i have a basic model brother machine. no matter how i adjust the tension i still get inconsistant stich length,as well,as loops on the top stitch. bobbin stitch seems to be alright. i hope this makes enough sense that someone will be able to help me. really hope i don't have to replace the machine, money is tight. will appreciate any comments ty

I would try putting the tension back to its normal position, re-wind the bobbin and re-thread the machine and see if that helps.

I would change out everything. The needle the thread and the bobbin, and not just rethread the bobbin but the bobbin itself. I had that happen once and I never did figure out what was the matter with it. But when I changed everything out it suddenly worked. Although it always was a bit touching with threads after that. Hope it works out.

I keep my upper tension on #5

My mother and I both got new Kenmore machines and were having intermittent problems with thread looping. I did a web search and found a site that said to always thread the machine with the presser foot up so that the thread gets between the tension discs. We now make sure the foot is up before threading and have not have any problems since. Hope this helps.

I always thoroughly clean my machine, then completely re-thread, with a newly wound bobbin. Make sure the thread is running in the proper "path" catching in all of the places it needs to. Put the presser foot up to thread so it catches in the tension disks. I rarely play with the tension setting on my machine...it would be the last thing I would try and it's usually fixed before I get that far.

ty all so much! cleaned, oiled, newly wound bobbin, stung w/ pressure foot up, tension on 5.....ba-boom! running as good as new! ty ty ty ty!