what is wrong with my machine??!

[WendyI]

My thread keeps breaking and when I go to re-thread it the thread is so tight through the first discs that I almost can't pull it! What is causing this!? Please tell me how to fix it!

If it's a tension issue, how do I fix it...there's a wee knob on the side of my machine that is called the dual feed balancing dial and I turned it for something the other day and thought I had put it back where it was set (zero) but ever since I have been having these issues! It's when I go through the first set of discs that it gets almost "stuck"!

[kensington]

I keep my tension between 4 and 5. I keep the large dial at 6. It's just fine for me.

I have a Janome, what do you have? Do you have your instruction book? it should tell you where it should be set and how to do it. I was told when you adjust your tension you need to sew and turn the dial while the machine is going.

[WendyI]

I have a Janome Horizon 7700. I do have my manual and reference it regularly. I just looked again and there is a trouble shooting section in the back...says it should be set to "auto" and I had it at between 4 and 5...but I am sewing a cathedral window pillow front so maybe that's the issue? I have put it to auto to see if that makes a difference.

[Gina]

My first guess was that the thread might be wrapped around something or hanging on something. I don't know why I would say that though

[mom4him]

I know this is possibly a stupid question except I have done this, are you remembering to lift the pressure foot? If it is dow the thread will not glide through the tension.

[yeeehawterri]

I had the same thought as Sandy. I've done this several times.

[lourixe]

As previously said, presser foot should be up to disengage tension discs.

I don't know your machine at all, but I'll tell you an issue I had with my first one. It was a cheap model from a big box, You know machines consist in a series of metal parts, covered by two plastic frames (front and back). In my machine this front and back plastic covers didn't fit exactly, and thread kept being caught in this tiny gap, therefore I had tension issues. Until I found out and put masking tape to cover the slot and smooth the plastic edge.

With that machine, as it grew older I finally had to have the tension spring replaced. When I lifted the presser foot, the tension was totally disengaged and the discs would separate a lot, so the thread would slide to the very inside against the shaft between the discs. Then, as I put the presser foot down, the thread would be totally caught as with a clamp. It was like if the spring was frozen, no matter what number the tension control showed. As I had the spring replaced (it cost me 20,00 €) everything worked as a charm again.

[Vonnie]

One problem I had not too long ago was with the spool itself. It did not come off right. I had it on the horizontal spool. So I tried it on the vertical spool and it worked great. I have a Babylock.

I have also done the "forget to raise the presser foot" error!

And on my Juki - I can not use any of the invisible threads because they all break.

[Quiltlover]

I had to laugh when I saw you mention your Juki. I have one that I got mostly for FMQing and I have to look up the page for threading the machine really frequently. Most sewing machines could be threaded in the dark but this one has some serious back and forths to it. HA Not difficult but different. Have not used that machine as much as I would like. It is one tough guy...it would sew through almost anything. Definitely related to an industrial machine. Great quality and a good price for it.

[Alpha O]

I second check the spool and the antenna. I cover my machine when not in use, pushing the antenna down causes the thread to loop funny around the guide. I don't notice it until I get a problem.

I currently have a spool from hell. It's King Tut, not an offbrand, and every time the thread reels to the bottom of the spool, it hangs and pulls.
I've tried turning it upside down, but that doesn't work. The PQ 1500 does not have a horizontal spool feed. I don't think I've ever seen a large cone made for horizontal.