Tension settings
 

A couple weeks ago I took my Janome in to be serviced for tension problems. My normal factory setting is "A' or what is equal to #4. When I got it back the "normal" setting was on #9....totally confused me. Went back and asked that it be reset to factory specifications.....he did it and didn't charge me the second time. Have you ever had this??

May have just been an oversight but as long as they correct it without giving you any flack and possibly an apology, that helps.

Tension settings have always stumped me. I always just leave the tension on whatever the serviceman does. My Janome has an "auto" setting which I usually use, but occasionally I need to change it because of the seam drawing up a bit. Not sure why it does that but what I do usually works. I think different threads has a lot to do with it. I've only been sewing 63 years and am still in the dark about some things.

That is interesting. Is the tension balance better??

That makes me feel a lot better, actually :)

I change my tension all the time. I start at 0 (no tension) and go up 1/2 a number until I get a balanced stitch. I seldom change my bobbin tension because I use the same bobbin thread for all my piecing. Every repairman I have asked said they use poly thread to set the tension when doing maintenance. New machines are set for poly thread so if you don't use poly you need to find a new normal.

Actually, I use 100% cotton thread to set the tensions at work. The tensions (upper and lower) are made to be adjusted. There's really no such thing as "auto tension." It's just a setting on your upper tension. The tensions that actually are controlled by the machine, just take your control away. Here's a link to how to set your tensions... http://shesasewingmachinemechanic.bl...o-balance.html (Which will probably be deleted, because I'm not allowed to help people through my own blog. But if someone else posted my link, it would be alright. I'm not selling anything on my blog, so I don't get it.)

Whenever I take a machine in to be serviced or cleaned I specifically request the balanced tension be set at 4. And it is.