Something I noticed ...Bobbin
 

This an M Class bobbin, but not sure it makes a difference.

I'm having trouble with tension lately. I can't seem to get it to stay equal. Usually I've got front thread on the back regardless of how I adjust the top tension, even when the bobbin tension says it is correct.

I've noticed something on my bobbin. When I load my bobbin into the casing, I always make sure the thread is around the little hook. First picture. [ATTACH=CONFIG]603148[/ATTACH] And that is what I tension my bobbin for, using Jamie Wallen's technique.

If I take my bobbin out halfway for whatever reason, I notice the thread is no longer around the hook but has slipped down as in the second picture, and that gives me a whole different tension. [ATTACH=CONFIG]603149[/ATTACH]

So, which one is right? Is there something wrong with my bobbin case? Or do I just adjust my tension right off the bat for the thread having slipped down out of the hook? Is there a way to fix the hook?

Thanks, Watson

I've always pulled my thread past the hook. I do that for every single machine I have with that type of bobbin case and always have. I'm sure all my directions for assorted machines show doing it that way. After all, that is where the tension is applied, if you don't slip it past the hook it may pop out and then you'll have no tension. I've had that happen a time or two with the LA.

I agree with Cathy. I've always pulled my bobbin thread thru the hook on that type of bobbin case. Could there be something wrong with your bobbin casing?

I pulled it all the way past the hook thingy, set the tension a la Jamie Wallen and I've got perfect tension.

Watson

When you take it out that is when the thread slips out of the hook. Problems happen when you put it back in and not check to see if the thread is back in the hook.

When that happens to me, it's usually because I have inserted the bobbin backwards. :o

I was having uneven tension problems and after I bought the towa gauge, I discovered that the five bobbins that came with my HQ did not turn evenly in the bobbin case. When I pulled, the tension would bounce around about 50 points. Once I stopped using them, that uneven tension problem went away.


BTW - the bobbins I got with the machine were very different than what HQ is selling now. They were quite a bit thicker and heavier.

That is my suggestion, too. Yes, the thread should be "caught" on that hook but try turning the bobbin over. It may be threading backward as you sew.

In all my domestic machines I pull the thread as in your second picture.

My sister has had issues; the shop told her that even if you drop the case on carpeting it can be bent - just enough to mess up the tension. So if you've dropped it and have even carpet - I'd think tile and hard wood floors would be even worse for it then it might not be quite 'round', so might need to be replaced. I'm not sure there is a way to make them perfectly round again.

Jamie W has a tool that can be used to check round and even help to get cases back in shape if they are not too badly bent. I bought a second case when I was having so many problems, but I'm back to using the original as it was not the problem. I like having a spare case on hand just in case.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_c...&v=SlMgxd2bXwY

Bobbin Dewarper.

Something I found out recently too is that your bobbin should sit up just a little above your bobbin case. Is the spring at the bottom of your case missing? If not you may need to adjust it a little. Sure helped my tension when I did that. There's a video on the ABM website that shows you how your bobbin should sit inside your bobbin case and how to adjust the springy thing on the bottom, just have to bend it a little.

Mine do not have the hook thingy (technical term?), just an opening for the thread.

This is so confusing and frustrating to have different techs and repairmen saying opposite things.
I took the spring out of my bobbin case and my tension issues cleared up and I haven't had any more problems. I was told by a tech to take it out and use a bobbin geni washer instead. When I took it in for a cleaning the repairmen put in a new one,said it was missing. He said the tech was wrong. I said well it works for me so out it came.

The tension spring is easy to remove and put back. I took it out of my Bernina and Brother 1500.

Watson--like others have said an "out of round" bobbin is easy to find when you use the Towa gauge--maybe you can put that on your Christmas wish list? It really makes things easier. Also, Jamie Wallen is who I bought the bobbin tool to check that there isn't a flat side on it from being dropped--think it's on his website too.

I have a new to me long arm machine and am having some trouble with the bobbin becoming jammed. Don't know how else to explain it. The thread won't pull so that the machine can be moved forward. Wonder what is causing that. After reading your comments above, I am going to check some of those ideas as possible solutions. So frustrating trying to trouble shoot when we don't know what is causing the problem. Thanks for any helpful hints.

Do you mean you can't pull up the bobbin thread? Can't understand the way you are explaining it. So say you were quilting along and now you want to stop and tie off your threads and you can't move the machine head because the bobbin thread won't release? If that is the case, check the position of your take up lever. It should be almost all the way up with say about a finger width between the top of the machine head and where the take up lever is resting. Sometimes, even with your needle up, that take up lever hasn't done a full cycle and isn't in the fully up position it is sitting at the half way point. My machine has a jog function that resets it so the take up lever is in the fully up position when my needle is up and I have stopped the machine. If your machine doesn't have that, you have to manually turn hand crank to get that take up lever in the fully up position which will release your bobbin thread.

Watson, I wanted to check my LA bobbin case before I responded. I always load my bobbin into the case like your 2nd picture. It is my understanding that little hook on the end of the spring that goes into the hole is simply the only way to hold the tension spring at a consistent tension on to the bobbin case itself. I don't believe you should be wrapping your thread around it like you do in the 1st pic and quite honestly I strongly suspect after your machine takes its first stitch the thread moves to the position of your 2nd picture. Try an experiment, load it the way you normally do and stitch only a few stitches on a test sandwich and then take your bobbin case out and see where the thread is. I bet you it looks like your 2nd picture. One thing I do always make sure of is that once I drop the bobbin into the case and thread under the spring, I make sure my bobbin is always rotating in clockwise rotation.

I looked closer at on of my bobbins and there is something that looks like the hook, but, it is pressed flat into the hole and against the inside of the bobbin holder, it does not hold the thread, the thread slides over it into the hole.

Feline Fanatic,
No, I didn't mean that I couldn't pull the bobbin thread after I stopped stitching. The machine stops at one point and I can't move it any farther and cannot dislodge the bobbin thread without a good deal of cutting the thread, moving the quilt back and forth, etc. This has happened several times. I can quilt along for a while then it snags and I cannot move it. So, I stop and dislodge the bobbin thread the best way I can. Any ideas what is happening?
'

I'm a little confused by your comments, Feline. Watson's first pic is how I have been shown/taught by every tech, every teacher, every owner's manual of every sewing machine I've ever owned. Are you saying not to load the bobbin like that?

Not on a longarm. My bernina doesn't even have that little tab on one side, there are much smaller ones on either side of the hole. All that is important is making sure the thread is under the spring like in Watson's 2nd pic. On my Innova, the thread wouldn't even stay under that tab when I tried to move it there.

Just found this pic, even though this site is for Singer, this is what the bobbin case looks like for my bernina. No thread running under any tabs, just under the spring.

http://phoees.com/blog/looking-to-re...the-same-time/

Will see if I can hunt down a pic for the larger size M class with a case that looks more like the Innova and Watson's.

Here is a you tube, again for a domestic but same kind of bobbin case. At time marker 1:32 you can see where she inserts the thread under the spring. She pulls it all the way over so it is under the spring but not under the little tab. This is how I do mine.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EVAVs0R7cOQ

Oh bother, my first link didn't work. Here is a better link. http://latestsports.club/wp-content/...lated-post.jpg

One more link especially for Watson. I am pretty sure you have an HQ Sweet 16 sitdown model. I searched on line for their manual. Here is a link. Scroll to page 16, it clearly shows the bobbin thread path is as you show in your second picture

https://vw-handiquilter.storage.goog...anual-V3.1.pdf

Yes, you're right!

Like Peckish, I've always been taught to do it the top way. Thanks for doing the detective work.

Watson

Thank you for the clarification, Feline!