Pfaff 2140, 2144 and 2170 owners.
 

I have a question. My mom owns a different machine and she's owned several others, and she told me that all her machines have a top and bottom tension and that mine has to have a bottom tension too. I own a pfaff 2140 and I have looked in the manual and I can't find anything about a bottom tension. I told her I can change the bobbin tension, but she said there also should be a bottom and top one too. This is the first sewing machine I have ever owned, and I don't remember the seller ever telling me anything about a bottom tension. Can anyone help me. Thank you so much, I really appreciate anything that you can tell me.

I have a Pfaff Expression 2034 and I do have a bobbin tension! It's a little screw on the side of the bobbin case where the thread exits. I often play with it since I do free hand motion quilt. I don't know about yours but I would bet it's the same?!?

1471, 1475, 2140, 2144 - only adjust bobbin tension. In Pfaff club, they used to push getting an extra bobbin case. We did about anything possible with those machines, including ribbon embroidery where the ribbon is put in the bobbin case. None on some Vikings, either

Looking at a lot of somewhat older manual machines, a Brother, and a Babylock, and no bottom tension. I don't remember a bottom tension on an old pink Riccar. The Brother 1500 doesn't have it, either.

Is she possibly talking about presser foot pressure? The 2100 series is electronic, but I think you could adjust the presser foot pressure on the 1400 series. The Riccar did, and so does the 1500.

I have had a 2144 since 2005 and I have never adjusted the bobbin tension on it. I Pfaff club, they told us not to touch it and to purchase a second bobbin case to use for adjustments. The computer has the tension set automatically and my adjusting the bobbin tension you will throw off that delicate balance of upper and lower tension. I love my Pfaff!

Love my Pfaff too. I can only adjust my bobbin tension with that little screw on the bobbin case.

I have a 2144 I bought new, and a 2140 I bought used. The owner of the 2140 had a few bobbin cases, I did, too. By this time I have no idea which case is which! I must have about eight of them.

-You Mom is wrong. The bottom tension IS the bobbin tension. There isn't a bobbin tension and a seperate bottom tension.

I read your thread so quickly that I misunderstood it completely. Sorry. As I read it again, I see that you are fully aware of the bobbin tension. I'll be more careful the next time!!

I have a Pfaff Creative 2170 and a Pfaff Performance 2058. There is no dial or knob to change the bobbin tension. The only way to do that is by tightening the tiny screw on the bobbin case. I keep two bobbin cases - one has a "scratch" mark on it - and that is the ONLY one I mess with while the other one I never mess with.

Interesting note ... Pfaff says to always place the bobbin when winding so that the word "Pfaff" is up. Another thing that may impact the tension is the foot if you are doing zigzag or decorative stitches - always use a 2A or 1A (these feet have a raised ares underneath). Also, I always use some sort of stabilizer as well when I do decorative stitching.