How to Fix the Slipping of the Hand Wheel on a Riccar Sewing Machine

Remove excess thread and lint from your Riccar sewing machine with tweezers.

A loose belt or a rotated washer can cause the hand wheel on a Riccar sewing machine to slip. The belt connects the hand wheel to the motor and needs to have the correct amount of tension. A belt that is too loose will slip, but a belt that is too tight can break. You can adjust the belt on your Riccar sewing machine to prevent your hand wheel from slipping without replacing the belt. Proper maintenance of your sewing machine will prevent problems like a slipping hand wheel.

Things You'll Need

• Phillips-head screwdriver
• Nylon brush
• Spray duster
• Tweezers
• Sewing machine oil

Instructions

1. Remove the hand wheel. Use a Phillips-head screwdriver to loosen the screw that is in the locknut by turning it to the left. The locknut is the knob that is in the center of the hand wheel. Gently pull the hand wheel to remove it from the machine.

2. Wipe the internal gears and inside of the hand wheel with a nylon brush to remove dust and lint. Spray the gears with a pressurized can of spray duster. If there are any pieces of thread or lint stuck within the assembly, remove them with tweezers. Cleaning your sewing machine regularly will prevent problems like a slipping hand wheel.

3. Rotate the washer inside the hand wheel assembly. The clutch can cause the hand wheel to slip. Using the tweezers, rotate the washer in the hand wheel half a turn, or 90 degrees. Slide the hand wheel back on the machine and tighten the screw in the locknut by turning it to the right. Rotate the hand wheel to check if turning the washer has fixed it. If not, you need to tighten the belt.

4. Loosen the two screws on top of the arm cover by turning them to the left. Remove the plastic arm cover. Wipe the internal assembly with a nylon brush, spray it with canned duster and remove any thread or lint with tweezers.

5. Rotate the hand wheel slowly and look for the moving belt. You will see it running from the hand wheel to the motor. Gently push the motor slightly to the left to shift its position. This will tighten the belt and prevent it from slipping.

6. Add a drop of oil to each gear inside the sewing machine. Slowly turn the hand wheel to make sure you have lubricated all the moving parts.

7. Place the plastic arm cover back on the machine. Tighten the two screws on top by turning them to right.

Tips & Warnings

• Do not force any parts on your Riccar sewing machine. Broken parts can lead to costly repairs.

References

• Riccar: Model 888 Instruction Manual
• Riccar: Sewing Machine Instruction Book: Model 950
• New Mexico State University: Sewing Machine Maintenance