Help With Embroidery Machine - Brother SE-400
12-16-2012, 07:43 AM
#11
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: El Paso Texas
Posts: 987
I agree with Dolphyngyrl...it only takes a minute piece of fuzz up in the machine to much up the works. Take it in for a cleaning. Also, you may have knocked the timing slightly off. Time for the spa!
12-17-2013, 07:45 AM
#12
Junior Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Oregon City, OR
Posts: 214
I have a Brother Quattro, 6000D machine which I absolutely love.
One problem -
I have a birds nest building up in the bobbin and I don't know why.
I asked at the quilt shop and the lady said when it is underneath, it's a top thread situation. When it's on top it's a bobbin thread issue. So, with the birds nest it has to be upper thread. She suggested I may not be threading the machine correctly, however it only happens on rare occasion, and my machine tells me if it's threaded incorrectly.
She also said when the machine is running, the thread can pop out of the take up lever. OK, makes sense.
I thread and rethread the machine, pull the thread from both sides to make sure it is seated in the tension disks, thread the needle correctly, and still it happens.
It doesn't happen everytime I sew. I have been trying to make little stocking ornaments, and both times it has nested during the final satin stitch on the border.
I was working on a star on organza and it did it during the satin stitch on the star edges.
I've done gift tags and cards and it doesn't happen, but then no satin stitch.
I was working on a quilt in the hoop and it did it's nasty deed while doing a stipple stitch.
I am getting so frustrated since I'm going to be starting a big project in a couple weeks, and I am quite concerned about ruining blocks.
Any ideas, anybody?
I am working on posting pictures.
One problem -
I have a birds nest building up in the bobbin and I don't know why.
I asked at the quilt shop and the lady said when it is underneath, it's a top thread situation. When it's on top it's a bobbin thread issue. So, with the birds nest it has to be upper thread. She suggested I may not be threading the machine correctly, however it only happens on rare occasion, and my machine tells me if it's threaded incorrectly.
She also said when the machine is running, the thread can pop out of the take up lever. OK, makes sense.
I thread and rethread the machine, pull the thread from both sides to make sure it is seated in the tension disks, thread the needle correctly, and still it happens.
It doesn't happen everytime I sew. I have been trying to make little stocking ornaments, and both times it has nested during the final satin stitch on the border.
I was working on a star on organza and it did it during the satin stitch on the star edges.
I've done gift tags and cards and it doesn't happen, but then no satin stitch.
I was working on a quilt in the hoop and it did it's nasty deed while doing a stipple stitch.
I am getting so frustrated since I'm going to be starting a big project in a couple weeks, and I am quite concerned about ruining blocks.
Any ideas, anybody?
I am working on posting pictures.
12-17-2013, 01:29 PM
#13
Member
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 72
I took my brothers se 400 machine in to be service for a similar problem; very loud knocking noice and thread wld do the same thing your machine is doing. I did as much trouble-shooting as I could. She gave me some great tips.
1. be sure to use brothers products only; (not sure if you are) I was using the bobbins from Walmart and they were totally wrong for that machine; be sure to use only the size bobbin for that machine.
2. the same is true for the needles; BE WARE of needles that state they are universal; I bought universal Singer needles and that was a big problem using with that machine
3. my bobbin case did have a burr on it, but the nice guy filed it down for me; problem solved! (burred bobbin cases can also be a indicator that the needle is knocking against the bobbin case; make sure it it as far as it can go in the needle holder; and that it is not bent.
4. make sure that your bobbin case is installed correctly; that was another mistake I was making. I wld test it on a scrap piece of material first to make sure that it is working properly
I bought my machine @ Walmart as well; the owner was kind enough to tell me that as long as I could bring in my receipt of purchase; (machine under warranty for a year; not sure about extended warranty) they were a authorized brother dealer she wld replace my bobbin free of cost to me and bill Brothers. My initial thought was the bobbin, but after they performed the above I walked out of there spending $8 bucks for the correct needles and bobbins.
I hope this was helpful.
1. be sure to use brothers products only; (not sure if you are) I was using the bobbins from Walmart and they were totally wrong for that machine; be sure to use only the size bobbin for that machine.
2. the same is true for the needles; BE WARE of needles that state they are universal; I bought universal Singer needles and that was a big problem using with that machine
3. my bobbin case did have a burr on it, but the nice guy filed it down for me; problem solved! (burred bobbin cases can also be a indicator that the needle is knocking against the bobbin case; make sure it it as far as it can go in the needle holder; and that it is not bent.
4. make sure that your bobbin case is installed correctly; that was another mistake I was making. I wld test it on a scrap piece of material first to make sure that it is working properly
I bought my machine @ Walmart as well; the owner was kind enough to tell me that as long as I could bring in my receipt of purchase; (machine under warranty for a year; not sure about extended warranty) they were a authorized brother dealer she wld replace my bobbin free of cost to me and bill Brothers. My initial thought was the bobbin, but after they performed the above I walked out of there spending $8 bucks for the correct needles and bobbins.
I hope this was helpful.
12-17-2013, 01:32 PM
#14
Member
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 72
I took my brothers se 400 machine in to be service for a similar problem; very loud knocking noice and thread wld do the same thing your machine is doing. I did as much trouble-shooting as I could. She gave me some great tips.
1. be sure to use brothers products only; (not sure if you are) I was using the bobbins from Walmart and they were totally wrong for that machine; be sure to use only the size bobbin for that machine.
2. the same is true for the needles; BE WARE of needles that state they are universal; I bought universal Singer needles and that was a big problem using with that machine
3. my bobbin case did have a burr on it, but the nice guy filed it down for me; problem solved! (burred bobbin cases can also be a indicator that the needle is knocking against the bobbin case; make sure it it as far as it can go in the needle holder; and that it is not bent.
4. make sure that your bobbin case is installed correctly; that was another mistake I was making. I wld test it on a scrap piece of material first to make sure that it is working properly
I bought my machine @ Walmart as well; the owner was kind enough to tell me that as long as I could bring in my receipt of purchase; (machine under warranty for a year; not sure about extended warranty) they were a authorized brother dealer she wld replace my bobbin free of cost to me and bill Brothers. My initial thought was the bobbin, but after they performed the above I walked out of there spending $8 bucks for the correct needles and bobbins. Oh and make sure you use embroidery thread for embroidering (not sure if you are) I thought it was ok to use reg thread , but its not!
I hope this was helpful.
1. be sure to use brothers products only; (not sure if you are) I was using the bobbins from Walmart and they were totally wrong for that machine; be sure to use only the size bobbin for that machine.
2. the same is true for the needles; BE WARE of needles that state they are universal; I bought universal Singer needles and that was a big problem using with that machine
3. my bobbin case did have a burr on it, but the nice guy filed it down for me; problem solved! (burred bobbin cases can also be a indicator that the needle is knocking against the bobbin case; make sure it it as far as it can go in the needle holder; and that it is not bent.
4. make sure that your bobbin case is installed correctly; that was another mistake I was making. I wld test it on a scrap piece of material first to make sure that it is working properly
I bought my machine @ Walmart as well; the owner was kind enough to tell me that as long as I could bring in my receipt of purchase; (machine under warranty for a year; not sure about extended warranty) they were a authorized brother dealer she wld replace my bobbin free of cost to me and bill Brothers. My initial thought was the bobbin, but after they performed the above I walked out of there spending $8 bucks for the correct needles and bobbins. Oh and make sure you use embroidery thread for embroidering (not sure if you are) I thought it was ok to use reg thread , but its not!
I hope this was helpful.
12-18-2013, 12:24 AM
#16
Member
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Brisbane,Australia
Posts: 22
I have a Brother Quattro 6000D and,although I love it,it is a very fussy machine indeed compared to my Janome 350E which takes anything that is thrown at it.I quite often use embroidery thread in the bobbin without a problem on both machines.
12-18-2013, 02:05 AM
#17
Member
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 36
Don't expect authorized brother dealers to accept warranty work. I bought one from wal mart a couple years ago and needed repairs that were supposedly covered under warranty so took it to a dealer and when I walked in the door a really snotty owner told me she will not have to honor warranties for machines bought at any big box stores. I since found a local man who takes care of my machines and it works even better than it did so do be carefu.
12-18-2013, 05:59 AM
#18
Junior Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Oregon City, OR
Posts: 214
I use all kinds of thread on my machine and usually without any problem as long as I have everything threaded correctly. In fact, I inherited boxes of thread from my m-I-L and have been using that as waste thread in both bobbin and top, and it is old thread. It's on wooden spools! My understanding is that bobbin thread is very fine (don't know the weight) and is used to allow the top thread to sit on top of the fabric better, although I can't see the difference. When I took an embroidery class, the instructions were to have bobbin thread but the instructor said to use any old thread in the bobbin since it wouldn't be seen. I do use the bobbins made for the machine, clean the bobbin assembly between every block or so and use embroidery needles.
12-18-2013, 08:03 AM
#19
Super Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Norfolk, VA
Posts: 5,397
I use what ever thread is in the top in the bobbin. Sometimes if its not showing on the bottom and I have Aurifil in the bobbin I use that.. My machines doesn't like the "bobbin" thread. It likes every other thread, sometimes I have to switch the needle to a different size or type but they all work. I NEVER adjust the tension, love my machine. The bottom of my emb looks as good as the top
12-18-2013, 08:33 AM
#20
Super Member
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Anchorage, AK
Posts: 1,393
Moonrise - and any others who are into taking new machines apart - be aware that doing this can void any and all warranties - machines that no longer have warranty on them are fair game - but by taking apart new machines, or taking off covers that are not normally taken off, you may do more harm to your pocketbook than good. Hope that isn't the case here.
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