Bobbin holder pops out all the time.

have you applied any lubricant to the bobbin holder the one that holds the bobbin? I would suggest using your manual and lube your machine. sounds to me like your mechanism is sticking.

are you sure you've moved the bobbin winding mechanism back to the right spot? if its still pushed over against the bobbin spool holder it may be stopping the normal functions from working. If that isn't the problem then it may be something for the tech at the Elna dealers.

I had a timing problem, I believe, and fixed it. But its not yet perfect.....What happened was the top thread was not being caught by the bobbin holder. So when I "sewed", there were no stitches. When I watched the bobbin through the window, the bobbin didnt turn, and thread didnt whiz around the bobbin holder as it should with each stitch. I even made a video to see if there was a timing problem...the needle went down well before the bobbin holder "thread catcher hook" arrived to catch the loop. So I took off the plate underneath the bobbin holder, and adjusted the timing. When you do that you will see a cogwheel that rotates as the bobbin holder rotates. Three alan wrench screws hold it tight to the axle that rotates with the handwheel/footplate. I loosened the alan wrench screws, and then did the following. Hold the needle holder so it doesnt move, and at the same time turn the hand wheel a little. This adjusts the timing of the needle relative to the bobbin turning. then plug the machine in, and see if the bobbin wheel is now catching the thread. Keep adjusting until it does. Then tighten things back up, and VOILA! Im not sure this is the best way to adjust the timing, but it works. My machine went from no stitches at all, to sewing nicely. Its not yet perfect, as it jams every now and then. But that may be because the timing is still a little off, or because the thread is bad, or the tension of the thread is not quite right......working on that still.......

Is your top thread tension on 1? this sounds way too loose, should be 4 or 5.
This is a horizontal top loading bobbin machine isn't it like the Janomes?

Do you have a manual for it? It sounds to me like the top thread is too loose and as it is pulled down and around the rotary hook there is no tension on it to pull it back up through the fabric and form a stitch which is then causing it to jam. Then once youve gots bits of thread in there, its just jamming and jamming. Cleaning out the bobbin holder as you described is good, you may need to do it again and ensure all bits of thread are out of it.

I think you need to revist all the threading up and ensure that the top thread is under tension, try number 5. Also check that bobbin is correctly wound nice and smoothly, then loaded into the bobbin holder correctly so that the thread is coming off the bobbin spool in the right direction, ie thread needs to come off the bobbin, then reverse direction in a "v" shape, usually in the direction of the back of the free arm. And that the thread has been clicked into the tension spring fully, put the thread into the slot of the tension device and press down on it with your finger tip until you hear it click into tension.

Also double check the take up lever, if the thread has slipped out of this, it will jam up for sure.

If you don't have any manual for this then try www.sewusa.com, there is good troubleshooting tips and threading diagrams for lots of makes and models.

Hope this helps you, persever, its most likely threading/tension issues and can be overcome with the right settings.

If you can hear a click then I'd say the needle is touching some part of the hook mechanics which could mean timing is out. However, it is possible that the bobbin case has just moved a little so as first trouble shooting steps, I'd suggest the following:

clean out the bobbin holder area as per manual (ie. remove the needle plate, bobbin, sewing foot and needle, take out the bobbin holder, clean the race area out, then put bobbin holder back in as per your manual, there is usually a stopper and knob or two red marks to line up. This is held by a magnet so it is possible to knock it out of place during a jam up.


Replace needle plate, bobbin, sewing foot and put in a new sharp needle, flat shank to the back and make sure it is fully up into the holder, thread up and very slowly using the needle up and down button, test sew a couple of stitches again.

If no stitch formation or you can definitely hear/see something touching then I'd say timing is out and no, its not something fixed yourself; best left to a trained technician.

Are you having thread jamming problems before you get this message?

I found that my bobbin holder which is held by magnets was being dislodged when I had a thread jam up, usually when I was trying to sew something very thick over a seam such as jeans hems.

Have you mastered removing the needle plate and the bobbin holder to clean in under it and putting this all back together again? With my 6500P, the needle had been striking the bobbin holder when it dislodged and rotated out of postion, the bobbin case had holes and damage to the plastic which was then catching the thread as the bobbin rotated making the jams happen.

Each time, I would dismantle the bobbin holder, clean everything, cut the jammed up threads, check the bobbin case and give the damaged bit a file with a nail file to make it smooth again, then put it back matching the red markings on the bobbin holder and the stopper, rethread and start over. I have bought two new bobbin cases too and taken it back to the dealer a couple of times over 5 years.

I've now learnt to not try to stitch over the thick seam intersections, I'll stop before, lift the pressure foot, move the work past the seam, then restart sewing. However, my machine was just serviced last week and it looks to me like the mechanic has added a part to hold the bobbin case in better, its like a little black lug on the left screwed into the outer housing. So perhaps Janome have addressed this issue with an aftermarket repair.

Apologies if this is telling stuff you already knew, good luck.

Many causes for this problem. Most common are;

1. Top thread not inserted correctly.(must keep thread tight.)
2. Debris and loose thread around the bobbin cage. All it takes is a tiny piece of thread in the right place.
3. Bobbin inserted backwards in the "bobbin holder". When installed correctly, There is some resistance when you pull on the thread, but the bobbin will spin without trying to pop out of the "bobbin holder".

Hello,
Here are a couple of things to try.

* Un-thread your machine and remove your bobbin. Clean any loose thread or lint out of your
bobbin case. Re-thread your machine, reinsert and re-thread your bobbin.

* Change your bobbin
There could be a nick along the edge of your bobbin spool that’s catching your thread as you
sew.

* When you start to sew a seam, grasp the upper and bobbin thread tails. Hold them back
and out of the way as you sew your first couple of stitches. This will keep them from getting
caught in your machine.

I hope this helps.

There is no solution for that problem. My machine was doing the same thing, I returned it for "repair". Got it back 2 wks later and had the same problem. Just the other day, the machine did that, and then something "popped" and now the upper thread won't catch the bobbin thread. I called Customer Service and was told that if I want my machine repaired, I have to send them a check with the machine for $81! Your best bet...get rid of the Intelli-Sew and buy something that doesn't break every month or so!

I know this is probably not the answer but: are you sure the thread is coming off of the bobbin on the left side (bobbin in machine correctly), and when I first got my machine I tied to use the bobbins that I had on hand that fit my Singer machine. I had tons of problems with the "odd" bobbins that did not fit correctly into my machine. There is a VERY small size difference, but it does make a difference.

joanne