Recently my wife’s brand new Cuttlebug V2 embosser lost an internal gear and quit working. After searching the internet, she discovered it is a known problem. The manufacture was awesome, they sent her a new one for free and let her keep the old one. We decided to repair it and keep it as a backup in case the newer one breaks after the warranty is expired.
As with most cases found searching the internet, a gear, washer and screw falls out the bottom. On ours the washer was missing. I went to the hardware store and got a basic #6 flat washer.
This repair is for the newer model Cuttlebug only. If you have the older version, this link might be of help. Also, this is posted as a reference to this repair only. I do not know any thing else about the CuttleBug or repairs, it is my wifes CuttleBug.
1.) take a small screwdriver and carefully pry off the lighter colored end panel, starting at the bottom. (Hint: unfold the handle and turn it to the side, it will steady the machine as you work)
2.) unscrew the 6 screws
3.) Gently lift the oblong/egg shaped side slightly and gently push to one side to expose the gears.
4.) Slip on the gear and washer that fell out and replace the screw. You’ll need an Allen wrench.
5.) Here’s the gear replaced with screw tightened.
6.) put back together in reverse of the above, 6 screws and careful snapping the side panel back on, start with the top (small end) and work your way down.
Wow, thank you so much. the wonders of the net. I took my cuttlebug (hardly used but 3 years’ old) back to the store of purchase. “No”, never heard of that problem they said. “Sure you weren’t overloading it?” they asked.
“We can’t help”. It’s out of warranty.
Many thanks, my 14 year old daughter fixed it for me using your amazing instructions.
You’re welcome, it was easier than it sounded in the tutorial I followed.
Thanks! Saved me a lot of agro and complaining from the wife! The C-ring had popper off the big gear. Easily fixed after your tutorial explained how to open the blinking thing!
You’re Welcome!
The problem is to much pressure, the paper in the embossing folders come out with tears. I tried anna griffin thin dies following her directions on can not get it to feed thru. Is there a way to loosen the pressure.
(Wife replies) There is no way to reduce the pressure. I find each folder is different, even ones that are Cuttlebug brand. I have 2 B plates and 1 C plate. If using the standard 2 Bs is too thick, Try using the base plate with a C plate and some shims. I have several shims that are the size of the plates cut from thin chipboard (or cereal boxes) So, you have the base, the folder, the C and then add as many (or few) shims as you need to make it emboss the way you like. I start with 2 shims and then test and see if I need more or not. Hope that helps.
Hi Richard, Thank you, thank you, thank you! I would surely recommend this page to all my Cuttlebug friends! I was so broken up when I thought my Bug was broken, and was happy that I came across your blog, like Rach, my twelve year old daughter was glad to open up my Bug and follow the instructions, as am not the fix-it type . A Million Thanks, you would be fixing a lot of broken hearts with this! Best of Luck to you.
Regards,
Susan S.B
You’re welcome
Hi Richard!
On the handle, the green knob broke off. I was thinking I can drill a hole through the back of the handle and screw on a knob to hold to, but I don’t know what the handle is made out of … Do you? Any ideas how best to accomplish this?
Thanks so much!
I have no idea. I’d have to tear apart my wife’s Cuttlebug to see what’s up and she’d get a little upset with me :-)..LOL
This gear broke while using it on Saturday That Is on the handle
My cuttle bug is not working as it will not push the paper through can you please let me know where I can take it to have it repaired
Many thanks
Beryl Dugga n uk
Don’t know. Try calling the cuttlebug people, my wife had good luck with them.
Hi my cuttlebug has stopped cutting in the middle of the plate is there a way to fix this problem
Cheers Carol
I have no clue. Call the Cuttlebug people, they helped my wife. 877-7CRICUT support@cricut.com
Thank you so much. Problem solved thanks to google and you Richard. Technology at its best. You saved me fuel as well as time, as I am sure they would have send my cuttlebug to be fixed and my production would have to stop. Thank you so much!!!!
You’re welcome
made my day, thank you!!
Richard, the blog for older cuttlebugs has been removed. Do you have this information? Please help me. 🙁
Melissa, My wife found this. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=wmyGnOZGLmg , I have updated my link above as well.
Hi Richard,
I can see that you help people with Cuttlebug problems, I have got the cuttlebug v2 with the new folding handle only the casting has broken and I need a new handle I live in the uk can you help me please.
Many thanks in advance
Debbie
Sorry, don’t have a clue
Thank you so much for posting this awesome video – or I would have never figured it out on my own. You made my day!
I am unable to turn the handle on my cb. It’s like the gears have locked up. I used the directions and opened it up. Nothing looks loose or missing. Any one know what I need to do next? I just cannot turn my cb. This is the THIRD cb that this has happened on.
Am I doing something wrong. I have heavy use on each machine. I teach two classes for retirement homes and make multiples of many cuts. Maybe I have just worn it out.
Any help is appreciated.
Sorry, have no clue.
Where can I buy a replacement gear from? Looking on the internet all I get is the embossing gear folder. I cannot seem to find an address/email/phone number for ProvoCraft.
Help please! x x
the gear is broken? or did the screw come out? My wife says go to Cricut.com, scroll down to ‘Contact Us’..
(Click Here)
HI Richard, big thankyou ,I broke my cuttlebug and my hubby said he would fix it when he got home from work if not too late, I needed to use it so I took a new one from my online store stuff .My hubby fixed the other one ,but the brand new one I have with me at my mum and dads looking after my dad ,so thought I would do some die cutting is not working, I looked at this repair you have done followed the pics and mine is missing I have a cog only I could not believe it as it is new !!! this would only happen to me LOL BIG THANKYOU !! I will have to buy these bits
Thanks so much. A big saving on time and trouble. Your instruction and pictures were a very good tool to fix this. Definitely book marking this.. Thanks again
Thank you very much. This was just what I needed. I had found the YouTube video, but my Cuttlebug was a newer model and I couldn’t figure out how to remove the side panel. I was especially afraid of breaking major plastic. Found your post and had the thing fixed in 15 minutes. Thank you, thank you.
My husband removed the cover from both ends. He observed that the bearings on both ends were not lubricated, thus causing the bearings to seize & bind up. He used liquid graphite & lubed the bearings. He also put a small amount of gear grease on all the gears. My Cuttlebug operates better now than when I first got it. He intends to perform preventative maintenance on it on a regular basis.
Hopefully others will see this comment of yours and it may help them, thanks!
Hi Richard, I have found your explanation on fixing the cuttlebug. Mine too went with a very loud bang! But,when I opened both ends of my cuttlebug (original one) there were no screws missing and all the gears are intact. The rollers are working as well. The problem seems to be the ‘pressing’ plates in the machine spread apart when reaching the middle of the plates being passed through the machine. The green pieces open up and then the end pops off only at the handle end. Any suggestions. Quite willing to have ago at fixing it myself, just need to know what to do next. I’m in N.Z
I have no idea, sorry. Call Cuttle Bug, my wife had good customer service.
Thank you! I have a newer model as well and somehow I had misread your instructions and had nearly every screw out before I figured out my mistake! Not a problem though, got it fixed and all back together. I was sure I would have to buy another…now I don’t!
Hi, I opened my Cuttlebug and out came a bunch of straight short metal pins I guess
you would call them. Help I don’t know where they belong. Any ideas? thanks in
advance. Charlotte
I’m sorry, I don’t know
Hi, THANK YOU SO MUCH! Your tutorial on how to fix this issue saved me having to buy a new cuttlebug, which I was thinking I HAD to do because I could not find my order receipt and I know I’ve had it over a year. I just wish I had found your tutorial an hour ago before I started to look for my order receipt. But that’s my fault for not thinking to google the issue in the first place.
Again thank you so much!!
PS:
Your first picture of the fallen gear, washer and screw were exactly what fell out of my Cuttlebug! I wondered where they had fallen from inside the machine, but I knew they for sure were from inside it somewhere!
Thanks for saving my Christmas crafting!
Thank you so much for this. I owe you a drink. My wife is happy again.
Thanks so much for taking the time to post this! We were able to fix it easily using your instructions and now I don’t have to go out and buy another!
I took the screw out of the handle to remove the handle and pack the Cuttlebug for moving. When I went to assemble it again recently I discovered the screw that attaches the handle to the machine was missing. I contacted the customer service and they told me they do not have any of those screws for me to buy, beg, borrow, or steal. Do you have any suggestion as to what kind of screw I should try to find to fit this?
toast .How can I find (purchase) a c- ring to fit the large gear? mine is gone.
Nancy and Bruce, I have no clue about those fixes, sorry
Not bad Richard, but I wish you’d include the Allen bolt that holds the handle, this would have saved me so much time and hassle as I tried to undo it like the other side but of course the handle was on the way and needed to be off. I thought the cover slipped over it…Now I know!
What I also know and so far I have not seen this reported, is that the bottom roller would not go around for the simple reason it’s sheered off its end where it becomes narrow to hold the gear!
Although well out of warranty my wife really only used it last year for a few X’mas cards for friends and a few other book marks… support@cricut.com were not very helpful and would not replace it – Not giving clues how to get spare parts or repair. Only some polite words!
Thank you for your help, just like you described I popped the gear on my Anna Griffin Cuttlebug. Your instructions have it back working Again Thank you
Thank you! Now I don’t have to buy a new one!
THANK YOU!
My Cuddlebug arrived with the bolt off so I was at a loss. You helped SO much!
The worst parts were holding the lid back (but a ruler and tape held it in place for me), and then getting the clip on. But I persevered!
Just think, if you hadn’t shared this there would be a lot of frustrated Cuddlebug owners.
Now I am not one of them.
Christine
Hello Rochard, my name is Carlos and I’m from Rosario Argentina.
I have a a camera KODAK 35, but don’t work perfectly. I was disarm it but I don’t know how disarm the lens.
I saw that you disarm the same camera, and I wold like to know if you can help me with this issue.
Please, let me know if you can.
Thanks and best regards.