Brother LS-1217 Mechanical Sewing Machine - Page 5 - Answered Questions & Fixed issues
My Brother LS1217 does seem to be feeding the material properly
Are the feed dogs in the down position? There should be a lever in front or in back of the needle area..you may have to remove the freearm to find it. Once you flip that switch, you have to turn the hand wheel towards you almost a full turn to make the feed dogs pop back up.
If they are up & not moving...then something is caught in them...a bit of lint or thread probably.
Tension
Turn off the power, open the throat plate. Raise the needle to the highest position and remove the bobbin case. Clean the area and replace the bobbin case and throat plate.
Thread the machine with the presser foot up to see if this will eliminate the looping stitching.
Be sure to use the correct size needle for the type and weight of the fabric being sewn. There should be a chart in the manual for the machine. There should also be a suggested setting for the tension.
If you need a manual, check the Brother website for a download.
Manual required
Hi,
You can download the complete instruction manual in PDF format from the manufacturer's website by clicking this
link.
On the page which opens, click on the "
Download" button to download and save the manual.
- You'll require Adobe PDF Reader installed on your computer to view the manual. If it is not already installed on your computer, download it free from: http://get.adobe.com/reader/
Hope this solves your problem. Thanks for using
FixYa.
Top thread keeps breaking
the solution of your problem is u should fix your needle to right position, so that the thread did'nt break .
Bobbin holders keeps slipping and thread tension issues
Make sure the needle is at it's highest position.
Lift the latch on the back of the bobbin case.
Hold it open and then insert it into the shuttle - finger (not yours, the upright "finger"on the case) pointing up.
You may have to move the bobbin case lightly to the left or right before it clicks into place.
When you thread the machine always make sure the presser foot lever is up and this will ensure proper tension of the top thread.
If you need a manual, you can view or download free at this site -
http://www.brother-usa.com/manuals/default.aspx?PGID=3&R3ModelID=LS1217
In the middle of sewing some tulle my machine
Yes, if there is an iron-on adhesive being stitched over.
A bead of Sewer's aid along the seam line in advance of stitching will keep the needle clean - but, with tulle, it may not adhere.
Try it on the top thread by running a bead of SA down the side of the spool to lightly coat the thread.
The bobin thread bunches up on the bottom side of
Hello,
Try these solutions.
* Re-thread your machine as it may be threaded incorrectly.
* Raise your feed dogs if your machine has this feature.
* When you start to sew a seam, hold the upper and bobbin thread tails back and out of the way as you sew your first couple of stitches. This will keep them from getting caught in your machine.
I hope this helps.
How do i get a owners manual for my brother ls
You can get an online copy of it. Click
here to visit the download page. If it helps you please take some time to rate this answer.
Further questions can be submitted by way of adding comments (the button is available at the top corner)
My bobbin thread is the
Tighten the bobbin thread. Tighten the small screw on the side of the bobbin carrier until you can hold the thread and the bobbin & carrier just barely slide doen on their own. If the bobbin & carrier just hang there, it's too tight. If they slide easily, too loose. It should slide slowly.
Stitch lendth isnt working
Are you sure that the feed dogs have not been dropped to enable embroidery, and not returned to the normal sew position, consult the handbook for instructions.
Manual
Sally, Here is a link to Brother LS-1217 Quick Setup Guide and Users Manual. Hope this will satisfy your needs.
Can't draw up the bobbin thread
Make sure you have enough of a "tail" from teh bobbin... Probably 4 inches or so before starting. If that doesn't work, check upper tension and needle is properly seated.
The needle drags the thread down and then starts back up causing a loop at the eye which a shuttle goes through and acrries the upper thread over the bobbin. The upper thread then drags the bobbing thread up.
I have trouble with the bobbin adjustment it
Please TRY the solution BEFORE giving your considered rating.
Specific detail on bobbin case adjustment (with picture) near halfway down reply, the remainder will help you achieve a balance of top and bottom tensions.
Ensure that all is clean and free of lint and jams, this is the most likely cause....now for tension troubleshooting .......
This solution is for tension problems...if you cannot form any sort of stitch, the issue is quite different, so please let me know if you need a different problem solved.....
It is quite long, but just work through each section in order.
The "knotting up" can reveal a lot. If you have loose threads on one side or the other, the tension on the opposite side will be the culprit.
QUICK SUMMARY FIRST:
Ensure sharp new needle,
Thread guides and Bobbin are Clean & Clear of lint
Set Top Tesion to 4 ....then....
Balance Bobbin to suit.
TOP THREAD TENSION:
If the looping threads are on the underside as you sew, it is the top tension. Top tension ought to be between 4 & 6 (this variation to allow for the different weights of fabric in your projects).
IS YOUR NEEDLE SHARP ?
If you are using a needle that has seen quite a deal of work, or you suspect it may be blunt, change it for a new one !
TOP TENSION & GUIDES:
Make sure that when you thread the machine the presser foot is up so the thread goes between the discs and not to one side, top tension between 4 and 6, and that you have threaded through all the guides, including the last one, usually on the needle arm, just above the needle clamp.
It may be there is lint trapped between the discs, this will keep them slightly apart and reduce the actual tension, sometimes dramatically.
If tensions appear correct, and the thread is definitely in the channel between the discs, but still too loose and looping, try raising presser foot and remove your thread.
Now, with a 2" (50mm) wide strip piece of fabric 8 - 10" (20 - 25cm) moistened with methylated or denatured spirit, gently insert the fabric strip and clean between the discs with a see saw / to and fro action.
In the worst cases, gentle use of a needle to pick & remove the jam may be necessary, but be very gentle and make sure the tension is set at Zero and the presser foot is raised, (to disengage tension plates).... do not gouge or score the plates, they need a polished surface to work correctly.
BOBBIN TENSION:
Far less common, but if the loose threads are on the top, it is bobbin tension that is loose, it too may have lint in the spring and be giving a "false" tension.
I would not recommend fiddling with bobbin tension without good reason, it may end up with missing small screws and spring pieces, however, you can take the needle plate off to clean
the hook race area (where bobbin case sits)
...this is just good housekeeping, my wife does this every time she replaces the bobbin....
just take it out and clean the bobbin case and the fixed metal hook race with a small brush to remove lint. If there is a significant amount of lint, use a vacuum and small brush to get the worst.
Then wipe all this area with a cloth or cotton bud (Q tip) moistened (not soaked) with methylated spirit, especially if there appears to be fine dirty deposits....oil and lint combine to conspire against you.
If it seems likely that you ......really ....do .....actually .....need .....to adjust the bobbin case, first check there is no lint trapped in the metal spring where the thread is tensioned.
TOP LOADER:
Drop-in Bobbin case will look similar to this image with the tension screw in the middle of the metalwork....
...the other screw at one end is holding it all together, so beware....it is not a tragedy to undo the whole lot and clean it, but very gingerly and lay the bits out in sequence and orientation, or you risk tearing your hair out !
FRONT LOADER:
....this is a bobbin case from a front loading machine and works in a very similar fashion to the top loader with drop in bobbin, again, if you dismantle it, take care so you can put it all
back properly.
FINISHING UP
GETTING THE BALANCE RIGHT:
When you are certain there's no trapped lint in top tension or bobbin, set the top tension to 4 and the bobbin tension to a point where you just begin to feel resistance.
Try using good quality thread of contrasting colours so you can more easily spot the changes.
Set your zigzag to one width less than maximum (eg. 5 of 6 ...or... 4 of 5 etc) and sew a sample for a few inches and check the result.... adjust the bobbin tension screw very little at
a time, perhaps 1/16 of a turn.
You may find you are playing with this balance for some little while and if you are putting the needleplate on and off each time begin to think it cannot be correct to do this.....BUT....it is,
and eventually, you do get a "feel" for the correct tension and then it happens quite quickly.....as a user you won't be doing it very often unless there is lint built up (or are there small hands at work around the house !?!?!)
OTHER ISSUES:
If you live near the ocean as we do, salt air can play havoc with metalwork inside and out, so to help minimise this, keep a few small packets of dessicant (silica gel) in your machine
case....no case ? then make some sort of cover !
Same applies in any damp or humid environment, keep your machine dry and dust free.
Budget for a proper full service every couple of years (more often if heavily used) and if you don't use your machine for a few years, be aware that old oil will dry out and combining with
dust and form a "clag" like glue (another reason for some sort of cover, even a teatowel !)
FINALLY, A WORD ON THREAD:
If it is worth spending the time, energy and money on making something that you would like to give lasting enjoyment......use quality thread, .......it may seem to cost a little more at the
time, but the results, ease of use and added longevity will be worth the extra, and as a bonus, your tension troubles may be fewer and further between, because there is a more consistent diameter with good thread, and less compensating to be done by your tension plates and less thread breaks
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