PE770 help!
 

I was hoping someone has experience with the brother PE770. I got it last Sunday and have been able to only do 1 test stitch. My bobbin thread is coming to the top of the needle plate but the upper thread is not catching it so the machine stitches with upper thread only for a minute and then shreds that. Any help would be greatly appreciated. I have spent days trying to fix the problem. I changed needles, thread, stabilizer. Yesterday something clicked and it did one test stitch. This morning I went to put thread in for a new design and nothing will stitch again :( I only got this machine as a back up because my big girl ( bernina 580) is in the shop. I just wanna cry.

I have no clue about the machine but I'll off this....I'm sure you've already tried re-threading the machine 100 times but perhaps another time might help? Does this machine require-machine specific bobbins and you're using those if so? Bobbin is threaded correctly in the machine?

Does the owner's manual offer any suggestions? Have you called the shop where you purchased it to see if they can give you any direction?

Thanks NJ Quilter. I actually ordered it on Amazon( big mistake). I have threaded and rethreaded. I know it is a bobbin issue I just cannot figure it out. It does have bobbin specific bobbins and I am using them. Now when it tries to pick up the bobbin thread there is a tangle that forms underneath :(

make sure the needle is inserted correctly.

Are you leaving a long bobbin tail and pulling that up with the threaded needle before stitching? And holding on to your tails when beginning to stitch? I know that is very 'old school' and most modern machines claim this is unnecessary but perhaps it is for yours?

Another guess, are you sure the bobbin is spinning the right direction? Do you have a Brother dealer in your area? They should be happy to help you. A friend of mine went into one said she was having trouble and they helped her.

I haven't used my PE770 in ages (too much going on!), but these Youtube videos helped me a lot after I unpacked my machine:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=epHN...vFO4MP&index=1
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cjgF...vFO4MP&index=2
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R2TE...vFO4MP&index=3

I purchased my machine from Amazon also. If the above doesn't help you, you can return the machine to Amazon as long as you are within the return period (which I think is 30 days from date you receive the shipment). Assuming Amazon was the seller, they will pay for return shipping if the item is defective and give you the choice of a replacement or refund. Very easy to do. Go to "your account" at Amazon, look at your recent orders to find the machine, then click on "return" and it will walk you through your options.

However, these machines have been out awhile and are pretty reliable out of the box. My bet is that you are missing some key points about the threading.

If it is under warranty, call the manufacturer. If you bought it used, you probably have to take it in for serving.

I'm with Prism..something isn't threaded correctly. Is your thread coming off the bobbin in the right ire cation...are you going thru all the threading points on top, with the foot raised? It still holds true that problem on top site means fix the bobbin site. And also, put your thread on a holder or in a jar- away from the machine. Are you using a brand of thread that Brother doesn't like? You might have a bad needle with a burr in the hole...is the flat side to the back & threaded from the front? Don't panic, take your time to follow directions exactly. I'm using 4 machines and they each have their quirks. Let us know if you get it figured out.

kimkankwilt- I had the needle fall out twice but am pretty sure I got in now.

NJQuilter - I will try that. When I hand crank it I can't get the thread to the top. Something is off :(

quilting candy- Did your friend buy her machine from the place she went to?

Prism-Thanks for the links I watches some of Vincent's videos but will watch these as well.

Mermaid - This is my second and you are prob right I have to learn its quirks.

Thank you for all the help. I have the same feeling something is not threaded right. I am using the correct bobbin and it is spinning counter clockwise. I will try again tomorrow.I am sick today but will be trying all of this tomorrow.

I found the Youtube videos in my post better than Vincent's. Good luck tomorrow!

Which company store did it come from? I ordered mine off Amazon years ago and no issues. I did call the store (Mr. Vac & Mrs. Sew) He helped me with questions about the machine before I ordered it.

The PE 770 is really fussy about the bobbin and how it's threaded. If there is even the tiniest speck of lint it sews wrong. Take a magnifying glass and take apart the bobbin area like you do on your home sewing machine. Carefully inspect where the metal meet the plastic parts. I found a small speck of lint there that was messing up my stitches.
Saved me a $175.00 service call at the LQS who services Brother machines.

When threading the bobbin through it's area make sure you hold a bit of tension not much just enough so it sets and runs around where its suppose to go. My Brother SQ9000 does the same thing it is really fussy about how its threaded.

i hope this helps....pm me if you need any more help.

I didn't add the link "home sewing machine" ......lol QB is at it again.

Thanks Chasing Hawk. I am going to do a thorough inspection for lint in the morning.

My friend bought her machine on the internet. We went to a local Brother dealer and they were so friendly and helpful. The one thing about machines, once you have a brand you like you are more likely to up grade that brand than one that is a royal pain. And since they have supplies at reasonable prices too this shop has a new customer. I know not all shops are like that but it doesn't hurt to visit.

I was so amazed one tiny speck messed up my machine. Now I check all my machines bobbin areas like that and run plain old unwaxed floss through the upper thread area.

I bought two machines from Amazon, using Amazon Prime not a third party. I sent one back, it wasn't what I thought. Amazon returned my money and paid for shipping because I didn't like it the machine. I bought another one from
Amazon and love it. Do you think a dealer would take back a machine because I didn't like it but nothing wrong with it? It's online buying for all my new machines now. There is not a machine made now that doesn't have detailed you tube videos lessons how to use the features. If it is still returnable, send it back and get another one. If it has issues then you know it is probably user fault.

I get this sometimes with my PE770. I've usually put the bobbin in the wrong way. It takes a #15 bobbin. I've also found some of the pre-wounds won't work.

Also the thread has to go on with the threads pulling from under.

Thank you all for the help. I got it stitching. It is doing a test stitch now. I think what happen was when I went over the thread guide up top there was not enough tension as I threaded it!

Phew, we did it!

:) thank you all !

I had problems like that once. After changing needles 3 times, finally figured out that the needles were not going all the way into the shaft. It felt like they went in all the way, but when I used a pair of pliers to grip the needle and push a little harder, the needle went in another eighth inch. Then sewed perfectly.

This will probably happen repeatedly. At least mine did. It's too easy to miss the upper tension disks when threading and you will get birds' nests every time. Here are the pictures of my solution. Start by removing the small cover over the tension disks, then you'll be able to see exactly what is happening. I don't have any birds' nests since doing this.

Check the bobbin. I have 3 brother machines. I have bought bobbins at different places. They all said they were the bobbin # I needed. Was having problems. Lay the bobbin on it's side. Some are thicker than others. Use the thinner one, see if that helps. Good luck.

Glad you got your machine to sewing now. Also, for the future, when you thread your top thread, make sure your presser foot is up.....I accidentally had mine down once when threading my machine, and had a lot of trouble when I started sewing.:(

I have a Brother and I love it. And yes, I have been known to put the bobbin in bass-ackwards. Just take your time. Mine tells me if I have made a mistake with the bobbin or the spool of thread and then I have to sit there and figure it out. And when it purrs, it feels so good that you did something right. And if you have the thing that you press and the needle moves from left to center to right, make sure it is in the center. I did buy some bobbins that were supposedly supposed to work, and it seems like they do, even though Brother says they don't. Big Brother is Watching!!!!!! I got them when one of our Hancock's was closing down and I use my Sidewinder to fill all the bobbins (while I am watching a tv show) and put them in a Truvia container and I have bobbins to last me a year, a least. They are all working. I have two more bobbins to use and then I have about 50 bobbins to fill. I use natural and I buy a dozen spools of natural thread made by Essential by Connecting Threads - 1200 yard skeins. Good luck to you and your Brother. I named my machine Little Brother - I have two sisters so why not name my sewing machine Little Brother. Right? Edie

Hold your bobbin so that it looks like a "P". In other words the tail of the thread must be hanging down from the left, then drop in bobbin case. Also be sure you are using "Brothers embroidery bobbin thread". Other bobbin threads do not work well with embroidery. Take to a reputable Brothers dealer if all else fails.. I work at a Brothers store and these steps often fix the problem.. Good luck!