Why is my tufting machine squealing, beeping or making unusual sounds?

October 03, 2026

Unusual sounds are almost always early warning signs, and most can be fixed quickly. The most common cause is lack of lubrication. Deal with any new sound promptly, because left alone it usually comes before a more serious mechanical failure.

Oiling: The First Fix for Most Sounds

Tufting machines need regular oiling to work properly. Use sewing machine oil (the best option), 3-in-1 multipurpose oil, or another lubricating oil. Oil your machine at least monthly, and ideally before each use.

For a full oiling service, apply 2–3 drops to the metal bars around each white square bearing, and oil all bearings and moving parts. Run the machine by hand before powering it on. Learn how and where to oil your machine in our machine maintenance guide and Machine Oiling & Maintenance.

High-Pitched Squealing

Work through these steps in order:

1. Oil the machine. Bearings running dry are the most common cause, and oiling fixes most squealing.
2. Check for a yarn jam. Look for yarn caught in the white gear (AK-I and AK-II) or pink gear (Duo), or in the square bearings that control the tufting action. Turn the power OFF and carefully remove the yarn by hand. Re-oil, then test by hand before powering on. If the yarn or the square bearings stay stuck, email support@tufttheworld.com for troubleshooting help or to send your machine in for repair.
3. Check for an electrical problem. If there's no yarn jam and oiling didn't help, the problem is most likely electrical or an internal mechanical issue. Email support@tufttheworld.com for troubleshooting help or to send your machine in for repair.

Other Sounds

Grinding or crunching

Likely causes: debris in the mechanism, gear misalignment, or dry bearings.

Fix: Oil the machine and inspect it for debris. If the grinding continues after oiling, send the machine in.

Rattling from the covers

Likely cause: the nuts holding the white plastic covers have loosened.

Fix: Tighten the 4 nuts that secure the white plastic covers.

Clicking while running

Likely cause: some machines click normally. Otherwise, the needle or gear alignment may be slightly off.

Fix: Oil the machine. If the clicking is new or loud, inspect the needle and gear alignment.

Machine louder than normal

Likely cause: the machine is running dry and needs lubrication.

Fix: Give it a full oiling service, as described above.

Machine Beeping

A beeping machine usually can't move freely because something is blocking it. Common causes are yarn caught in the mechanism or a bent piece of metal.

1. Turn the machine OFF and unplug it.
2. Rotate the mechanism a full 360 degrees by hand and watch where it gets stuck.
3. Clear any stuck yarn and look for bent parts.
4. Check the scissor opener and closer. If they are set incorrectly, the machine can bind up and beep.
5. Oil the machine before you use it again.

Sound Changed After Dropping Your Machine

Your machine may have been dropped or knocked off the frame. If it now sounds rougher or lower than its normal high-pitched hum, something inside has most likely been bumped out of position, even if it still tufts. This is usually an easy adjustment, but it's hard to diagnose from a video alone.

We recommend sending the machine in so we can check and realign it. See Sending Your Machine In for Repair for packing and shipping steps.

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