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Anonymous Posted on Mar 28, 2012

My Singer 14u64A ultra lock is nearly impossible to get a decent tension...I have threaded, and reyhreaded... What in the world can I do?

It will not work properly

1 Answer

Debbi's Sewing Machine Repair

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  • Sewing Machines Master 7,365 Answers
  • Posted on Mar 28, 2012
Debbi's Sewing Machine Repair
Sewing Machines Master
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Joined: Jul 22, 2010
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Try cleaning the tension dial with unwaxed dental floss, in between the disc's
then try a tension of 3 to 5
if this doesn't work the tension dial may need to be replaced

5 Related Answers

Anonymous

  • 323 Answers
  • Posted on Nov 07, 2008

SOURCE: Singer Starlet 353 Thread tension

you need to do a tension assembly check.

Normal 0 MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";}Tension assembly test. To do this test. Pull the threadthrough the tension assembly and test it to make sure the tension is workingcorrectly.
(To do this test, adjust your tension setting to normal or medium or 5 orsomething in the middle. Raise the presser foot and pull the thread through thetension. It should pull easily!! Lower the presser foot and pull the thread. Itshould pull noticeably harder.)
If it doesn’t work this way then you probably have a pieceof thread or lint stuck inside the tension discs. To remove it, turn thetension to 0 zero and raise the presser foot.Using a small screwdriver, openthe space between the discs and spray with canned or compressed air. The stuffshould come out. Do the tension test again to make sure you got everything andthen try sewing again.
sewman7

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Mimito7

Kelley Buchanan

  • 130 Answers
  • Posted on Apr 19, 2009

SOURCE: No tension on my Singer 6212C sewing machine

Take the thread completly off the machine and rethread it making sure it goes thru the tension wheel properly.
FYI Loops on the bottom-- Problem is in the threadding.. Loops on the top, problem is with the bobbin.

Anonymous

  • 3 Answers
  • Posted on Jun 21, 2009

SOURCE: singer 132q sewing machine

I wanted to turn my daughters old jeans into shorts since they still fit, but were too short. I was having the same problem, but I was able to make some progress. I switched the thread from a poly/cotton blend to 100% polyester and it was a big improvement. I still was unable to stitch through seams. I am going to try a more heavy duty polyester thread and an upholstery needle (18/110).

bargainbox

Hassy

  • 1388 Answers
  • Posted on Sep 06, 2009

SOURCE: Kenmore Ultra Stitch 12 model 1595280. Tension

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....

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

Bargain Box

Anonymous

  • 1 Answer
  • Posted on Nov 27, 2009

SOURCE: Threading CG-590

I have a CG590 SEWING MACHINE AND CAN NOT THREAD IT WITH THE DIRECTIONS THAT CAME WITH IT. CAN YOU HELP THANK YOU, SANDY

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Related Questions:

0helpful
1answer

I have a singer futura ses1000, it sews a few stitches then stops and beeps and the 19 blinks what it wrong with it.

19 is broken thread detect. I assume it's not breaking thread?


Could be thread has escaped first thread guide near spool and/or tension is extremely low or not at all.

Do you feel difference in no tension when foot up verses set tension when foot down?
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How to thread the singer 20u33? The tension assembly is new, don't know where the wire is sposed to be...

When you thread the top thread, the thread will drop down on the right side of the tension mechanism and go around the bottom (clockwise) and up the left side. Grab the thread somewhere above the tension mechanism with your right hand and then pull the toward the right (as though you are going to close the circle around the tension disk. The thread should pull on the metal wire (spring) and your thread should pop into the correct position of the tension disk. When you release the thread, the wire spring should pop back to the left. Then you will continue threading through the remaining thread guides and the take-up lever.

Here's a service manual for your machine (in case you need one):

Singer 20U31 Service Manual

Threading video:
Threading Singer 20U 20 33 industrial sewing machine

Singer 20U Industrial Sewing Machine Tutorial

Singer 20U Industrial Sewing Machine Tutorial

Bobbin winding on the Singer 20 33 or 20U

this video shows threading the tension disk:

How to Thread Singer Industrial Sewing Machine



0helpful
1answer
0helpful
1answer

Thread keeps breaking for my Serger Ultralock 14U64A

Even with the tension set correctly this can continue to happen. After consulting Singer about an issue for my wife on another machine - they suggested cleaning the thread guide with "unwaxed" dental floss. Cleared the problem right up on that machine and the Serger. Why everyone assumes that people can't read the manual and that it is the tension is beyond me. The problem is dust (from the thread) that gets into the channel for the thread. Just like when you run clothes through your dryer - lint builds up there too. Anytime you deal with thread, especially cotton, you get cotton fiber build up.
0helpful
1answer

I am using black bobbin threaad with white needle

In my experience, I can adjust the tension on my older machines (like my Singer Featherweights so that the needle thread will not show at all on the underside of the fabric (and the bobbin thread will not show at all on the top)--but I've found it nearly impossible to get the same degree of control on my newer (computerized) machines. It always seems that there is a touch of the needle thread showing on the bottom and a touch of the bobbin thread showing on top.

I'm not familiar with the MegaQuilter but I'd just keep playing with your tension control to get it as fine as possible.

Good luck!

Robbie
0helpful
1answer

Top thread locks bottom thread bunches and machine makes noise

start with a deep clean and oil. check tensions, top and bottom-stitch should "lock" inside the fabric. make sure you use same thread on bobbin as on the machine. Check needle for nicks or bent. Make thread is threaded correctly, passing through upper tension plate. check tension plate(upper) for rust or lint.
1helpful
1answer

Constant thread breakage. I have a singer futura CE-150 embroider machine. IT is brand new never been used just got out of the box. I can get about 100 stitches before breaks. I am using 100% ployester...

Well it sounds like you're using a decent thread, that can often be the issue. Just wondering if your top thread is too tight? Might be worth fiddling with the tension to see.

Another thought could be look at the trouble shooting guide in your manual as most have one, but my gut instinct would be the tension.
1helpful
1answer

The thread keeps knotting up near the bobbin on my older model singer

Sounds like a tension problem. You may can email the singer company at [email protected]
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