Best long arm for tension issues
 

Hi everyone. I continue to have tension issues with my long arm and am considering selling it. Is there a long arm brand out there that rarely has tension issues? My machine has issues even if I haven't changed thread or a bobbin or a pattern. I'm really tired of picking out loops underneath and constantly monitoring the under side to see if the tension has changed.

You haven't mentioned what long arm machine you have that your having tension problems with. Do you have a "Towa Bobbin Case Tension Gauge" to help you with the tension in your bobbins? If not I recommend getting one (they aren't cheap around $70.) but they sure help take the frustration out of setting the perfect tension in you bobbin case.

If your getting loops underneath I am willing to bet that your bobbin tension is way too tight & your top tension might not be tight enough. If your getting loops on your curves underneath you are probably going way to fast on those curves.

So before getting rid of your machine get a Towa gauge, there are two sizes, most long arms take a "M" so check before getting one. Also make sure that you have the correct needles for your machine. Different machines take different needles.

Good luck & don't give up.

I have a Gammill Vision 18/8 and rarely have tension issues. However, I use the Towa Bobbin Gauge with every bobbin change to check my tension. I rarely need to adjust the top thread tension. Only when I am changing from Permacore Thread to Glide Thread. I also keep a muslin sandwich by my machine that I check the stitching when I start each day.

Before you throw in the towel, watch this video. This method works for me!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q1mRhcquZTM

Have you contacted your dealer and taken advantage of the free owners classes? It can make a huge difference in your success. The problem could be some easily fixed needed adjustment or step you are missing. Anyone can have tension problems with any (brand ) of machine... Seldom does it really have anything to do with a particular brand machine Once learned correctly. If you have not (bothered with) the free classes there is a good possibility you may have the same problems with whatever new brand you try

I have an Innova, don't have a Towa gauge, and rarely have tension problems. However when I first got the machine there was a learning curve. Some of the things to check, in addition to your tension settings -

Do you need to replace the check spring on the tension disk? They wear out and are easily replaced. It makes a huge difference.

Is there any lint stuck in your bobbin case?

Are your bobbins wound evenly? (If your tension changes as you quilt, this could be the problem.)

Is your quilt loaded too tightly?

And it sounds obvious, but is your machine threaded correctly? Some require more than one loop around the tension disk to get good tension. And if you're missing any of the thread guides it could cause a problem.

I have a Pfaff power quilter P3. It's only 1 1/2 years old. The bobbin is wound on the machine as it is running. I have had training and I speak to my dealer regularly. Before I started the quilt I'm working on now I had to adjust the tension by turning it 3 full turns. It worked well until I got to the end of the computerized row, then when I started the next row I had loops underneath again. They are all over, not just on the curves. I fixed that with one turn the opposite way, then I think I did another few rows, putting new bobbins in as needed, then for no obvious reason the tension went wonky again. I turned it 2 full turns the opposite way and it's almost right, so once more should do it, but I don't understand why I'd have to turn it 3 turns to get it right, then eventually have to turn it back 3 to keep the tension correct. I'm really tired of taking messy stitches out and as luck would have it, this is one of those patterns that kind of goes up and down a bit before moving over so I can't really tell if the stitches look good until there are plenty to rip out.

I decided to walk away from it today so I wouldn't scream and rip the quilt off the frame.

I use a dry paint brush to clean the bobbin area whenever I change it. I don't think the quilt is too tight. It's got a little looseness in it and is loaded the way my dealer taught me to load them. I have a take up bar so I don't have to lift the back bar.

My dealer came out and fixed the machine recently because something else was wrong with it. He checked everything then so I doubt the spring on the disk is a problem. It is threaded correctly. I always double check that because that was a mistake I made more than once when I first got the machine.

It certainly sounds as if the problem is the machine!

Personally, I would get an Innova with lightning stitch. Innova users seem to be the happiest longarm quilting group, and Innova provides 24/7 phone support. There are a couple of Innova groups at http://groups.yahoo.com you could join that might help you decide on options. Here is the Innova website:
http://www.innovalongarm.com/

Granted, some tension issues are possible on any longarm. I just think they are less common with the Innova, and also more easily fixed when they happen because of Innova phone support.

It can be a " little thing" that can cause tension nightmares.........needle might not be perfectly centered, your bobbin may not be in the bobbin case correctly...mine must turn counterclockwise or else! Bobbin might be too loose...when you hold the thread and drop the bobbin, does it just slide down very slowly, drop like a rock or not move at all......on my machine, it should just drop slowly.........that little screw on side controls that...is the case perfectly round....dropped case can get a dent and throw the whole process off......each machine has its basic things that allow it to make the perfect stitch....it's up to the owner to find and keep in check those fine points.......

Ugh, I just hate that I spent almost as much on this as I would have a new car and I don't enjoy the process. So basically, it is this complex for most long armers? How do you all stand the constant ripping out stitches and fiddling with this and that until you figure out the solution to the newest problem?

To to be honest, my gut tells me prism is right and I just got a dud machine. I told my dealer the other day that all these issues can't be operator errors. She's going to talk with the team about my concerns. It makes me ill that I spent so much money on something that takes a whole room in my house and I can't stand using it.

My stitches are usually not a problem, but one time I had lint in the arm of the bobbin case. I used to use a pin or needle to try to clean it out, but now keep a small dental floss...and floss my bobbin case! Keep at it....could be you are learning to trouble shoot for another time. Big deep breath...keep a list of what you have tried. Do you belong to an owners group for your machine? Other owners are the BEST resource.

I have an APQS Millenium equipped with Intelliquiler. I invested in the Towa gauges and been very satisfied with results. It took time getting the settings written down for my machine but was well worth the effort. An instructor I once had said "take it to the test kitchen" ... I do a protest on scrap to get my gauge settings anytime I work with something new so I can record the gauge settings and the fabric and thread information. You should not be having the kinds of problems you are describing. I would call the dealer again.

I have an Innova and am very pleased with it, but do occasionally have tension issues. Usually due to a blob of lint getting stuck in the bobbin case spring. But tension going off mid bobbin like you describe, really makes me think your bobbin winder on the machine is not winding properly so you are getting bobbins that are not wound with a nice even tension, too loose and too tight in places.

Just for the fun of it, why don't you try investing in some prewound bobbins and see if the problem persists. I am a great fan of the magna glide bobbins from filtec www.bobbincentral.com. The little magnetic core eliminates backlash issues as well (you need to remove the anti backlash spring in your bobbin case if you have one, should you decide to use magna glides). I rarely wind my own bobbins any more and my tension is constant right down to the last inch of thread on those bobbins. Now I have had some issues with some of Superior's prewound bobbins. They tend to go wacky the last 1/4 of the bobbin so I use those for sewing on bindings.

Feline, I like the idea of trying pre wound bobbins. My bobbins look tight and even, but I suppose it's impossible to really know while you are using them. I think I'll take my bobbin case to the dealer too so they can make sure it's not messed up somehow.

if I'd known I would have so many issues, I don't think I would have gotten a long arm, but it's too late to turn back now. Well, at least without losing a bunch of money by selling it.

Yes, prewound bobbins are the berries. What brand is your L/A......did you have a few lessons with purchase. Has the dealer come to your place to actually " see" what you are having a problem with? Sometimes simple things like can cause major issues.....going to fast for stitches to properly connect...I really am sorry that you are so bitter about your investment.....did you try before you bought? I have been doing this for about 15 yrs., and even with my regiment of things I do regularly, occasionally a prob comes up that makes me scratch my head...but then I do the checklist again and somehow it corrects.......I wish you the best of luck.....

I know you said that your dealer has been helpful, and has been out to the house to check etc - have you tried contacting Pfaff directly? Their educators are pretty good.
I recently had a situation with my machine and the local dealer was "so helpful", came to the house a few times etc but the problems went unsolved. As the machine was brand new, I got frustrated and contacted the company directly - turns out they wanted to see the machine in their shop - long story short - they had been asking the dealer to have it shipped back but the dealer wouldn't tell me that.
It might be worth a try, especially since you have had tension problems right from the start.
My machine was the same brand too, but never had tension problems, it was a software glitch combined with a motor box problem - all the problems are solved now, and so quickly once I got the manufacturer rep involved.
PM me if you want further help in following this path,,,,,
Good luck,

The only advice that I can tell you is to wait for a quilt show or sewing expo and test drive all the longarm they have in there and ask all the question you have. The reason I am telling you this is because a bought one last year and I don't like it that much even though is a great machine. A Longarm is a personal preference and also a budget matters.

This is helpful information. Thank you. I spoke with my dealer briefly yesterday and we will probably meet to discuss the problems again today. They have been very kind, but of course it is a business for them. I'm hoping we can resolve the problems without me having to get rid of my long arm.

I truly appreciate all the help and support provided on this board. Lately I end up crying whenever I have to pick out stitches. It's so much money to have spent only to ruin the fabric (thus the whole quilt) by picking out stitches over and over until everything is warped and even sometimes torn in a few spots.

I will update after I meet with my dealer.

I talked with my dealer. She is confident my machine is good, but just to be sure she's having the long arm teacher and the machine tech come out to my house. We're going to load a quilt on my machine so the educator can adjust the tension herself to make sure the baseline is good. Then we will quilt a while on it so if the machine isn't working correctly, the tech can fix it while the educator is there to be sure it's quilting well. They did this with one other customer and apparently her machine needed a lot of adjusting, but she's been happy with it ever since.

I really like and respect my dealer and I'm glad they didn't just leave me hanging. I'm hesitantly hopeful. They are confident I'll be a happy quilter yet, so we will see!

Definitely keep us posted. What bothers me is the business about it going off on you mid-bobbin, or stitch one row fine then go awful the next row. I sure hope it does work out. I can't imagine having so much invested in a longarm with computer guided capability and never be happy with it.

Edited to add, make sure you wind a bobbin or two while they are there as well!

When they come, be sure to have a pencil and paper handy to make notes of what they do and what they tell you. Note what thread they use too, unless they are using yours.
The suggestion to wind a few bobbins is a good one too.
I would use two old sheets with batting or some old fabric vs an actual quilt top for them to practise on too - that way you can play around without guilt and "re-cycle" it after. I even wrote notes right on the sandwich with my pen for future reference.
My dealer tech told me to mark the tension knob somehow so I could know what was the "sweet spot" for my usual type of quilt top, backing and batting. I was also told to adjust by a click or two (vs large amounts) and stitch, check, then adjust etc. By keeping track of the # of clicks (and which direction) I would be able to return to the "sweet spot" or at least know how far off I was.
I think this marking/counting would work too if I were to use a different backing such as minkee - I intend to write this stuff down in a book just for the longarm for future reference.
Good luck!

Look into Innova.

I don't think there is such a thing as a longarm that never has tension issues, because those can and do happen just because you are moving the machine while it is stitching. A longarm is a huge sewing machine, and all sewing machines are designed to be stationary while making a perfect stitch. When we start moving it in all different directions, with fluctuating speeds, here and there it becomes hard to make the perfect stitch, and fails. I think most longarms do a great job of making good stitches under such adverse conditions. Right now your problems are extreme, though, so you obviously have other issues besides movement contributing to the problem. Keep us updated on what happens after your dealer gets done with it, and good luck.

My dealer and trainer came to the house. They replaced my bobbin case. They adjusted the tension, but it wasn't way out of whack, maybe 4-5 full turns I think. The trainer taught me how to notice if it's even a little off so I can adjust it before it gets too bad. They adjusted the take up bar just a bit and did several other diagnostic tests that were fine. They watched me thread the machine and out the bobbin in. After some test free motion quilting, we finished the computerized design on the quilt I'd started. There were no tension problems. For lack of no obvious explanations, I suppose maybe my bobbin case was somehow messed up. The squiggly piece on top was sticking out further than the new one, so maybe that was the problem.

I've got another quilt ready to load, hopefully this weekend, so I can get right into another to make sure it's still working well. Fingers crossed that maybe now I'll be able to focus my energy on improving my skill rather than fighting the machine!

I'm glad it's fixed - hopefully for good! Bobbin cases can be pretty finicky, so replacing it could well be the solution. It sounds like your dealer is doing a good job of supporting you, which is so important with an investment like a longarm. Good luck with it!

Have you tried a thread net? There are one or two brands of thread I have to use a net with or it doesn't come off the cone correctly and gives me looping underneath. I would guess it has more to do with thread or thread path than tension. Tension is going to give you rail road tracks or pokies on either the top or bottom depending on where the adjustments need to be made. Looping means that excess thread isn't being pulled tight to form a stitch. Could be something happening in the bobbin hook area too - be sure lint has been thoroughly cleaned out.

I would also try winding bobbins on another machine or with a side winder and see if that makes a difference.

I promise you tension isn't the mystery that so many think that it is...but it definitely requires a "feeling" for the thread and an understanding of out the machine works. Good luck and let us know how it goes! ;)

I just saw that you were able to fix the issue - Yay!! :)

Have you tried using your machine in manual mode at all? I've had my Queen Quilter for just over two years and also had tons of issues with tension and thread breaking. I was about to call a repairman a few weeks ago and decided to switch from my stitch regulator to manual to see if there was any difference hoping that it would narrow down my problem. While I prefer the stitch regulator in theory, I had no problems at all in manual mode. I did have to tighten up my upper tension quite a bit at first, but have now quilted 3 quilts in manual mode without any tension issues or thread breakage. (Of course I will now be jinxed after writing this!) I recently bought a K-Kraft Bobbin winder as well, because the one on top of my machine was not working well. I love having this bobbin winder. A few of the down-sides to using my machine in manual mode are that I need to be consistent in the speed I move around the quilt to keep my stitches relatively the same size. Also need to be quick on the trigger finger to stop the stitching when I stop moving the machine.

As far as my tension issues in the stitch regulator mode, I'm figuring it's one or both of the following problems: My encoders could be bad, or they just don't make good conduct with the pipes. My conduit pipes have a slightly rough texture to them as opposed to being smooth as glass. Home Depot only carried one kind that would work for me when we did our set up. I'm guessing the encoders may have difficulty rolling over this rough textured surface and translating that information to my stitch regulator.

I have a Gammill Vision 18/8 and rarely have tension issues. However, I use the Towa Bobbin Gauge with every bobbin change to check my tension. I rarely need to adjust the top thread tension.