i've got this bookmrk for content. will it dissapear completly after a while?
i'm a lurker, and looker and reader, mostly. have learned lots.thank you so much.

i too am having troubles with thread breaking , no quick solution? candy

Do you have the Next Generation Frame?

I have had my GQ for over 3 years and frequently have thread breaking. I spray the thread with liquid silicone and have less problems.
What really fixed the problem was the wire in the upper tension broke and I did not replace it. The machine works fine, tensions are good and no thread breaking.

I have a Hobby Quilter 1200 and can't keep the tension correct on it is there a special thing to know? Also the little quilting foot has moved so much I have cut a groove in it almost to the metal. I have tried wedging a piece of tissue box in where the spring tension is, but there should be a better way it keeps skinning back my thread and breaking it. Does anyone know what to do?

I've had my Pfaff Grand quilter & Next Generation Frame for close to 3 years & what really helped me to reduce threads breaking was to buy some EMT Electrical conduit & put it over the pipe on the take up rail so that the 2 pieced take up rail becomes a one pieced take up rail. This gets rid of the sag in the middle of the take up rail which causes drag while going through the throat of the sewing machine (and creates tension problems & breaks threads). To do this, you have to pull off both of the ratchet ends, then slide the EMT conduit pipe over the existing take up rail. I drilled a hole through the pipes at each end. I left the EMT conduit short enough that your rachet would fit back on the end but long enough that I could hold a nut inside the pipe with needle nose pliers while I tightened the bolt. This keeps the outer conduit pipe fastened to the inner take up rail. This prevents the take up rail from sagging in the middle & causing extra tension that was breaking the top thread. It's especially helpful on the larger, heavier quilts. I used heavy black duct tape to secure my leaders onto the new EMT take up rail. Everything is working better than it ever has. Also it is helpful to clean the tracks & regulator encoder wheels for every so often so the encoder wheels turn properly or it will create tension & break threads. I try not to touch the tracks but I catch myself doing it occasionally anyway. So I just keep a bottle of rubbing alcohol & use selvage pieces of my cotton batting to clean the tracks & wheels. I'm finally happy with my set up!! Hope this helps others experiencing the same issues with the top thread breaking & top thread tension problems. :D

Thank you very much for your speedy response. I will try as soon as I can to get this remedied trying your method. Sincere Thanks, RuthAnn

You are very welcome!! I know how frustrating it is!! :-D

thanks, the bottom is doing frustrating loops, and as if that weren't enough the stupid thing skips great long spaces then reconnects only to skip again. I just did a quilt where after the initial flubbing was over with. (Because it has to do that with every one in one place or another) It went well. Now it went well then the last half of the quilt I have had to cut out stitches twice to what I put in and leave. It isn't very much fun. I even marked my settings so I wouldn't get them off if I bumped them and changed to the needle package that came with the machine and machine quilting thread as recommended the whole shebang. It still isn't fun.

Ruth Ann check the tension on top, the wheel lowers and raises your foot, I end up with loopies when I forget to put down presser foot, even though sometimes will look like it's down. If its on a frame where you reach back to hit the thread cut, found myself spinning the front tension wheel with my arm, changing the tension, have also learned some thread seems to get hooked on the bottom of the spool and has caused thread breakage.
Good Luck !!

Stitches will get longer & skip stitches if the encoder wheels are not turning on the track properly. Try cleaning the regulator encoder wheels with rubbing alcohol. Move the machine back & forth from the back side of the table & take a visual look to see if the encoder wheels are tracking properly (rolling on the track). If your needle is dull it may not be picking up the bobbin thread properly. Usually you will hear a plucking sound when the needle goes through the fabric if the needle is dull. Try those two things & see if problem gets resolved.

:D :-D

Thanks, We just cleaned the runner wheels and had changed needles twice just in case it was them. Then we cleaned those wheels and it did work much better. I thank you. I had no idea. Even though I changed thread this thread wants to split at the needle. I haven't been having that so much only about five times during this past full quilt. We did get it finished without the big loops to cut out and still have several big long skipped stitches. Tomorrow when we start again we will clean the wheels better. We didn't know anything about that stuff. I am only home for one month during the summer month and have only had it last summer and this so I really know nothing about what I am doing. I appreciate your remarks and will treasure them. thanks. Ruth Ann

I am so happy if I can help someone avoid the hassles I went through. You are very welcome!!

Me too, many errors before IT or I got on things working better on a normal basis! Now can finish w/meander lickity split, Happy Days ! :)

i have the next generation frame and have a problem with the ratchets not wanting to move so i can advance the quilt it takes me longer to play with them than to quilt down a row any suggestions on how to take care of this problem. any help would be appreciated.

Sorry no help here, i have a different frame, no ratchet.
Good Luck :D

Have you tried the yahoo group for Pfaff grand quilted owners? There is tons of help there!

Go to PfaffHobbyGrandQuilter@yahoo groups.com

yea thanks tried there

I have the Next Generation frame too. I sometimes have to adjust the roller bar back & forth with my hand while I set the lock on the ratchet. It may just need to be adjusted to a position for the rachet to catch. I don't have a lot of problems with them but every once in a while I do have to do that. It may be that you could use new ratchets? Check with Grace Frames to see about getting new ones to make your life easier.
:D Pam

thanks pam i will do that i was desperate today and sprayed wd40 on the rachets and so far it is working ok dont know why that worked but i figured it could not hurt if i have more problems i will contact the grace co.

I'm glad you found something that worked. I'll file that one away for future reference in case my ratchets give me trouble on down the road. :D Pam

Okay -- for future reference...I didn't see this remedy posted yet (but may have missed it). Make sure the needle is in correctly! I have a friend that has one and he said he couldn't get one quilt done...took him 3 hours with "futzing" when he discovered he'd put the needle in wrong! I have the GrandQuilter 18.8 and know that when they say the needle goes in with the flat or "cut-out) side of the needle toward the back -- they mean the front is looking at it the opposite way you look at your sewing machine at home. The back of the machine, in this case, is looking down the length of the machine -- usually the machine is going east to west (for lack of an easier way to say it) and on the GrandQuilter -- you need to look from the east TO the west. oh, gosh -- anyone understand this???????????

Hi Terry, Im Joanne and very new to this site. HOw do yo like your Pfaf grandquilter? Im looking at a used one and so undecided what to do. I know very lil about this machine other thasn what the dealer told me...What r are your views on this machine? Thanx for yoiur help.And if any one else can give me some input a would greatly appeciate it... Joanne a.k.a. Nanajojo713

i never got the grand quilter mastered, there was always a problem.

I love mine

I have the same problem with the same machine and as far as I have read on the web a lot of people have the same problem. I am very frustrated and ready to thrash it.

I haven't read all the posts -but........I used to have one. Here's a few things.

1) backing is rolled too tight -- it didn't like it so tight that something would bounce on it.

2) lint -- LINT LINT LINT -- even though you've cleaned the bobbin area -- use some compressed air and give it a shhhushhh -- more will likely come out. Get some dental floss and floss the upper tension -- lint builds up in there, too!

3) needles --- the correct needle, the needle put in correctly -- the skirt (an indented area on the needle above the eye) needs to be in the back. Make sure the needle is all the way UP into the shaft. The correct needle for the thread is important on some machines, but the Pfaff seemed to take most any thread.

4) Tension -- make sure you can pull the thread out of the needle without it breaking. If it breaks, then the upper tension is too tight. You may have to loosen it, tighten the bobbin....it's a balancing act to get them both working together.

5) Leveling -- my machine was really picky -- if the table wasn't level, then it acted snotty. If your machine rolls away from you or toward you when you let go, then you're not in balance. It should stand still when you're not pushing it around.

6) Thread -- Quite frankly, I find that with both machines I've had/have, the more expensive thread was the touchiest and easiest to break!!! Try some cheap coats and clark and see what happens. We live in a LOW humidity area. If you live in a low humidity area, put the thread in a plastic bag and spritz it with water -- just a pump or two on a spray bottle. Close it up and let it set overnight. Honestly, that DOES make a difference!! The threads will dry out and break much easier.

Good luck!

Thanks Amandasgrandma for all those hints, will try them all (have tried some of them already). It's great to get all these tips. Hopefully I will get it working well and finish my quilt this weekend.

I also found that if I didn't have the thread coming straight up off the spool, it would break - especially if using a heavier thread (sulky 30/3). Bring your thread guide (the little 'T' thingy that can telescope up or down) so the thread is coming straight up off the spool.

Okay I have been quilting for about 15 minutes with no thread breakage and having so much fun. I hope I am not jinxing myself. So far the advice I have taken: oiled the machine, changed to a Jean 100/16 needle (someone I know with this machine told me to do this), loosened the top tension a little and it seems to be working. It just stopped sewing and I thought "oh no", but it was just the bobbin out of thread. Will post more later if it keeps working after I change the bobbin.
Again, thanks to this wonderful site for all the support. I am having fun again.
CA

Just joined this message board and curious to know if you ever got the machine to stop breaking thread. I have one that I bought used and kept having that problem too. I hate to say but after getting the machine checked out and being told it is a great machine in good working order, I still have the thread breakage. I am going to look for the HLx5 needles and try again. My machine and frame have been just sitting taking up space and I am considering sellling them. People have told me it just takes a lot of time and practice but very frustrating when you have to rethread every few seconds.

I have the exact same problem. After trying all the manufactures suggestions I too googled for a solution. More than one individual suggested raising the side panels that say Pfaff on them, so the top of the panel is about an inch about the table. I then rooted through my husbands tool box, (I know bad girl) and got his level and tape measure. I leveled the bars length ways and then measured the distance between the top take up bar and the top rail where the quilt backing is wound. Unbelievabe how much they can get out of wack from all the shaking of the table while quilting. Best of luck let me know how it turns out. PS if you google it you will also see a pic. cheers,

I have that same set up and bought it 4 years ago. I've only had one problem with breaking thread and I solved it by switching to another cone of thread (same mfg.). It was a bad spool.

Here is what I use:

King Tut in the top
Bobbin Line or Aurifil in the bobbin
Inspira 90/14 top stitch needles (purchased through the Jo-Ann's store)

Keep the bars about 1/2"-1" above the bed of the machine. I can usually go a few rows before adjusting it up again.

Do you have that bar threaded on the front of the machine (the one with the 3 holes)? I'm not at the same place the machine is, I think I go down the first hole (the one furthest away from the machine). Bring it up and around the bar and down hole #3.

I clean the bobbin area each time I put in a new one.
Are you threading with the foot up?
I oil after each project.

Edited: If you join the yahoo group they have so many answers and they post photos of the machine set up. also, I don't have my machine at it's highest speed. Back it off at least a 1/4. You don't want to quilt fast, you want to be consistent.
yes, I have the controller and it works great.

I have the 1200 and no matter what I do the thread breaks or bunches up in the throat plate. I have changed the thread the needle the bobbin the stitch no matter what I try it breaks. Phaff dealers are no help!! Maybe we need a class action suit to get our money back!

Do you have the GrandQuilter 1200 and did your thread break as well?

No kidding..me too. It had me in tears, I was so excited to quilt my tops and then thread breakage and loopty loops on the under side of quilt.

I have a C1100 Pro Pfaff. I was having a heck of a time with thread breaking. I finally realized the thickness of the thread made a difference. I now use Madera Aerofil thread and it is fine. Hope this helps.

I had the same experience with my Pfaff. It was partly the thread I was using and the other part was the polyester batting inside the quilt. I bought better thread and used cotton batting and had no breakage on the next quilt.
Reggie42