Repair an Elna Air Electronic SU stuck in one stitch length

Here's how to repair an Elna Air Electronic SU that won't change the stitch length.
-Remove the top of the machine by loosing the 2 screws located on either side of the carry handle.
-Lift the top up and move it rearward to expose the pivot points for the carry handle. Slide off the 2 keepers located at each pivot point.
-Move the top of the machine with the carry handle, to the right about an inch to release the carry handle pivot pins, and then lift off the top and set it aside.
-Locate the pivoting components that control the stitch length function, over the right front and rear corners of the machine.
-Heat these areas with a hair blow dryer until they are very hot.
-Once hot, carefully start articulating them with your finger or the tip of a screwdriver, and at the same time, spray them with TriFlow spray lubricant.

[@louiezmum]

Absolutely clear and informative instructions. I have recently been given my elderly mum's elna SU and cleaned it up and checking it out.

[@austinado16]

Glad it was helpful! Thanks for watching. I hope everything goes will with your Mum's SU, and that it's back to working perfectly again!

[@carolinesmercantile4290]

Thank you so much! This was precisely my problem on a newly acquired Elna! This seems to be the fix that I needed! Now to let it cool down and make sure it all works properly!

[@austinado16]

You are so welcome! Thanks for watching!

[@carolinesmercantile4290]

It cooled down and then didn't work again...so, I did this method a 2nd time with a much longer blast of the hot hair dryer...and waalah! Works like a charm now! She's humming right along!@@austinado16

[@austinado16]

@@carolinesmercantile4290 Great job!! If you haven't already done so, purchase some high quality, synthetic, sewing machine oil, and lubricate all of the rotating and sliding parts in the machine.

[@vicarioustube]

Brilliant I am about a machine like that I hope it works!

[@oodles_of_noodles.]

Thanks for this video! I love this machine so much that I have a couple of them. I have just purchased one that had been sitting idle for a couple of years. It sounded pretty rough when I was switched it on and attempted to sew, but it loosened up and is now straight stitching beautifully. It will not however do a zigzag stitch. Is there anything you can recommend I do at home to avoid a service? I'm happy enough to get it serviced, I just live rurally and if I could do it myself that would be great!

[@dogman-on1oc]

same issue but suck in shortest length on a brother ls 1217. hopefully its as simple as this.

[@austinado16]

It's a common problem with all sewing machines, and not brand specific. When they don't get used, the oils that they are assembled with, just turn into varnish and glue them together internally. A good machine is built with very tight tolerances so that it sews very accurately, and also doesn't make a bunch of noise. So the really nice machines are more susceptible than something "cheap."

[@smiller8898]

Both of my sewing machines' stitch length are stuck at tiny straight stitches, but will adjust while in zipzag mode or decorative stitching. I tried adjusting them to do gathering stitches, but no luck. Just had a tune up & the timing repaired on my 1980 Sears Kenmore and my Dressmaker's tension had to be repaired. Had the timing repaired on both machines last year. I can't afford any more repairs at this time. After watching your video, I am now wondering if the temperature in the room that I sew in is too cool or chilly? Would that affect those gears on my machines?

[@keidlog]

Also, can I use sewing machine lubricant instead of triflow?

[@vicarioustube]

Hello I am subscribed and have given you the thumb up yesterday. May I please ask your input? I just got the exact same machine in a very good visual condition. It stitches nice and quite for straight stitches. But the zig zag to no avail will work. The needles does not move to the side. Is it the same thing to heat another part? Do you have a video for that? Thank you very much.

[@janinetalley]

Hello austinado 16. I have an Elna air electronic TSP. It only does some stitches. It doesn't do the red/orange zone lower row of patterns - herringbone stitch, overlock etc. Any suggestions on what I can do to sort it out?

[@patticrane]

Thank you for this very targeted instruction. Though I am un-mechanical, I followed your directions closely tonight and now I have a 40-year-old Elna that once again accepts cams and performs the stretch and specialty stitches that require cams. One question: Even after the hair dryer and shots of Tri-Flow, the steel-colored "cam follower" has not loosened as much as you show in the video. I hope that's not cause for worry. Appreciation for your help!

[@austinado16]

You are welcome! I'm glad it helped. Regarding your question; that area of the mechanicals is simply not completely freed up yet. The old oil dries into a varnish, which becomes gummy as you use the heat, and then softens and is flushed out by the solvents in the penetrant that is used. What you can do next, is to repeat the process, and use a penetrant called "Kroil" which you'll find at Ace or True Value Hardware stores, or places like NAPA auto parts. You could even try WD-40. WD-40 (water dispersing formula 40) is a poor lubricant, but it contains a lot of cleaning solvents. So once you have the metal parts hot, something like Kroil, WD-40, or PB Blaster will really wick in there, inside those tight tolerances, and flush/clean out that sticky varnish. Be patient with the process and you'll have a machine that's all free and loose inside, like the day it was built.

[@DanVillainFilms]

I doubt if you check this but my sewing machine needs to be repaired a lot and i'm trying to see if i can fix it myself. My zig zag size gets smaller and smaller and then I can't use that setting. My business NEEDS this function for our garments. Any idea why this is happening?

[@keidlog]

How do you remove the handle? The sliding keeper is not sliding?

[@emilbang667]

I have a Elna Jubilee which is pretty much the same as your machine. It works fine except for the stitch selector, as it does not change pattern when I turn it. Do you know how to fix this/which components to free up. I have a feeling that it's a similar issue to this.

[@austinado16]

If this were mine, I'd take the covers off of it, enough to be able to see the back side of that control, and then determine which components it actuated. With that understanding, I'd come up with a plan to free those parts up, so that they could move again.

[@emilbang667]

@@austinado16 I think that's a good plan, thank you!

[@nuzhatyasmeen5271]

I have the same machine that would not sew. The motor works well but somehow the needle will not move up down. Bobbin winder works. There is something out of place. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

[@austinado16]

It is probably glued together inside, unless the belt has broken. Your best option is to take it to an expert, who's familiar with Elna machines.

[@ruthkaldor5508]

I’m looking for some help with this machine. I just took my clutch off and now can’t get the machine to work? The hand wheel turns but when I tighten the clutch it doesn’t?

[@austinado16]

Hi Ruth. Unfortunately, there's no way to accurately diagnose your issue via the keyboard. My suggestion would be to take it to a qualified service center. It's probably a very inexpensive issue to solve. Thanks for watching, and best of luck to you!

[@anitasmith7375]

Good video. However I tried this and my Elna is still stuck in about 12 stitches per inch. I love my Elna, but cannot correct stitch length to longer stitches. Can anyone help me? I bought this one new in 1984.

[@austinado16]

They simply won't stitch correctly in any direction until they are 100% freed up inside.

[@maddirogers3893]

Where do I apply sewing machine oil please?

[@austinado16]

Inside the top of the machine, to anything you see that pivots or rotates. Use only a small amount of oil at each location or the machine will drip oil onto what you are sewing.

[@maddirogers3893]

Thankyou for that, muchly appreciated