
however, I did find that on my new Singer 2662, I need to have the
needle all the way up to make stitch lenght and width adjustments.
You may also have to make sure you are on a stitch setting that
doesn't require SS (Super Stretch?).

The needle is all the way up when we make adjustments. The width
adjustment works fine. But the length adjustment just doesn't move.
I'm beginning to think we bought a defunct unit and will be returning it
tomorrow for a replacement.

O.B. wrote:

My wife and I bought a Brother XR-65t from Wal-Mart last night. Setup
was pretty easy but after a minute of sewing, we went to change the
stitch length dial and it would not move from the "SS" position. The
user's manual does not provide any help in this matter.

The odd thing about this is when the "reverse sewing lever" is held
down, the stitch length dial will only move a little bit, but never to
the numbers.

What are we doing wrong?

You bought a cheap piece of junk from Walmart, that's what you did wrong.

I don't know how much you paid for it, but dollars to doughnuts you can
go to a sewing machine dealer and get a reconditioned machine for not
much more than you paid, and it will sew rings around the cheap machine
you got from Walmart.
--
I know God will not give me anything I can't handle.
I just wish that He didn't trust me so much. - Mother Teresa

Melinda Meahan - remove TRASH to reply wrote:
O.B. wrote:

My wife and I bought a Brother XR-65t from Wal-Mart last night.
Setup was pretty easy but after a minute of sewing, we went to
change the stitch length dial and it would not move from the "SS"
position. The user's manual does not provide any help in this
matter.

The odd thing about this is when the "reverse sewing lever" is held
down, the stitch length dial will only move a little bit, but never
to the numbers.

What are we doing wrong?

You bought a cheap piece of junk from Walmart, that's what you did
wrong.

I don't know how much you paid for it, but dollars to doughnuts you
can go to a sewing machine dealer and get a reconditioned machine for
not much more than you paid, and it will sew rings around the cheap
machine you got from Walmart.

what she said.
this may be helpful also:

--
What Machine Should I Buy FAQ:
www.cet.com/~pennys/faq/smfaq.htm

Melinda Meahan - remove TRASH to reply wrote:

O.B. wrote:

My wife and I bought a Brother XR-65t from Wal-Mart last night. Setup
was pretty easy but after a minute of sewing, we went to change the
stitch length dial and it would not move from the "SS" position. The
user's manual does not provide any help in this matter.

The odd thing about this is when the "reverse sewing lever" is held
down, the stitch length dial will only move a little bit, but never to
the numbers.

What are we doing wrong?


You bought a cheap piece of junk from Walmart, that's what you did wrong.

I don't know how much you paid for it, but dollars to doughnuts you can
go to a sewing machine dealer and get a reconditioned machine for not
much more than you paid, and it will sew rings around the cheap machine
you got from Walmart.

We paid $160 and since Wal-Mart will take anything back, I'm fine with
looking elsewhere for a sewing machine. Seeing that Brother is a brand
to avoid, is Kenmore in the same boat? What brands would you recommend
that we can get for $200?

Check with your local dealers about used and reconditioned machines. They'll
be able to help you, plus you have a local place to go for service

--
it's easier to run away with your kilt up than with your pants down.
Mike in Wisconsin
"O.B." wrote in message
.. .
Melinda Meahan - remove TRASH to reply wrote:

O.B. wrote:

My wife and I bought a Brother XR-65t from Wal-Mart last night. Setup
was pretty easy but after a minute of sewing, we went to change the
stitch length dial and it would not move from the "SS" position. The
user's manual does not provide any help in this matter.

The odd thing about this is when the "reverse sewing lever" is held
down, the stitch length dial will only move a little bit, but never to
the numbers.

What are we doing wrong?


You bought a cheap piece of junk from Walmart, that's what you did
wrong.

I don't know how much you paid for it, but dollars to doughnuts you can
go to a sewing machine dealer and get a reconditioned machine for not
much more than you paid, and it will sew rings around the cheap machine
you got from Walmart.

We paid $160 and since Wal-Mart will take anything back, I'm fine with
looking elsewhere for a sewing machine. Seeing that Brother is a brand
to avoid, is Kenmore in the same boat? What brands would you recommend
that we can get for $200?

O.B. wrote:

We paid $160 and since Wal-Mart will take anything back, I'm fine with
looking elsewhere for a sewing machine. Seeing that Brother is a brand
to avoid, is Kenmore in the same boat? What brands would you recommend
that we can get for $200?

Brother is not a brand to avoid altogether. The mid to high range
Brother machines are good quality. And Kenmore is in the same boat as
Brother.

But any machine that you buy new for $200 is going to be a cheap piece
of junk. The technology on low-end sewing machines has not advanced (as
opposed to the technology on computers) and therefore is subject to
inflation. 20 years ago I bought a nice, basic sewing machine for about
$100. That translates to about $400-500 for a similar good-quality
basic machine today, I would guess.

Since that is above your budget, your money is best spent combing thrift
stores, garage sales, your local classifieds, and independent sewing
machine dealers (not fabric stores with a little sewing machine
department in them and not department stores that sell a few sewing
machines along with everything else they sell) for an older, 50s, 60s,
or early 70s vintage machine. I bought such a machine a few years ago
-- an early 80s New Home machine with 30 stitches and a full set of
attachments for $129. The advantage of buying from a sewing machine
dealer is that you get support after your purchase and usually a
warranty. The advantage of buying from a private party or thrift store
is that the price is low -- I have gotten several nice machines and
never paid more than $50 for sure and usually not more than $20, and
that extra money will buy lessons at your local sewing machine dealer or
adult education department.

Beyond that, all I can say is to go read Penny's FAQ that she posted the
link to.

--
I know God will not give me anything I can't handle.
I just wish that He didn't trust me so much. - Mother Teresa

On Sun, 11 Apr 2004 22:07:32 -0500, O.B. wrote:

The needle is all the way up when we make adjustments. The width
adjustment works fine. But the length adjustment just doesn't move.
I'm beginning to think we bought a defunct unit and will be returning it
tomorrow for a replacement.
I'd be returning it for a refund and looking elsewhere for a good (older
model) second hand machine. You and your wife will get much more reliable
and enjoyable hours work out of a Bernina, Older Singer or any number of
older machines suggested by the ladies and gents on this n/g...

Mavis

On Mon, 12 Apr 2004 04:13:43 UTC, "O.B."
wrote:

We paid $160 and since Wal-Mart will take anything back, I'm fine with
looking elsewhere for a sewing machine. Seeing that Brother is a brand
to avoid, is Kenmore in the same boat?

Brother is only a brand to avoid re their low end machines. They make
good high end machines, but of course those cost quite a bit more
money.

Kenmore is not a brand but a name Sears slaps on appliances it buys
from many different manufacturers. Some of them are good, some not so
good.

What brands would you recommend
that we can get for $200?

You really can't go by brand, since most manufacturers make both high
and low end machines. If you've only $200 to spend, buy an older used
machine from a reputable dealer.

--