On my Pfaff Grand Quilter I was told to only put the thread through one of the holes on that metal bar above the first tension. See if that helps.

Quilterfay

I have a Pfaff Grand Quilter (actually I have two machines) one of them I use for everyday piecing & quilting. The other one sits on a Grace Next Generation Frame. I have had the same trouble with my machine on the frame. The thread keeps breaking, I have used different needles, thread even played with the tension. Got so frustrated that I stopped using it. There is a forum on Yahoo for Pfaff Grand Quilters, and they provide lots of advice and suggestions. One thing I did find is the frame has to be leveled, if the floor is slightly uneven it cases issues with the machine.

I still have my frame and machine set up and really would like to use it but like you said it is very frustrating to have to keep threading your machine. I have even looked on the Pfaff website but they don't provide any advice or help with their machines.

So right now I am quilting on my other Pfaff Grand Quilter on my sewing table and have no trouble when I use it there. It works beautifully!

try a HAx1 11/14 needles these are for high speed needles

1-Schmetz Universal Sewing Needles 130/705h 15x1 HAx1 12
2-Organ Sewing Machine Needles 15x1 HAx1 Sz 11,14,16,18

both on ebay and cheap

Hi and welcome from Houston TX!

Welcome from W TX!

Welcome from OK. I have a pfaff grand quilter and all of the advise that has been given here has been really good. My thread problem was solved by switching to a better grade of thread. The first place that looks like your thread should go under is for winding the bobbin only.....If you put the thread under it and quilt it will unthread the needle every time you cut the thread. My stitch regulator never would work but with a little practice you will do fine free hand. If you want the page of the manual on threading the machine I would be glad to try to e-mail it to you. Just pm me. Hope you get it solved!!!!
BettyBoop

I had or still have but don't use, should sell, you have to use a good quality theard and 18 or 16 needle. Sometimes the thead needs to be moved to a different postion on top before it goes into the machine. Love the bobbon winder on this machine,it is better than the grand quilter 18.8 I use now

Have you tried to do a search on the internet about your machine and the instruction book? I get loads of help from the net.

Welcome from Kansas...

put the pedal to the metal. I talked to my Pfaff dealer and he said you have to have the machine going all out and slow down on turning curves. I had the same problem. I took mine off the frame and I am doing so much better.

WElcome from Michigan.

Hi from S. Ontario - I too have the grand quilter and was also ready to fling it out the window. As you may realize this machine is the worst thing ever for threading. I was breaking thread all over the place until I realized that I had threaded it wrong - smooth going from then on. Good luck!

Welcome from Lowell, MA. Unfortunately, I can't help you with your Pfaff problems, as I've never sewn on one.

I also have the same outfit. Earler someone mentioned the thread comming off of the cone smoothly. This is the problem I had and it was caused by the telescopic thread guide got moved and the thread was not lifting streight off of the cone.

Thank you!

Hello - I had the same problem with my Pfaff Grand Quilter on my Grace frame. It only likes to sew from left to right. If I sew from right to left that is when the thread breaks. I also only go through one of holes in the thread guide instead of passing it through two as instructed. (there are three of them) Using one keeps the top thread from being too tight. Let me know how you get on - Jennifer Ann

Thanks Jennifer Ann, it's been quilting for awhile now after I tired a few of the things advised on the site. I put in a Jeans needle (100/16) and oiled it. So far that seem to be working. I have made a mess of the quilt top so good thing it's just a practice one. I am hoping that it will work well now as I have a king size quilt to put on next and don't want any problems there. If it does, I will try your suggestions.
Thanks for the help.
CA

Hi, what part of Ontario are you from? I just got back from visiting my family in Mississauga, Dundas and Oshawa.
CA

Yes I have and viola, here I am on this site and this has been the most helpful. Can't believe there are so many people out there willing to help a stranger solve her quilting problems. It seems to be working great now (keeping my fingers crossed).
CA

Thanks Betty Boop, got it worked out (I think) and I do have it threaded right now with help from a friend. Take care and thanks for all the suggestions.
CA

Hello! Welcome to the Board from Central California. You will love it here!

Greetings from Sacramento area in CA. The Grandquilter takes a different needle. Can't remember the code for it right now but I get mine at the dealer. They come in little paper packets - not the standard needle cases.

How tight do you have your tension? I run mine through 2 of the loops. GQ can be persnickety about thread. It apparently does not like them all.

Are you aware that there is a yahoo group for grandquilter? I'd suggest you sign up with them too and get some more specific ideas. The guys and gals in that group turn out beee-outiful quikts on their GQs. Good luck.

Hello from Western Mountain Maryland !! :-D

There is a group on yahoo for this machine it is called Pfaff Hobby Grand Quilter group. Join the group and all your problems will be solved. I know that's what i did :D . Also that group has the instruction book for the pfaff machine. If you want pm your email and i will send it to you. It tells you what to do if your thread breaks.

Hello and welcome from Minnesota!
Hope things are working better for you now! :)

Wow, thanks so much for all the suggestions. I am so thrilled with all the lovely people who have sent me messages to help out. It is working great now and I finished the quilt on there. The bobbin thread is showing a little on the top, but for the next quilt going on, I am using the same thread in top and bottom so it won't really matter, but what do I change for that? I can't remember if it's the top or bottom thread. Thanks again.
CA

Glad you are having better luck with your machine. We've all been there. I second the suggestion to join the yahoo Phaff Grand Quilter group-they're great.
It's best to use the same color thread top and botton, just about impossible to get so those little pops of thread don't show. When you do wash the quilt they pretty well sink into the quilt and you don't see them.

Welcome from WI.

Not sure if it will help, cause mine keeps breaking as well but my repair guy said I should use a jeans needle.

Welcome from Fl. I don't have your kind of machine, but I found something that may help you.

www.pfaffusa.com/media

Then I clicked on the manual and went to page 53

I am using a jean needle and it is working fine but today we (my friend and I) managed to use a smaller needle while we quilted her "Northern Lights" quilt with thread. It's actually not a quilt as she is just using thread to make the "lights" and it's just a top; it's working pretty good. I am so greateful for having found this group, so many wonderful people with loads of helpful advice. Are you having any success with your machine?