How do I remove plastic cover on brother innovis v3 to see if thread tension discs are clogged. There doesn't appear to be a screw to undo.

Brother has the best service of any company I know and stand behind everything they make. They've always been great for any Brother devices I own, of any age. They're very much worth getting in touch with and may be able to solve this over the phone for you. They have a website and answer questions as quickly as possible. If the machine needs service, they can tell you where to get it done.

For tension issues, my first steps are always these.

Unthread the machine. Clean the bobbin area thoroughly, with a soft small brush or vacuum it out. Clean the tension discs too, with a soft clean paint brush or run the vacuum over this too, in case a shred of thread is stuck in the discs.

Check all thread guides for notches or nicks that might be interfering with the thread's passage.

Remove the bobbin you were using and replace with a new one, reseat bobbin in the case. Replace the needle with a new one. Replace the spool of thread with another one. Then rethread the machine very carefully and try again.

Try adjusting the tension from the highest to lowest setting to see if any setting will produce a balanced stitch.

Btw, I've found that cheap or 'bargain' thread can cause a host of problems, and is just not worth what little you save over the price of good thread. Just in case you've been using a bargain spool. Maybe use for hand stitching.

Sometimes, the bobbin tension might need adjusting. This is not common but can happen. Some specialty threads may not work with the standard bobbin tension.

Most bobbin cases have a screw, which typically controls the tension. Before you touch this screw, be sure to mark very clearly with a Sharpie or something, exactly where it is now so you can reset it. Or take a picture of it as it is now for reference later.

Move the screw only the tiniest bit at a time. Nothing like even a quarter turn.. just a hair's breadth at a time. Each time, rethread the bobbin and test stitch. If a few adjustments do not improve matters, then reset it to the original location.

If you lose track where the tension screw was, there's is a way to check for tension. A bobbin's tension is properly adjusted if you can do this - pull out a length of thread from the threaded bobbin case, then dangle the bobbin case by the thread. It should stay put. Jerk the thread, as you would if you were to play with a YO YO. Each jerk should move the bobbin a short distance along the thread. It it slides freely, too loose. If it barely moves, too tight. Try not to lose track of the screw's placement :-).

I keep a spare bobbin case for this reason. I can adjust it in case of problems and also for certain threads that don't work well with standard bobbin tension - decorative, topstitch, buttonhole thread, upholstery thread.

Tension devices can wear out and can break. Modern machines aren't generally made as well as those made fifty and more years ago. You may need a new tension device, and unless you are quite handy, that means professional repair, if none of these tips help. Best of luck.

The thread may not be lodging firmly in the tension mechanism. Make sure that the thread is firmly settled between the tension discs.
Also keep an eye on what is happening with the thread in the take-up lever (the arm that moves up and down with each stitch on the head of the machine) as the thread may be 'jumping' out thus causing the message.

I would double check your Threading. Make sure the thread coming from the spool is not getting caught on something. Try keeping the presser foot up, and then pull out some thread from the back of the needle, does it seem tight to pull? Now lower the presser foot, is it more difficult to pull out? It should be but not so much that it is bending the needle.
If it is to tight, there could thread caught in the tension discs. Remove the left side panel above the needle on the machine. Check to see if you can see any threads. IF not, lower the thread tension and see if that helps. Good luck

try a tension a 3 to 5 on the top tension
try changing to a needle or if it's a new needle make sure the flat side of the needle faces the back of the machine and pushed all the way up into the needle holder
make sure the needle & thread are correct for each other, if the needle is to thin or to heavy for the fabric it will not work

that is probably a glitch in the build, so a service repair would be necessary

you need to do a tension assembly check.

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(To do this test, adjust your tension setting to normal or medium or 5 orsomething in the middle. Raise the presser foot and pull the thread through thetension. It should pull easily!! Lower the presser foot and pull the thread. Itshould pull noticeably harder.)
If it doesn’t work this way then you probably have a pieceof thread or lint stuck inside the tension discs. To remove it, turn thetension to 0 zero and raise the presser foot.Using a small screwdriver, openthe space between the discs and spray with canned or compressed air. The stuffshould come out. Do the tension test again to make sure you got everything andthen try sewing again.
sewman7

I looked forever to find this darn green bobbin screw. Around the opening for your bobbin is a plastic cover. If you slide it forward it will pop right off. Once you remove this, the bobbin case will lift right out. On the front you will see your green screw for adjusting your bobbin tension.

I just posted this under another Brother machine...mine is a se 350 but, might be the same problem!! Hi....I also kept getting the check and rethread upper thread message, I'd sew about 15 stitches and it'd stop. Here's what I did. On the left of the machine, in the back there is a screw....loosen that screw, take cover off, then lift straigt up and out on the cover that has the 3 on it in your threading seqence. Next, I started inspecting and cleaning the thread route from top to bottom. Lo and behold....I get to the place where you come down the front of the machine and turn to go back up and I spot a little slice/cut in the plastic piece so, when I was threading the machine I guess I was pulling it to far to the left causing it to wear a little slice/cut in that piece....so, I finished cutting it off with a utility knife, used an emery board to smooth it down, put the covers back on and it works GREAT!!!! Who would've ever thought that it'd be so easy and save me a bunch of money!!! I sure hope this helps someone.

if you damp the end of the thread this seems to cure this

Jan
Leighton buzzard