I have: Cleared the tangled bobbin thread Retreaded spool and bobbin thread Turned machine off Pulled top thread with pressed foot up and then down Removed plate and bobbin casing to ensure no other thread Please help!
Try these suggestions
try changing the needle
make sure the bobbin is turned the right way in the bobbin case
if these suggestions don't help then the machine needs to be checked
SOURCE: bobbin thread
that all is clean and free of lint and jams, this is the most likely cause....now for tension troubleshooting .......
This solution is for tension problems...if you cannot form any sort of stitch, the issue is quite different, so please let me know if you need a different problem solved.....
It is quite long, but just work through each section in order.
The "knotting up" can reveal a lot. If you have loose threads on one side or the other, the tension on the opposite side will be the culprit.
QUICK SUMMARY FIRST:
Ensure sharp new needle,
Thread guides and Bobbin are Clean & Clear of lint
Set Top Tesion to 4 ....then....
Balance Bobbin to suit.
TOP THREAD TENSION:
If the looping threads are on the underside as you sew, it is the top tension. Top tension ought to be between 4 & 6 (this variation to allow for the different weights of fabric in your
projects).
IS YOUR NEEDLE SHARP ?
If you are using a needle that has seen quite a deal of work, or you suspect it may be blunt, change it for a new one !
TOP TENSION & GUIDES:
Make sure that when you thread the machine the presser foot is up so the thread goes between the discs and not to one side, top tension between 4 and 6, and that you have threaded through all the guides, including the last one, usually on the needle arm, just above the needle clamp.
It may be there is lint trapped between the discs, this will keep them slightly apart and reduce the actual tension, sometimes dramatically.
If tensions appear correct, and the thread is definitely in the channel between the discs, but still too loose and looping, try raising presser foot and remove your thread.
Now, with a 2" (50mm) wide strip piece of fabric 8 - 10" (20 - 25cm) moistened with methylated or denatured spirit, gently insert the fabric strip and clean between the discs with
a see saw / to and fro action.
In the worst cases, gentle use of a needle to pick & remove the jam may be necessary, but be very gentle and make sure the tension is set at Zero and the presser foot is raised, (to
disengage tension plates).... do not gouge or score the plates, they need a polished surface to work correctly.
BOBBIN TENSION:
Far less common, but if the loose threads are on the top, it is bobbin tension that is loose, it too may have lint in the spring and be giving a "false" tension.
I would not recommend fiddling with bobbin tension without good reason, it may end up with missing small screws and spring pieces, however, you can take the needle plate off to clean
the hook race area (where bobbin case sits)
...this is just good housekeeping, my wife does this every time she replaces the bobbin....
just take it out and clean the bobbin case and the fixed metal hook race with a small brush to remove lint. If there is a significant amount of lint, use a vacuum and small brush to get the worst.
Then wipe all this area with a cloth or cotton bud (Q tip) moistened (not soaked) with methylated spirit, especially if there appears to be fine dirty deposits....oil and lint combine to conspire against you.
If it seems likely that you ......really ....do .....actually .....need .....to adjust the bobbin case, first check there is no lint trapped in the metal spring where the thread is tensioned.
TOP LOADER:
Drop-in Bobbin case will look similar to this image with the tension screw in the middle of the metalwork....
...the other screw at one end is holding it all together, so beware....it is not a tragedy to undo the whole lot and clean it, but very gingerly and lay the bits out in sequence and orientation, or you risk tearing your hair out !
FRONT LOADER:
....this is a bobbin case from a front loading machine and works in a very similar fashion to the top loader with drop in bobbin, again, if you dismantle it, take care so you can put it all
back properly.
FINISHING UP
GETTING THE BALANCE RIGHT:
When you are certain there's no trapped lint in top tension or bobbin, set the top tension to 4 and the bobbin tension to a point where you just begin to feel resistance.
Try using good quality thread of contrasting colours so you can more easily spot the changes.
Set your zigzag to one width less than maximum (eg. 5 of 6 ...or... 4 of 5 etc) and sew a sample for a few inches and check the result.... adjust the bobbin tension screw very little at
a time, perhaps 1/16 of a turn.
You may find you are playing with this balance for some little while and if you are putting the needleplate on and off each time begin to think it cannot be correct to do this.....BUT....it is,
and eventually, you do get a "feel" for the correct tension and then it happens quite quickly.....as a user you won't be doing it very often unless there is lint built up (or are there small hands at work around the house !?!?!)
OTHER ISSUES:
If you live near the ocean as we do, salt air can play havoc with metalwork inside and out, so to help minimise this, keep a few small packets of dessicant (silica gel) in your machine
case....no case ? then make some sort of cover !
Same applies in any damp or humid environment, keep your machine dry and dust free.
Budget for a proper full service every couple of years (more often if heavily used) and if you don't use your machine for a few years, be aware that old oil will dry out and combining with
dust and form a "clag" like glue (another reason for some sort of cover, even a teatowel !)
FINALLY, A WORD ON THREAD:
If it is worth spending the time, energy and money on making something that you would like to give lasting enjoyment......use quality thread, .......it may seem to cost a little more at the
time, but the results, ease of use and added longevity will be worth the extra, and as a bonus, your tension troubles may be fewer and further between, because there is a more consistant diameter with good thread, and less compensating to be done by your tension plates and less thread breaks !
If you want any more help with this, just post back here, or, drop a line through the "Contact Us" page at www.bargainbox.com.au
SOURCE: I have a brother machine
Ensure that all is clean and free of lint jams....now for tension troubleshooting .......
This solution is for tension problems...if you cannot form any sort of
stitch, the issue is quite different, so please let me know if you need
a different problem solved.....
It is quite long, but just work through each section in order.
The
"knotting up" can reveal a lot. If you have loose threads on one side
or the other, the tension on the opposite side will be the culprit.
QUICK SUMMARY FIRST:
Ensure sharp new needle,
Thread guides and Bobbin are Clean & Clear of lint
Set Top Tension to 4 ....then....
Balance Bobbin to suit.
TOP THREAD TENSION:
If
the looping threads are on the underside as you sew, it is the top
tension. Top tension ought to be between 4 & 6 (this variation to
allow for the different weights of fabric in your
projects).
IS YOUR NEEDLE SHARP ?
If you are using a needle that has seen quite a deal of work, or you suspect it may be blunt, change it for a new one !
TOP TENSION & GUIDES:
Make
sure that when you thread the machine the presser foot is up so the
thread goes between the discs and not to one side, top tension between
4 and 6, and that you have threaded through all the guides, including
the last one, usually on the needle arm, just above the needle clamp.
It
may be there is lint trapped between the discs, this will keep them
slightly apart and reduce the actual tension, sometimes dramatically.
If
tensions appear correct, and the thread is definitely in the channel
between the discs, but still too loose and looping, try raising presser
foot and remove your thread.
Now, with a 2" (50mm) wide strip
piece of fabric 8 - 10" (20 - 25cm) moistened with methylated or
denatured spirit, gently insert the fabric strip and clean between the
discs with
a see saw / to and fro action.
In the worst
cases, gentle use of a needle to pick & remove the jam may be
necessary, but be very gentle and make sure the tension is set at Zero
and the presser foot is raised, (to
disengage tension plates).... do not gouge or score the plates, they need a polished surface to work correctly.
BOBBIN TENSION:
Far
less common, but if the loose threads are on the top, it is bobbin
tension that is loose, it too may have lint in the spring and be giving
a "false" tension.
I would not recommend fiddling with bobbin
tension without good reason, it may end up with missing small screws
and spring pieces, however, you can take the needle plate off to clean
the hook race area (where bobbin case sits)
...this is just good housekeeping, my wife does this every time she replaces the bobbin....
just
take it out and clean the bobbin case and the fixed metal hook race
with a small brush to remove lint. If there is a significant amount of
lint, use a vacuum and small brush to get the worst.
Then wipe
all this area with a cloth or cotton bud (Q tip) moistened (not soaked)
with methylated spirit, especially if there appears to be fine dirty
deposits....oil and lint combine to conspire against you.
If it
seems likely that you ......really ....do .....actually .....need
.....to adjust the bobbin case, first check there is no lint trapped in
the metal spring where the thread is tensioned.
TOP LOADER:
Drop-in Bobbin case will look similar to this image with the tension screw in the middle of the metalwork....
...the other screw at one end is holding it all together, so
beware....it is not a tragedy to undo the whole lot and clean it, but
very gingerly and lay the bits out in sequence and orientation, or you
risk tearing your hair out !
FRONT LOADER:
....this is a
bobbin case from a front loading machine and works in a very similar
fashion to the top loader with drop in bobbin, again, if you dismantle
it, take care so you can put it all
back properly. FINISHING UP
GETTING THE BALANCE RIGHT:
When
you are certain there's no trapped lint in top tension or bobbin, set
the top tension to 4 and the bobbin tension to a point where you just
begin to feel resistance.
Try using good quality thread of contrasting colours so you can more easily spot the changes.
Set
your zigzag to one width less than maximum (eg. 5 of 6 ...or... 4 of 5
etc) and sew a sample for a few inches and check the result.... adjust
the bobbin tension screw very little at
a time, perhaps 1/16 of a turn.
You
may find you are playing with this balance for some little while and if
you are putting the needleplate on and off each time begin to think it
cannot be correct to do this.....BUT....it is,
and eventually, you
do get a "feel" for the correct tension and then it happens quite
quickly.....as a user you won't be doing it very often unless there is
lint built up (or are there small hands at work around the house !?!?!)
OTHER ISSUES:
If
you live near the ocean as we do, salt air can play havoc with
metalwork inside and out, so to help minimise this, keep a few small
packets of dessicant (silica gel) in your machine
case....no case ? then make some sort of cover !
Same applies in any damp or humid environment, keep your machine dry and dust free.
Budget
for a proper full service every couple of years (more often if heavily
used) and if you don't use your machine for a few years, be aware that
old oil will dry out and combining with
dust and form a "clag" like glue (another reason for some sort of cover, even a teatowel !)
FINALLY, A WORD ON THREAD:
If
it is worth spending the time, energy and money on making something
that you would like to give lasting enjoyment......use quality thread,
.......it may seem to cost a little more at the
time, but the
results, ease of use and added longevity will be worth the extra, and
as a bonus, your tension troubles may be fewer and further between,
because there is a more consistent diameter with good thread, and less
compensating to be done by your tension plates and less thread breaks !
If you want any more help with this, just post back here, or, drop a line through the "Contact Us" page at www.bargainbox.com.au
SOURCE: Machine will not pick up bobbin thread. The bobbin
Sounds like timing of hook/needle. The needle should go down, a mechanism in the bobbin area moves to sweep the top thread around to pick up the bottom thread. Suggest taking it to a service technician, preferrably one authorized to repair your brand of machine. Check website for your brand and it might list authorized dealers close to you. Good luck.
SOURCE: I CANNOT THREAD THE BOBBIN. I BELIEVE THAT I HAVE
Make sure that you have it wound around the thread guide the correct way, or else you have no tension, and that your bobbin pushed against the bobbin winder. Study your manual, and if you need one with bigger print go to www.singerco.com and download one for free, then adjust your text size. Good luck
SOURCE: I have a singer touch tronic 2001sewing machine.
What type of material are your trying to sew? If it is stretchy, or thin put some gift wrap tissue paper under it to stabilize it. Also, adjust your tension to about 2 or 3. Now check your needle, put a fresh one in, maybe a 9 or 11. Do not use old thread, either because it breaks easy. Try this, I hope that it works for you. You can buy stabilizer, pellon but tissue paper is what we used years ago, sometimes even computer paper. Good luck.
Pre-tension disk 
Bobbin winder shaft 
Bobbin
Pre-tension disk 
Pulling it in as far as possible
Spring on the shaft 
Groove of the bobbin
Sewing speed controller
Wound evenly 
Wound poorly
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Usually answered in minutes!
Debbi, Thank you for the suggestion. I changed out the needle and have confirmed that my bobbin is turning counterclockwise. I guess I'll be calling the Tech Support line at 8:00 AM CST tomorrow morning. I was going through each of the various stitches when the bobbin thread tangled inside the bobbin case. I removed the tangle and have been through all of the troubleshooting tips I could find and/or think of (aside from what the manual explains to do). THANK YOU for trying to help me out. :)
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