Help! Machine issue: backstitch bunches up
 

Hello! I have a Juki TL98Q that is approaching 20 years old. For a while it has had an occasional issue that the fabric bunches up when I try to back stitch, instead of moving backward smoothly. I recently had the machine serviced due to another issue and now the backstitch bunches up almost every single time. I don't want to take it back to the same repair shop, even though the work is 'guaranteed'. Does anyone have any experience with this issue??? As far as I can tell my options are:

A. Spend roughly $125 on parts I can replace myself, throat plate and a couple of other things, that may fix the problem.
B. Take it to a different repair shop and spend more money on it.
C. Just buy a new machine. This one cost $1000 nearly two decades ago, perhaps it's useful life has come to an end.

What do you think???

I have this same machine about the same age. The backstitch bunches up and I really haven't tried to find out why. Now when want to backstitch I change the thread length to 0 and sew a couple of stitches in place. The machine sews great so I didn't want to take it to the shop. Little things have popped up that makes me think it's about time to invest in another machine so I'll sew it to death and then go from there.

The cost comes to about .98 a week for twenty years. LOL Great investment for us!

Thank you for the info! That is interesting. I am curious about one thing. The needle hole on the throat plate on my machine has gotten a bit damaged over the years from the needle hitting it occasionally when I have sewn with fabrics that are too thick. I thought that maybe what is happening is that the fabric is catching on the rough metal and that is why it is bunching. Is the needle hole on your throat plate clean and smooth or is it rough, like mine? If that is the root of the issue it will be pretty cheap and easy to fix. Please let me know, and THANKS!

I have a Juki TL98QE and don't have any problems with it. I only do a couple of back stitches. Just sewed 48 - 11-1/2" QAYG squares together. I back stitched both ends with walking foot and no problems at all.

I mainly use this machine and never plan to replace it, I love it. It is about 12 years old and I use it almost everyday.

You can test out your theory by covering up the rough spots with some tape. I think clear packing tape would be good for that, or perhaps painters tape.

You can polish off the rough spots with a very fine sandpaper (about 400 to 600 grit). Or a buffing wheel. That's what we use at the shop. Also, there's a needle hole file that can be used to clean up the inside of the hole. Your shop should have done that for you.

The biggest problems we've seen at the shop with these Jukis is the cutter. It can shut you down when it's damaged. There have been a couple machines, where we've just removed the cutter and it has improved the stitch quality. I know... we really love our thread cutters.

I don't have that machine, but my first thought was that it might be a feed dog problem. Perhaps the FDs aren't correctly in place.

My needle hole is a little rough now that I looked at it with a magnifying glass. I'll try smoothing the inside hole with emery cloth on a skewer. My auto threader does mess up now and then and boy is is scary when it does mess up but I turn the machine off and back on and it clears up. I'm not going to baby this machine. It's served me well and I have gotten my money's worth. I'll see how long it will last. I do know never ever use a bobbin not made for Juki. That will mess up everything.

Could the timing be off? Hitting pins can cause the timing to be off.

I had that happen with my Brother machine and the bobbin holder wasn't quite installed correctly. Just a teeny, tiny push into place and it started back stitching correctly.