Thread sticking in tension discs
 

I have a Janome 4800 and it's always had this problem to some extent -I can't use thicker threads, such as King Tut, and even with others it will throw an occasional wobbly. But this evening I'm really perplexed. I've hardly used the machine since it was serviced in September - and I watched the guy clean the discs - until last night, when it ran very sweetly while I did some piecing, using Masterpiece thread. Now this evening the thread is jamming in the discs as soon as I lower the presser foot. I've rethreaded it several times, but am at a loss as to what else to try - it can't need cleaning, and this has happened so suddenly, for no obvious reason.
Maybe it's just because I've made the mistake of combining this rather jinxed machine with the most jinxed quilt I've ever struggled to make!
Would be glad of any advice.

Take an old clean handkerchief with no lint on it, fold it and run the fold through the tension disks like you floss your teeth, there may be a residue from the last thread you used or lint. Check your instruction book as to how the thread should come off the spool before you thread the machine, I found on my new Brother it has to come forward a certain way. What size needle are you using? One that will let the thread flow easily through the eye or is it too small and catching the thread? If nothing else works and the one who serviced your machine doesn't like too far away, take it back and complain. He might have some suggestions about what thread and what size needle you should use.

Carol J.

Like Tartan wrote .... use waxed dental floss. It will really clean out the tension discs. However, if you have a lot of humidity in your area you may need more than just this.

ali

Thankyou for these suggestions: I'll give them a go and report back.

Thank you annesthreads for posting this question to the quilting board. I have been having problems with the tension on my sewing machine as well, and I will try and use these suggestions as well.

It appears you have done all that makes sense. However, try the dental floss.
Yesterday, I was having trouble with a clacking noise and did everything I could think of - rethread, check bobbin, cleaned out all the parts and flossed. Finally discovered it was a plastic box of attachments on the back of the table rattling and didnt realize it until it fell on the floor.

Good suggestions. Also, try a product called Sewer's Aid. It comes in a small bottle that looks like Fray Check - don't get them confused!. It's a liquid silicone that you put directly on the spools of thread and it helps them run through the machine very smoothly. It's really great for metallics, but it helps no matter what kind of thread. It's made for this, so it's not going to hurt your machine, either. My machine is sometimes finicky too, but this, in addition to the things listed above (I use UNwaxed floss, BTW), have solves the majority of those issues.

If none of these things help, take the machine back and insist they change out the tension assembly.

I've tried all these now, and no joy - presser foot up - thread runs through; presser foot down - completely jammed. It looks like yet another repair job, which leaves me with a difficult decision: I've spent so much on having this machine repaired and serviced over the years, only to have it go wrong again, that it might make more sense to put the money towards a new machine. I'm going to start a new thread about that...