the knit carrage is so stiff i cant push it along it tends to get stuck on return even stiffer with using 2 colours of wool using 4 ply cant find correct tention have oiled and removed all fluff havent got a clue spong bar ok carrage too hard to push.

kay, June 2009

on the carriage you will see 2 big buttons/screws. Undo them. This will release the sinker plate from the carriage. Now put it back on again. Believe it or not, just by taking the machine apart & putting it back together again often fixes problems.

Run the carriage up and down the bed with the needles out to make sure that it is running smoothly.

Make sure the weaving brushes & the rubber wheels are not in action.

Are you using 4 ply balls of wool or fine 4 ply coned yarn? There is a HUGE difference in how these yarns are knitted on a machine. Coned 4 ply yarn knits up at Tension 7 or 8. If it is balls of wool then the tension would be around 10 and could still be too thick.

As a beginner it is easier to learn using a fine 4 ply acrylic yarn rather than wool.

maybe find some tips here: www.scanthecat.com

Jo, July 2009

P.S. Check that the front carriage (where yarn goes)has not been bent out of shape. It is possible to pull this back into shape, but please be very careful.

Brenda, July 2009

If it's a second hand machine, try taking off the little brushes under the carriage, lots of fluff gets wedged under them and that stops the wheels from turning. It could be that you have put the carriage onto the machine incorrectly. Where have you oiled the machine, on the running rails on the machine and the runners under the carriage? Another maintenance job is to remove all the needles, bath them in surgical spirit mixed with a little drop of oil, clean and replace them. In addition, it could be that the sponge bar under the needles needs to be replaced - the sponge goes hard after a few years - you will need to remove this to take out the needles, so you can check it then.

Brenda, July 2009

Hi, It's a while since I used my knitting machine---- it's been in the loft for a while!!! However this may help. Take the wool out and remove the carriage. Turn the carriage upside down and make sure its thoroughly cleaned with surgical spirit and then oil it. Next pull all the needles out as far as they will come , make sure every single one of them is completly straight and all the latches work. Make sure there is no fluff along the needle beds. I used to put the vacuum cleaner over mine then poke all the fluff out! Then return the carriage to the needle bed being very careful to put it on correctly. Hope this helps. It should never be necessary to force the carriage.
Good luck!! I may get mine out again--- I feel quite nostalgic writing this!!!

Jane., July 2009