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Lucinda Smith Posted on Dec 14, 2011
Answered by a Fixya Expert

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Loose boobin winding

Bobbin winds loosely and doesn't stop when full

1 Answer

Tally Girl

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  • Elna Master 1,134 Answers
  • Posted on Jan 04, 2012
Tally Girl
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Joined: Feb 27, 2011
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You need to ensure that the thread is going from the thread spool at the back of the machine, through the eyelet, then around the silver tension disc on top of the machine, then to the bobbin when you are winding it. Also, pull the thread tail up through the hole in your bobbin to start and hold the tail so the thread starts to fill smoothly and doesn't loosen.

I've marked the disc in red on this image
loose boobin winding - 1_4_2012_7_18_26_am.jpg
Please read my Tip on bobbin winding; its really important to get a good wind and you can add more tension yourself by applying gentle pressure to your thread spool on the back pin as you wind off it.
Link is http://www.fixya.com/support/r10598580-winding_bobbin_correctly

The stopping when full is possibly because your bobbin is winding unevenly but I never run it until it stops itself anyway, and do the winding at 3/4 speed, not flat out. You want a really smoothly tensioned even wind onto the bobbin so your thread comes off the bobbin when stitching with even tension, not stretched, then loose.

Hope this helps you with your problem.

5 Related Answers

A

Anonymous

  • Posted on Jan 21, 2008

SOURCE: Winding the Bobbin

If you have a top winding bobbin on the right hand side it may be that the winder is seizing up, you must put a drop of oil now and again down the spindle otherwise it goes dry very quickly at high speed.

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bargainbox

Hassy

  • 1388 Answers
  • Posted on Apr 24, 2008

SOURCE: having problems threading bobbin is

Sewusa.com may have a manual, but they will charge too. $15 sounds like a bargain compared to a non working "door stop"

Bobbin tension is probably loose because you have not followed the full sequence around the tensioners......this will compound sewing issues, however, what follows may be useful:


Ensure that all is clean and free of lint jams....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 Tension 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....

4c76dc1.jpg ...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.
165ca5c.jpg 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 !

If you want any more help with this, just post back here, or, drop a line through the "Contact Us" page at www.bargainbox.com.au

RickE1

Rick

  • 202 Answers
  • Posted on Nov 27, 2008

SOURCE: Bernina 180 - winding thread onto bobbin spool

Also it is quite possible that the small circuit board (P-print) just below the bobbinwinder that the motor plugs into has gone bad.

Anonymous

  • 3 Answers
  • Posted on Mar 03, 2009

SOURCE: Bobbin is not winding correctly

slide plate may be worn - i had the same problem. try holding down the center of the bobbin with a pin while slide plate is in the winding position.

Anonymous

  • 1 Answer
  • Posted on Mar 08, 2009

SOURCE: Singer 6267 self winding bobbin winds around shaft under

I just figured out why my bobbine was winding on shaft instead of on the bobbin. first of all make sure the bobbin is setting up high enough, top of bobbin needs to be a fraction higher then the bobbin shuttle, next check to make sure there are no burrs on the bobbin, then make sure that the thear is catching in the groove (**** in top) of the bobbin. In order to get mine to wind i had to lett the tread go down and then slip the thread in the groove. also remember to leave the pressure foot up do not put it down. let me know if this helps.

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tally_girl_59.jpg
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