Cricket, thread wrapping around the spool is a problem for one of my machines but it doesn't skip stitches it puckers up and breaks the thread. I had another machine that was puckering as it sewed - I took the foot off the machine and compared to an original. The made in China replacement was thicker on the bottom by a couple hairs. I don't know if the original foot was just worn or if the new foot was out of spec. Maybe use floss on a new machine but these old ones seem to collect some serious junk and taking them apart is the best way to clean them up. If you can find a diagram of how the tension goes you can blow it up at the printers and it helps to get it back together. Remember the parts go in a certain order and some of them direction is important, too. Tammi has a info about putting the tension in. Dig around her web pages
http://www.archaicarcane.com/fragile...ess/#more-1669 there is
very well written and great video info on tensions!!!