Babylock Serger
 

I have a 4 thread Babylock serger which is supposed to be easy to thread. I am having a hard time getting my thread down far enough so that it will go swish through. I'm wondering if any of you have had the same problem and if you have been able to solve it? I was thinking about tying a small knot attaching the new thread I want to use to te old thread see if that would work but I'm afraid it might get caught somewhere going thru - what are your thoughts on this?

That is frustrating. I have the same and the cause is usually static electricity.

I've seen some wet the thread and push it down.

I can start the thread down the hole and keep pushing it down with a finger

You can tie on.

If you are the original owner, there was a wire threader included with the machine. You can thread with that.

HTH

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n1DOPdkZ7tI

a tweezer, or hemostat will really help.

I never got along with my Baby Lock 4 spool serger that I actually wish I never bought it even tho I got an excellent price.

I have an Elna, and I have to spend at least an hour to change threads. I've had it about 15 yrs, but I use it and love the way it sews or serges. I hem a lot of pants, so I use it. I also serge my quilts when I'm ready to put the binding on.

Thank you all for your responses and the link to the video. I am the original owner but don't remember getting a wire threaded - I will have to look.

I have the imagine and absolutely love it! I use a pair of teasers to hold the thread and stick it in the hole. Works great! If I try to use my fingers I have a hard time. Just grab your thread with the teasers about 3/4 of on inch from the end. Try it. I think you will find that it makes it easy peasy!

I intended to say tweezers not teasers - duh! It has been a long day...

I had a Babylock 4 thread that I absolutely wore out. I had it for years. It did not have automatic threading. I always tied the new thread to the old thread and pulled it through.

Before air threaded machines my mother used to tie the new thread onto the end of the old thread. Unfortunately she didn't live to see air threaded machines. I traded her serger in for an 8 thread air serger, BabyLock of course. I don't have any problem threading it but when I took my class on how to operate it the teacher said to hold the thread about an inch or so from the end, give the end a little tug to make it straight and then place that inch of thread into the hole, but she also demonstrated how to use the threading tool. If you don't have one I'm sure the BabyLock dealer has them for sale.

I also had an Elna serger. Think it was model 744. It sewed well enough, but it used to change settings on its own!
I'd have it set up exactly for a project, turn it off, cover it. Go to resume work on same project the next day, and tensions were never right, even though I hadn't futzed with anything. That's when I gave up and got the Imagine.

Because of an arm injury it is a bit challenging for me to hold the thread with my right hand (I am right handed) so I try with my left hand - sometime it works and other times it doesn't. Tried tying the new thread to the old last night and that worked great.

When being demoed I have seen that which wasn't a good selling point to me and have seen that they can get clogged as well

I agree with Stevensgirl, use the tweasers, that's the easiest way.

I started with an inexpensive Singer serger, loved serging, but hated threading it, even by tying a knot in it. I upgraded to a Babylock Imagine, which burned up in our fifth wheel fire. So, after about a year without a serger, I bought the 8 thread Evolution, and I love it! It took a lot of soul searching and budget consideration to justify, but I got a great deal and 48 month interest free financing. (Can I rationalize or what?) Anyway, I'm thrilled with my serger, and hope all these suggestions help you thread yours easier.

I have a Baby Lock and LOVE the jet air threading. Yesterday I was having trouble threading, then realized I hadn't removed the thread from my previous project. Also, you need to pull thread down, so you have some slack, otherwise it won't go through the tubes. Hope this helps.

I am new to quilting board, just joined this fall, even tho it says I've been member for awhile.

It doesn't take that much. I was having the same problem last night and then the light came on. I had cut the thread away from the spool but hadn't ran it to get it unloaded from the machine. The loopers still had thread in them and wouldn't accept any more. I set it back to threading, ran it until all the thread went thru and it was fine. I do know of people who use tweezers to put the thread in. For the wooly nylon or dec threads mine came with a wire that has a loop on the end, I put the thread thru the loop and then insert it into the hole for the loopers until it comes out the other end.