I have the same set up a Juki on a Gracie. I find that if you keep a finger width of space from under the quilt to the machine frame it sews better and no broken needles. I should say under the quilt to the machine foot. Hope you are able to grasp what I am trying to describe. It would be from top to bottom, machine foot, quilt ,space then machine base. Clear as mud right????

I have only a Bernina but this makes sense. Good Luck !!! Feel your frustration !!

Thank you ladies so so much. You have helped me more than you know. :)
I took the bobbin out of the machine and did what Jamie Wallen suggested. (Thank you so much Prim 99 for the video.) When I pulled on the bobbin thread it was tight. Adjusted it so it did as Jamie said.
I also looked at the upper tension. There is a little screw that holds the spring on my machine. I removed the screw and moved the little spring to make sure it was okay. Put the screw back in and adjusted the upper tension. I think it is on 2.5 or 3 will have to check that one.
Oh before I forget I cleaned out the bobbin area and took thread (didn't have no wax floss) thru the discs in the upper tension.
Made sure all setting were set as was told.
Put the machine back on the frame. DD and I threaded the machine. I did a straight line showing her how to do it. Turned it over to DD and off she went. LOL She loves it. She even did a few little designs nothing fancy.
I told her to hang on and not to get to froggy yet. I checked the bottom of the quilt and we had good stitches there too! Whahoo! Before we had eyelashes that was unreal. (I didn't know that until I took the machine off the frame).

We do have one little problem yet but at least we aren't breaking needles now. I think I may need to tighten it in the frame just a little. We did really good on the first 4 rows. We rolled it on the take up rail. Stitching along and then the machine some how gets the thread twisted in the needle area (looks like it is double threaded but it's not) and then the thread will shred if we keep going.
I don't know how else to explain it. If it does it again I'll take a pic and post it. I have had my regular machine do this. Haven't figured out why yet.
I am happy as a lark now not to be breaking needles. When we get everything straightened out I will post a photo of our beginnings.
Thank you all so much. If I could give you all a big hug I would ((((Hugs))). You all are WONDERFUL and so helpful.
I am doing a happy dance. :)

Sorry didn't mean to write a book. Just excited.:)

Wonderful news! Regarding the new issue, my bet is that you need to raise the takeup roller. After you roll a few times, the quilt on the takeup roller will be pressing too hard on the bed of the machine. Raising the takeup bar relieves that pressure. I think rita was trying to say that the Juki works best if you keep the quilt "floating" on the machine bed.

Thanks I'll give it a try. I think I understand. It always has to be a finger away from the machine. Right?

I would turn the machine off, completely clean it, rethread it and move at a slower pace. See if that helps. Then troubleshoot from the owners manual, and if that doesn't work, take it in to my repairman to see what is going on Good luck, I hope you can fix it by taking these steps, A larger needle is usually the answer

That's about right. It really depends on the machine, though. My Voyager likes the quilt to be draped around the bed. I do periodically raise the takeup bar, though, so there is no drag coming from behind.

[QUOTE=Kani;6383281]I am ready to pull my hair out. Seriously.
I have a Juki sewing machine on a Grace frame that I am having issues with.
It loves to break needles!
I stitched 3 rows that didn't look to bad but not the best either. The tension needed to be adjusted. I tightened it a little and now it's breaking needles. If I put it back where it was the top tension is to loose.


Go to Youtube.com and watch a video by Jamie Wallen. Best information on problems with thread tension I've ever heard. I was having problems with my quilting machine and his advice sure took care of it easily and no repairman costs!

If needles keep breakign, perhaps they are bent and/or misaligned and hitting the bobbin case or something like that.

Hope Jamie Wallen's video helps you as much as it did me.

Bertied

loosen the bobbin tension to compensate for the upper being loose.

I have a TL18LS on a grace made frame... if you have a metal bobbin case, do a drop test. Place the bobbin in the case on the palm of one hand. Take the thread coming off the bobbin case in the other hand and gently pull on the thread. The case should start to stand up and come off your hand, but then the thread should pull out straight and smooth, with just a hint of tension.

The above can also be done as a drop test... keeping your palm under the case...while holding onto the thread coming off the bobbin case, let the case drop over your palm...the bobbin case should gently drop down the thread, it shouldn't hesitate, and you shouldn't have to shake the thread to get the bobbin to drop.

Now adjust the upper tension looser until it matches the bobbin thread.