I'm so frustrated. I'm the (currently not so) lucky owner of a Pfaff Quilt Expression 4.0. A little less than three years ago I allowed myself this luxury and (considering my budget) coughed up a huge amount of money. The machine with all its little well thought-out extras is simply amazing, it makes sewing life so much easier. So much easier, if it works correctly, that is.

My machine constantly has tension problems. Before having it serviced, the top tension was too low and I constantly ended up with having loops on the bottom side. Now, after having sewn less than three weeks after getting my machine back, the top tension seems too tight and I have loops on the top. I tried everything, different thread, new needle, etc. It improves slightly, when I fiddle around with the top tension, but it seems to me, that I shouldn't have to set this manually every time I start sewing.

Does anyone have any suggestions, tips, piece of advice? Could it be, that I stupidly do something wrong? Does anyone have experiences with the same machine? Any help or friendly pat on the shoulder is more than welcome. I already feel better for just having been able to write everything down here.

Sorry that I can't help, but I know this model had many such problems when it came out, some of which were remedied by some added or modified piece near the take-up lever. I was scared away by the bad reviews, but I've read that the problems were solved. Maybe you can go to your dealer, they should be aware of the fixes. Good luck, machine hassles are awful.

Maybe you could find a knowledgeable dealer and take it in and have them look at it and see if it's the machine or something you're doing or not doing? It could be anything from a cracked or out of round bobbin case to a bad tension assembly to something as simple as missing a thread guide when you're threading the machine. Dropping it off at a repairman probably won't help much unless you know for sure the problem is the machine.

I have the Expression 2.0 and I have never changed the tension on it. I use it a lot and have sewn on all different weights and thicknesses. I'd check with the dealer and or the person who serviced it.

I have this same machine and have had it for about 3 months and have had no problems at all. I would take it back and ask them to find out what is happening--you shouldn't have to mess with the tension unless you are doing it to do a special technique.

I have this machine! I don't notice the tension issue until I have to remove a seam and it comes out too easily. I tend to adjust the tension to 5.4 and it works fine. The fix that someone mentioned is at least $200! Way too much after what we paid for the machine. My dealer keeps telling me that the tension is different for each type of fabric or thread or size needle, etc. In my opinion the machine is just too picky and delicate.

Did not know there were bad reviews, wish I had seen them. However, when the tension is balanced it is such a wonderful machine! It has spoiled me for using any other machine! :)

Hope you can get help from your dealer.

Most machines have issues with different threads and needles. Just do a search on this forum! But this one is excessive unless she just has bad thread. And the serviceman should be able to tell her that.

biggest mistake i made was buying on e-bay,no warrenty,no-0ne to turn to.i'm sure that anyone else would be happy w/it,but i ;m having problems understanding what i read now.wish therte were someone to actually talk to.the nearest dealer is 2 hours away,so lessons are out of the question[$ &don't drive any more. it's a great machine i'm sure,just not for me!
dar

I'm sorry ! Hate tension issues! They scare me!!

Thank you everyone. Just reading your comments already makes me feel better. I know that I shouldn't have to meddle with the tension and it used to sew just fine without me having to.

That's exactly my experience. Once the tension is off, you can practically remove a seem by pulling a thread. I brought it back to the dealer and they sent the machine to Pfaff. They serviced it and adjusted the tension. I was lucky insofar that they also mounted the modified take-up lever and I didn't have to pay anything. I'm still amazed at that.

Had I known about the bad reviews, I wouldn't have bought it, but now that I have it, I'm in a love-hate relationship with it because, as cmagee84 wrote, if the tension is balanced, it's a divine machine. I'm also spoilt for any other model.

If you really want to have your heart broken after the purchase of this machine go to Carolina Patchworks.com and read the mile long blog about this sorry piece of junk. After reading on this board that there 6 factory fixes on this machine I called my dealer who said they had never had any complaints on this machine and was completely unaware of any factory authorized fixes. They did tell me to put the machine through all of it's paces and that they would work with me on the problems.

I HAD this machine. Bought it last September and every time I tried to FMQ it behaved miserably; broke thread, tension bad, skipped stitches. I took it for service three times and the fourth time I took it back and told them to keep it. After agonizing about the next step I upgraded to the Creative 4.0 and had the same problems. Am in negotiations with the store about what to do about reimbursement/credit. I think both those machines are horrible, and I have two other Pfaffs that are WONDERFUL! Went and bought a Janome 6600 and really like it. The price is right, it FMQs nicely, no tension problems, has the large harp (throat?).

Actually, reading the Carolina Patchwork blog about the QE4 didn't get my heart broken but my hopes up that I might be able to fix my problems. Many thanks for leading me to this site! There are some great tips and tricks to be found. I will read through the whole page and copy/paste anything that might come in handy and try it out.

I am so glad to hear you say that! All machines can have problems, much the same as you might experience with a car. Yes, you can get a lemon in a car or a sewing machine, but it is rare when you consider the number of machines sold.

Pfaff makes a great machine. Yes, it is plastic and isn't (presumably) as durable as the older machines. But you will find the same thing with Singer, Viking, all of them. I have 7 machines. Some of them are very picky about the thread they use. My Bernina is the worst one for selecting thread. Lint is terrible sometimes. But often I find that changing the needle solves the lint problem quicker than buying new thread. Cheaper too.

I don't service my machines as often as recommended and have very few problems with them. But when I start having a problem, in it goes for service.

We all have to find the balance that makes our machines work for us. Usually that involves working with the dealer or a very knowledgeable service repairman. I wish you good luck in finding your balance. You have purchased a great machine and I am sure Pfaff will stand by it.

I am trying to help my sister in Germany who has a Expression 4.0. Could you tell me how to adjust the tension. She says she looked in her manual but can't find anything.

Thanks,
Johanna

My machine is currently being serviced - again!

But I know that the top tension is adjusted via the menu. But without having my machine in front of me, I can't exactly tell you how. Try the button with the tools on it - that might be the one. Then it's one of the top items listed in the menu.

There should be no need to adjust the bobbin tension. But if you wish to fiddle around with it - I would only do that as a last resort - you have to take the black bobbin-holder out and adjust the screw on its side. Be careful only to turn a quarter of a turn at a time and best mark the initial position as well.

Thanks for responding. By now we have figured out that my sister in Germany had forgotten to do a certain step you have to do when putting the bobbin thread in. She was to proud to ask her dealer and she is pretty new to the machine. :-) I joined a Yahoo group for her and figured out by reading their posts what she had forgotten to do.

There should be no need to adjust the bobbin tension. But if you wish to fiddle around with it - I would only do that as a last resort - you have to take the black bobbin-holder out and adjust the screw on its side. Be careful only to turn a quarter of a turn at a time and best mark the initial position as well.[/quote]

Please, wish me luck everyone. After getting my machine back last week, I did a test-run yesterday. And ...drum roll.... the tension is still off. I couldn't believe it. I had to do without my machine for nearly two months and when I finally get it back it still isn't working? :evil: :cry: I had even offered to pay up to 250$ myself for exchanging the whole tension set-up, which they didn't do. So I phoned the shop once again, telling them how frustrated etc. I am. And the very nice lady working there has now tried to convince Pfaff and if this won't work the shop-owner to supply me with a new machine. So far, she got a tentative "yes" and has to send in all the paper-work. So please everyone keep your fingers crossed that I can exchange my lemon for a nice-working machine.

How frustrating. My sister has been complaining since we thought we had her tension fixed. I have to check with her this afternoon how it is going.

I have that same machine, now about 5 years old, and started having problems with the thread knotting up on the bottom at the beginning of the seam and then it sounds like it's chewing something up inside the bobbin case. I've had it looked at by two different Pfaff technician/service guys and have been told that there is no other adjustment to be made. I'm back using my 40 year-old Bernina, that never gives me any problems, but it doesn't seem like a machine that new that was quite expensive should be having any issue. I would never, ever buy another Pfaff machine.

Jamie Wallen has a u tube about tension it's on a longarm but would work with all machines

I have a Pfaff Expression 4.0 also and am finding the same thing you mention above, the bobbin thread will pull out and when I am sewing my fabric is bunching a bit. Do you continue to have this issue and have you found a fix?

Thanks,

I have a 3.0 and I almost threw the darn thing out the window after taking it in every 4 to 6 months to have the tension fixed. That went on for 5 to 6 years and cost many $$$. Finally one old lad who fixes sewing machines for $35 as long as it is not an electronics problem showed me the reason I was having problems.
When you put a bobbin in the bobbin case you tread it thru the case. Before you bring up the thread there is a small square piece of metal next to where you have the thread. You must get the thread under that metal ( I use a pin to guide it). At that point the thread comes up at a 90 degree angle. Not slightly slanted.. That cured my problems with tension and, no, it is not in the manual.