PJisChaos

Yes, when I first turn it on it runs perfect. Stitches are even and look great, then after that first uninterrupted pass it gets all wonky. Once it does that, then I have areas where the stitches are fine. Then the thread breaks or I get a jam or something silly. I have taken notes on all the great advice from ya guys and will be trying them out tomorrow. I didn't get time this weekend to put the additional thread guides on but that is next.
Last time I used it, it was a lot better just from the few changes I had made in my last post to this thread. Thanks a ton!! While it is frustrating to know the problem IS me, I am also very relieved that the problem is ME. I have learned a lot in the past few weeks with this old girl and starting to have some fun, which also helps if that makes sense..? Relaxing is a huge benefit to learning.

As far as the tension disks not catching the thread, I always adjust with the foot down and the disks are engaging. I did pop that out and noticed that there is a groove for the spring to sit in on the stem. After doing some research on that, I realized that when I put it back together I missed the part about rotating it 180* after seating the spring in that groove to set the initial tension. Now I don't have to crank it as far right as it will go just to get a little tension. This is a plus and has relieved the very thick looping as shown in the pics.
I don't remember who said it, I apologize, but the part about the height of the loaded frame was also a huge factor for me to begin with. I assumed that tension problems on a setup like this, only came from the machine. Wrong! If the quilt is too high, it messes things up. Same with it being too close to the bed as well. Or too tightly rolled. All these things work together with, or against in my case, the machine and the operator. I had my first one loaded, managed to quilt it over those first few days, even thought to adjust the height and tilt of the frame as I went along. When I loaded the 2nd one, I forgot all that I had learned the first time, about adjusting things as ya go, and just hooked and booked. Well, tried to anyways! Realized that a lot of my earlier "issues" were because the quilt was 2 inches above the bed and rolled way too tight, along with being tilted, this did not make for good results.

So, for now, I can roll with the random thread break so long as the thread that does stay looks okay. I sure do appreciate all ya'll, more than ya can imagine, believe me. You sure have helped my studio go back to a PG-rating, and my hubby thanks ya'll too! Especially for that, he says. ^_^