Macybaby

I've had the exact same type of problem but it was happening in several spots, but it would always happen at that spot. And at those spots - it would "tug" the wrong way, like it would go up/down, or side/side, but would not move diagonally, so I'd get a few stitches of "wrong" and then it would move correctly again. A real drag when you are dong a tight stipple. And it started getting worse, more spots being "bad"

I had this problem with Grace frame, and it was because the rails were not completely parallel. Don't know how they got that way, but I loosened the rails and then used the procedure as for the original setup, and retightened them and it took care of the problem.

I had thought it might be dirt or something sticking, but it was because the machine was getting a bit wonky on the tracks, and then would "slip" to get back straight until it got off enough that it would do it again. Once I reset the rails, the problem went away completely.

sval

It sounds like the rails and set up are a good place to start. I can check that all out. but it does happen all the way across the pantograph in the one same motion. Imagine the bottom half of an "O". I make marks where it is doing it and just change the swoop at that point to avoid the "bad spot".

I'll get out the set up manual and work from there. Thank you so much for all the input.

QuiltyReese

I know you said you cleaned the tracks but if you have a carriage did you check that? My carriage has some black plastic on it that has known to crack for other people. It hasn't yet for me but I keep an eye on that. Also make sure every single part of the frame is level. Your table and then your carriage and finally your machine. Something off in any of those areas can throw your momentum off. I was having issues just this weekend and under closer inspection I had a piece of thread wrapped around a wheel on my carriage.

Barb_MO

That would be ideal for squaring up the corners of a quilt on the frame before basting.

JustAbitCrazy

My thoughts are like what dunster, feline fanatic and sval have advised. The problem is probably with your table and/or rails. The rails must be equidistant all the way across the length of the frame, and each part of the frame must be level.

cindi

I had a similar problem with my previous machine. My problem was with the rails that the machine traveled on. There were teeny-tiny nicks in the rails I couldn't feel with my hands that the machine wheels were catching on and not allowing it to move. I took very, very fine steel wool and sanded the entire length of the rails. That definitely helped a lot. If that doesn't help, I'd suggest loosen the rails and rotate them a half-turn, turning the offending area towards the floor so the machine doesn't run over that area on the rails.

feline fanatic

I'm not sure I understand correctly so say you have a 12 ft table and your panto pattern is spanning the entire length. Are you saying that (as an example) 4" from the bottom of the pattern the entire 12 ft length you are having the machine pull against you or fight you no matter where the machine is located along the length of the rack? Is that the case with all panto's you do? No matter what the pattern you have this issue exactly 4" from the bottom of the pattern? (or whatever the position is)

Think of your rails as an X Y axis. X is the horizontal or side to side or east west whatever term makes the most sense to you rails that are on your rack and Y is the vertical or front to back or north south rails that are on your machine carriage. If your issue is along the entire span of the X axis then I would think the problem lies with Y axis rails which are the carriage rails that the machine is rolling on when making a motion front to back. I would pay particular attention to those rails and the wheels that run along those rails. You may have a ding or a nick in one or both like cindi mentioned.

sval

That's pretty close to it. It's 6" from the back rail and only when the pattern is like a smile. Envision drawing a smile. So everywhere across the whole length that the pattern is just like that it will pull/fight. Every other motion is just fine. I have a couple pantos that have the issue because they have the same "smile" pattern. Or swoopy pattern.
I can quilt in every other direction without any interference from whatever gremlin has inhabited my Gammill.
I get what you are saying. I'll check them out for dings and nicks. Thanks for the insight.

feline fanatic

Yes the smile makes sense because you are, in essence, moving the machine along both the x and y axis at the same time when you are trying to quilt a circle or semi circle hence that feeling the machine is fighting and not wanting to go in that direction. So check those carriage rails specifically in the areas where the wheels are when you machine head is in the 6" spot that is causing you issues.

Out of level can also cause this but not as much to the extreme. A quick and dirty level test besides using a level is take your machine head and position it just about where you have the issue. Let go with needle up. Is it ever so slowly rolling off of that spot (usually would roll along the Y access or front to back) or is it staying put? If ever so slowly rolling, even just a fraction of an inch your rack is out of level.

On Gammills you have to raise your take up roller so it is possible that may also be out of whack and causing drag on your machine head but just at that one spot along the entire length of the rack. I don't know Gammills that well so you may want to join one of the many gammill user groups. There may even be a FB group you can join. Many knowledgeable people can offer advice specific to your setup. I am confident the issue is with your rack, not your machine head.

tomb

I have a gammill on a 12 foot table. In that last 6 inches of travel at the far side of the pantograph the power cord and the coiled cord for the speed regulator will make contact with the table frame. Make sure these are not tangled or catching which would feel like pulling.
You should also make sure the pantograph stylus is not bumping against the take up roller in that area. It would be helpful to have a friend move the machine back and forth though the trouble spot while you look all around for anything touching where it shouldn't
Don't overlook the channel lock magnets when you do this.