20 Most Recent Baby Lock Eclipse Serger - Page 7 Questions & Answers

You need a new foot control.

Make sure that, with the darning foot installed, that you LOWER the presser foot lever. It won't look like it went down, but the lever must be down for the tension to engage.

Set the upper thread tension to 7 or wherever it needs to be right. Don't be afraid to change the numbers, they are there for reference.

Try rethreading the machine, and make sure the thread is not wrapped around anything. Then check the tension for the needles. Run a few inches of chainstich off slowly, while watching the thread and loopers make the loops over the finger. Your threads may be in the wrong position, or underneath the wrong parts to start.

Try this site:http://www.sewingdirect.co.nz/

Your machine either needs a new motor or belt. How long has it been since you have taken it in for servicing? Sergers are work horses. They get better as they age, so take it in for servicing.

Turn under the edge just about 1/4" and do a rolled edge then you can go back and trim off any of the folded under fabric that may show. Also, this keeps the hem from pulling away so easily. You may also try putting some water soluble stabilizer under the fabric before you serge.

I was in a similar position (but had the manual). The manual isn't as complete as I'd like. Anyway, what finally got mine working were the following:
1. turn all tensions to zero before putting thread through them
2. thread the upper looper, then lower looper, then needles.
3. when threading the lower looper (mine kept pulling out), after passing the thread through the looper eye, it needs to go pretty much straight up, not wrapping around anything else - other thread, for example. Mine was at one point trying to wrap itself around a post.
4.when everything is all threaded up, make sure all threads are under the foot *and* pulled to the left (even though the manual says pull to the back). Then chain off without fabric, turning the handwheel by hand to make sure loops are forming. If so, adjust tensions to where you think they should be (mine are currently all between 2 and 5), and add fabric. Then tweak as needed.

For me, this was a lot of trial & error, hair-pulling, and getting tips 1, 2, and 4. I figured out #3 on my own, with much swearing along the way. Good luck!

LF

Contact customer support through the below web site

http://www.babylock.com/sergers//

http://www.sewingmachinesplus.com/serger-feet.php

Stretch fabric is made for using the differential feed on your machine, sergers love stretchy things. Try widening the stitch you are using and turn your differential feed down one notch to allow the machine to get a good grip on the fabric, you may need to bump the differential feed up more if it still doesn't stitch nice, keep trying on a piece of scrap fabric of the same as you are using until you are happy with the stitch.Another solution is to put some lightweight tissue paper under the seams and then tear it off after you have sewn the seams, this works but will dull your blades over time.

I ended up switching the spools of thread around. Apparently, even though I had purchased good quality threads, one of the spools was wound in a way that made the thread loop and twist around. So I put the offending spool of thread through one of the needles and put the needle thread on the upper looper. That seems to be working. By the way, BabyLoc was very unhelpful dealing with this problem.  Thank you!

change the knife blades

• the factory default settings are 4,4,4,4 and M
• Change the needles
• use a can of air spray ( compressed air can sold in computer stores) to ensure there is no fabric or dust under the needle plate

try to leave lots of slack thread ( 14 inches at least ) .

It is important to leave about 3 inches out of the end of the loopers when threading. leave them lie where they come out of the jets. Put fabric under the foot and sew, do not wory about putting the thread under the foot. If it still does not work try changing the needles.

If your lower looper is not catching the needle thread it needs to be timed by an experienced technician. Not for the faint of heart or one without a service manual.
Sewman7

Get a basic book on serging from your library. The higher the #, the feed dogs infront feed fabric in faster, keeping knits, etc from stretching. It can also gather if you go to the highest #. A slightly lower # the N can be used for slippery fabrics because it slows the front feed dogs, but be careful because it can stretch and ruin the fabric. I have only once needed the lower # for a really slippery chiffon. Start on scraps and experiemnt. It's not used very often unless you sew daily or professionally.

The factory settings are 4, 4, 4, 4, and width at M. Hope this helps.