Tension questions ... again
 

Oh, Miriam, I have read your thread, just need to expound on this in open court.

Machine: Kenmore 120-491.

OEM Needle: Kenmore #49 or Boye 2 ½. These are pretty much extinct.
Needle used: DCx1F size 14.
({ I do not have any good OEM needles so I've set this substitute needle so the eye is in the same place as the one bent OEM needle I have is. })

Problem: Top tension gives up and loops with multiple layers of normal fabric but sews good otherwise.

OK, I've worked and worked and worked on this thing till I'm blue in the face. I've got it to the point it will sew on flat surfaces of multiple layers of fabric with out problems.

I'm making a Wacky Bag and when the top edge is folded over and the handles are sewn in, there is at least 10 layers of fabric. When seams are hit add 4 more. On the flat areas the machine's tension is good. But hit a seam or go over the handle areas and the top thread loops underneath. It looses tension.
The machine feeds this fabric sandwich just fine, only the tension needs help. And it's the only machine I've had that looses tension when going over the humps.

I've tried tightening the top tension, didn't help. And I've played with the needle setting, didn't help either.
I've also tightened and loosened the presser foot tension, no help there.

The only other idea I came up with is perhaps the DCx1F needle being a serger needle, might be slightly different than a standard sewing machine needle and have a smaller eye. I don't have any size 16s to try in it either.

Anybody got any other ideas?

Joe

Well, I changed needles. Went from Singer to Organ, size 14, sewed a wee bit better but nothing else.
Changed thread, nothing changed.

Went from longest stitch to next one down and that seems to have cured the problem. That don't make sense.

Joe

It's a possibility that the thick seam is raising the presser foot high enough to release the upper tension....just like it would when you manually raise the presser foot. Maybe it SHOULDN'T happen at that height but I believe that could be what's going on. At least, that's what it sounds like to me.....

Pat,

That sounds plausible. I finished the bag I was working on and will have to try something else.

My wife asked if the timing was right. I'm "fairly" sure it is, but considering I'm using a substitute needle I need to check that too.

I'll check the presser foot / thickness issue next time I get the machine on the bench.

Joe