Lee in Richmond

Several months ago I bought an inexpensive Brother machine to replace my dying old Pfaff. It took me a while to like the new one at all, but it turned out the upper tension inside the machine is off, so compensating for that helped. The only problem I cannot seem to get over is the bobbin take-up.

A technician at my LQS showed me what the bobbin area should look like, how the thread end should cross over the inserted bobbin and then come up thru the plate. (Please forgive if these are not the right words.) When I need to insert a new bobbin I often have to take it back out and try over and over again, sometimes a dozen times, before it [the thread end] stays in the right place long enough to sew. And then it sometimes slips "out" in the middle of a seam, at which point it begins that looping nonsense on the underside.

Long, long story to this point, but the question is: Have you had this problem, and have you found a "cure"?

eastermarie

Where did you purchase the machine? If you got it from Walmart's, I'd say take it back and get a new one. Tell them that this one does not stitch correctly and the bobbin thread does not work properly. Do you have your receipt? Take it back to where ever you got it and exchange it for another. Sounds like you got a lemon!

Buckeye Rose

Unfortunately, the inexpensive Brother/Singer machines that you can buy off the shelf at a store like Walmart are not designed to last long, nor will they tolerate what an avid quilter will ask of them. I've had two Brothers, both purchased from Walmart and neither lasted long - the most recent was a cs600i and it only took two years of sewing before it crashed with the repairs costing more than the original purchase price. The more expensive Brothers are said to be of better quality, I myself can't say as my current machine is a Janome 6600. I am not sure of the warranty, but try to take the machine back and get a refund. You will be much happier with a better quality machine.

M.I.Late

I guess it depends on what you mean by inexpensive. I have never had this trouble with my Brothers. Is there a diagram showing you which way to load in the bobbin? That should be a two second job. Something doesn't sound right there. Just drop it in - let the 4" piece of thread lay aside... bring down your upper thread by rolling the hand wheel enough that it takes up the bobbin thread. Run your pencil, ripper, anything front to back through those threads and that should send both thread ends to the back of the machine. You should be ready to sew. Or maybe I just can't understand what the trouble is with the thread/bobbin. Can you take a picture of the problem and post that here?

twilight

I have a ULT Brother with the Disney caratures built in, a 9000 Janome and a SQ=9000 I got at Walmart. Have had no problems with any of them. The SQ-9000 I've had for 2 years and can't believe for the price how well it sews. I've made about 6 or 7 quilts with it and it sews like the bigger ones do. Guess it depends on if you get a good one or a lemon. With the price I paid for the SQ I could afford to buy another one if it gives out. It is lots easier to take to classes. That 's why I have it.

Lee in Richmond

I got a pretty decent picture of the CORRECT way this should look, and hope I can upload it. This machine has a drop-in bobbin with a very primitive (simple) laying down of the tail. My issue seems to be when the needle & top thread come down to grab it, do they grab it right. (The Tech. at the store did say this was related to the top tension, so maybe I will have to spend the $ to get that fixed.) I was always taught to have both threads "up" before starting to sew, so I pull the wheel toward me to draw the bobbin thread up, before beginning.

Lee in Richmond

I bought it reconditioned off the internet. It is one of those Project Runway machines with 80 built-in stitches. I haven't given up on it yet; it may still be one underlying problem in the machine and massive user ignorance.

Deborahlees

try calling Brother directly, they have an 800 number, have had two brothers and loved them both....

sananddandy

Looking at your picture, the bobbin loads like mine. You do not have to pull the bobbin thread to the top. You just wrap it around the way the directions show, with the thread going the correct direction and cut it at the end with the built in cutter. I use a starter piece to eliminate the bunching of the thread when I begin sewing.

MarLeClair

Well, I bought a Brothers NX-250 which I do not consider inexpensive. I too have had that problem. I have found that both times the looping on the back has happened, I had to take everything apart and there was something down inside that was making it act up. I love this machine and it sews nicely. This machine is two years old but I haven't used it very much and still trying to get used to it. Both times it acted up, I rethreaded, new needle, all the usual things. Nothing worked. Then when I took it apart I found either a piece of material or a piece of a pin somplace around the bobbin case. Once that was cleared out it worked fine.