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Posted on Feb 11, 2012

With the blade installed in the bottom and top holders and no matter how tight you set the tension, the blade is still wobbly. What could be wrong?

5 Related Answers

Anonymous

  • 1 Answer
  • Posted on Feb 12, 2008

SOURCE: how do I adjust the bottom thread tension?

some machines have a nob on the front loose is low numbers like 0 1 -2 most machines work well on number 3. If the nob is not on the front check and see if it is on the side.

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Anonymous

  • 34 Answers
  • Posted on Jan 31, 2009

SOURCE: My Bernina 930's lower tension

Hi - you might have a dirty bobbin case, or need a new one. IAfter awhile, little teeny dust bunnies can collect in your bobbin case and cause your bobbin tension to go wonky, especially if you use cotton thread. If you happen to have an extra bobbin case, try using the new bobbin case to see if that solves the problem. Otherwise.....

  • Remove your bobbin case and take out the bobbin. Find a small, stiff brush like the one that came with your machine and stand in very good light. Brush out the inside of your bobbin case, and push one or two bristles of your brush into any opening you can see. If you see any trace of dust but you can't get it out, use tweezers to gently pull the dust out. Now look at the outside of your bobbin case. In the small opening where you insert your bobbin thread into the bobbin case, there is a small piece of metal with screws in it the lays over the bobbin case. Brush that area carefully, and again, insert one or two bristles under than piece of metal and into any other small opening where the bristles will fit. Try sewing again. If you are still getting loops, take out your bobbin case with the bobbin thread still inserted and grab the bobbin thread with two fingers. Let go of the bobbin case - sort of like you are holding a yo-yo. If the bobbin case starts to drop as soon as you let go, your bobbin tension is loose. If the the case doesn't move, gently snap the bobbin thread you are holding and see how far the bobbin case moves down toward the floor (you might need to try this a couple of times, the bobbin has a nasty habit of flying out). When you do the snap, the bobbin case should move down about two inches and stop. If do not know how to adjust the bobbin tension, either check your manual or take the machine in for service.
  • If you haven't already, it's a good idea to remove the thread plate that sits under the needle and clean that area out with your brush. Also, get a really good flashlight and check the area where you insert your bobbin case. Gently turn your fly wheel and look inside the hook area - remove any dust or bits of thread.
In general, you should oil your machine as indicated in your manual as often as directed. You should change your needle every 10 hours of sewing - or each time you start a new project, and you should take your machine in for service every one or two years - even if you only use it once and awhile.

Hope this helps, Ginny

Anonymous

  • 13 Answers
  • Posted on May 27, 2009

SOURCE: Zigzag stitch pulling tight, looks wrong

Try adusting the bobbin thread instead of the top. Always make sure to insert the bobbin so the thread is pulling in a clock wise direction. Both threads top and bobbin should have about the same resitance when pulled.

tflan

  • 26 Answers
  • Posted on Jul 13, 2009

SOURCE: bottom tension to tight

There's hardly any way to significantly adjust the bottom, or bobbin tension. There's just a small, flat spring attached to the side of the bobbin case, under which the thread runs. There's adjustment there. You need to adjust the top thread tension via the small thumbscrew that's against the plates on the top thread tension discs. Increase or decrease tension there until top and bottom threads are equally centered between layers of material.
You can adjust presser foot tension with the knurled nut at the top of the machine. I never had the kind of problem you mention though. I set my machine at about 6 stitches per inch or a little more (max is 5, recommended), and presser foot tension is only heavy enough to pull a single layer of material through.
Hope this helps.

mystery_soul

  • 48 Answers
  • Posted on Nov 11, 2011

SOURCE: tension problem

.There is a little screw attached to the bobbin carrusel. You can try to turn it just a little bit. The reason is that this carrusel gets loose after a while.

Clean and oil your machine at least monthly.

Hope something helps!

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Related Questions:

0helpful
2answers

I have a new Singer 4423 Heavy Duty Sewing Machine, set up carefully after watching videos and reading online materials. But: I have had to re-thread the needle eight times in the last hour.

You have to run less tension on the cotton. (tension should be about half way on the tension knob)
You also have to adjust the tension on the bobbin.
When you sew you can see the stitching, if the stitching is pulling the bottom thread up to the top decrease the thread tension.
If the top thread is pulling down to the bottom reduce the bobbin tension.
It is a matter of balance between the cotton tension and the bobbin tension.
Once you get this right you will not have to touch the bobbin tension again..

The bobbin is the thing that holds the little spool in the bottom of the machine, on that there is a spring thing that the thread goes behind (it has a screw in it that is where you adjust the tension).
confusing?

Hope it helps
Geoff
0helpful
2answers

My machine is nesting on the bottom. How to fix that?

The bobbin is not right or was not created tight enough to provide a secure feed. Or you just don't have the machine threaded properly. Make sure when you thread you get the thread through the holders correctly so the right amount of tension is applied while feeding the thread during sewing.
0helpful
1answer

When I use a zig zag stitch ESPECIALLY on stretchy fabric it pulls the fabric together. Also when I sew zig zag the bottom part of the stitch looks like little y's instead of a proper zig zag.

It sounds like maybe the bobbin tension is too tight. It is pulling the top thread down to the bottom of the fabric. If you tighten the top tension it causes the fabric to pucker. If you loosen the top tension, more of the top thread will show on the bottom. Correct tension is when the top and bobbin threads meet in the middle of the fabric.

Understanding Thread Tension on Your Sewing Machine
1helpful
2answers

I want know why my machines does not sew . The top stitching is ok but the bottom stitching is all messed up can you tell what I am doing wrong??

Completely remove the top thread from the machine
Install a brand new needle.
ALWAYS RAISE the presser foot and rethread the top from the beginning.
Set the top tension at the midway point and retest your machine.
0helpful
2answers

Brother XR 3240. Tension issues. Top thread is ok, the bottom thread is too tight. Per manual, I need to loosen the top tension, (dial to lower #) but I go all the way to 0 & still have same issue.

indications of a bobbin tension incorrect is the bottom thread lies flat under the bottom material
it seldom needs adjusting but if you have to the spring plate that you pull the thread under as you put the bobbin back in the holder is where you adjust it
there is a small screw that holds that plate on so the slightest movement of the screw makes a lot of difference of the thread tension
all thread tension problems relate to the needle thread tension and if you have it set to 0 then the thread will be bunching up under the material
you don't say what the issues are but pounds to peanuts , it will be the top tension that is the problem
It will be correct when you are threading the needle , you pull the thread out first before threading and there is a resistance to pulling the thread
0helpful
1answer

The needle is threaded top and bottom but when I run the machine to sew the thread isn't sewing on to the fabric..I'm not sure but I think the thread around the check spring holder is midway or rather not...

Recheck the threading on the top side. When you pull the thread at the needle is there tension on it? If there is no resistance than there's no tension. If it breaks it is either not threaded correctly or the tension is way too tight.

If that is correct and the the thread on the bottom has a little bit of tension when you pull on it, it should stitch --- However not stitching at all can be from having the wrong needle, wrong brand, type, or in incorrectly. Sometimes even the wrong size can prevent stitching, like when youre sewing through heavy/thick material and using too small a needle.

Check out those three things and then see if it won't sew correctly for you.
0helpful
1answer

My brother sewing machine is new and I've checked that it is threaded up correctly but the top tension is way too tight, no matter how I change it. Is there no way to change the bottom tension? It is an...

Yes. Open the bobbin and u will see a screw pressing down a metal sheet, which is actually a spring.
This is meant for adjusting the top tension. Loosen this screw by quarter or half a turn and see if it is giving the desired result. You may have to try a few settings before you arrive at the even top and bottom tensions when your thread tension adjustment scale is midway position.

Please note that you adjust the thread tension on the machine to adjust the bottom tension(not the top) .
Please let me know if this solved the problem.
1helpful
1answer

Singer 221-1 stitching is good on bottom but not on top

pucker is caused by too loose or, to tight adjustment of: the thread tensioners both the bobbin tensioner and, the needle tensioner need to be adjusted: to adjust the needle tensioner turn the side knob clockwise is tighter counterclockwise loosens; the bobbin tensioner is a tiny screw on the bobbin holder adjust both tensioners until your stich loops' both top and, bottom are tight but, the machine does not break the thread
3helpful
1answer

Bunching thread underneath

When your thread is bunching at the bottom, your top tension is not tight enough, or you did not thread the machine correctly. Make sure the thread goes through the tension blades. Check your manual how to do it properly. you can check if there is any tension by pulling on the thread before threading through the eye of the the needle, and with the presser foot down. By pulling with the left hand and adjusting the tension with the right hand you should be able to feel a difference. Normal setting is between 3 and 5
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