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Denise Kent Posted on Oct 28, 2013

While sewing the machine stopped and read on my screen to check for bent needle, cloth too thick, or something stuck in the machine. The Thread Take-up Lever is jammed and will not go up and down. My needle was not bent and cloth was not too thick or stuck in bobbin plate. It's something stuck in my machine around the area of the Lever. Please Help....(I see the Face Plate can be removed, of course I shouldn't do it, but I feel if I knew how to properly remove it I would be able to see what is wrong)

1 Answer

tapan

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  • Contributor 6 Answers
  • Posted on Dec 06, 2013
tapan
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Your machine one sensore may be damaged. call expart person for repairing your machine.

5 Related Answers

coesew

  • 1 Answer
  • Posted on Jun 05, 2008

SOURCE: Janome Memory Craft 9500 Troubleshooting

The solution that I found last night was the thread tension. I have never touched the dial, only had it set on 'auto." When I started playing with it, I realized the top thread should be really easy to pull through the machine and it wasn't. I started turning the dial (to 3 or 4) and the thread slid through the machine perfectly. No more birds nest! I really thought it was bobbin initially because of the horrible sound it was making.

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bargainbox

Hassy

  • 1388 Answers
  • Posted on Nov 30, 2008

SOURCE: Thread gathering under and around the bobbin/plate

Most likely cause is lint in and around bobbin area. If you are using a standard top tension of 4 or 5 and this problem has developed over time, the most likely cause is lint deposited between the tension disks....... if the top tension is loose, or in the tension spring of the bobbin case if the bottom tension is having troubles. In either case you need to remove the lint...... 
Raise the presser foot and with a length of scrap fabric, use an action like flossing your teeth to get between the top tension disks......in extreme cases a probe (old needle) may be used very gently to remove thread and lint, but be VERY careful not to scratch the polished surfaces. 
I have also written a tutorial on tension balance which may be of further assistance, particularly for bobbin tension issues: 

Please TRY the solution BEFORE giving your considered rating.

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 !
 
 

www.bargainbox.com.au

Anonymous

  • 111 Answers
  • Posted on Jul 08, 2009

SOURCE: When sewing the bobin thread tangles and jams

upper tension/threading wrong?

Anonymous

  • 208 Answers
  • Posted on Jan 16, 2010

SOURCE: needle not picking up bottom thread

Remove the needle plate and the bobbin case.

Ensure that the needle is inserted all the way up into the needle clamp.

Set the machine for straight stitch, center needle position.

Slowly turn the handwheel in the normal sewing direction and observe the following hook timing setting:

When the needle reaches it's lowest point and travels up 3.5mm, the point of the hook should be directly behind the needle, or at least within 1 or 2mm.

Another view is as the hook passes the needle, it should pass the needle slightly above the eye of the needle.

If the timing looks good, use some alcohol on a bit of cloth to clean the hook, careful around the tip of the hook as it is very sharp.

If the hook timing is off, you will need to take it to a knowledgeable service person as there are several possible solutions and several other related adjustments which will need to be made.

Anonymous

  • 1 Answer
  • Posted on Feb 09, 2010

SOURCE: Thread knots up under the feed dog plate error LO

No but I will be taking it to a Janome authorized repair shop and pay them thanks anyway. G

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0helpful
1answer

My janome me 10000 keeps giving me a warning message that says is fabric to thick is needle bent is something stuck in machine. I just had a new circuit board put in. Why is this doing this

That is the wierdest error message I've ever seen on a sewing machine. Did you try a brand new needle? Are you sewing thick fabric (does the message appear when sewing light-weight fabric? Remove the bobbin case from the machine and check for thread wrapped somewhere. If you are not able to find an answer on your own, then it's probably best to take it for service.

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The thread is incorrect for material.
: or incorrect size needle or it is bent.
:Not threaded correctly.
Thread tangled around the spool holder.
: Thread too thick for needle or too thin.
Hope one of these helps.
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I would replace the needle anyway. It's hard to tell if one is bent or not.

Remove your feed dog/needle plate and the bobbin cover. Take out your bobbin and bobbin carrier.

Get out a magnifying glass and really examine. Look for thread ends in between moving parts.

Also check the thread pathways. Especially where the take up lever is hidden. I've heard of some ladies finding threads snarled up in that area which caused problems like this.

Good luck. If all else fails take it in for repair.
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The needle stopped picking up the bobbin thread. I looked in and saw that there was a lot of lint under the bobbin case and that the part that turns directly underneath the bobbin case was stuck (sor

I suggest to change the needle anyway, the tip of the needle could be
damaged
clean under the needle plate & in the bobbin area for lint & threads
rethread the machine top & bobbin
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Help Me My machine is having major problems

it is possible that the computer part of the sewing machine is going out
when was the last time it was serviced
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I have the error message that there is a mechanical problem and the guide says that the machine is stuck??? How would this be repaired?

Good day!

please try this simple tips:

Good day!

A sewing machine operator can often help themselves when their machine does not operate properly.
Here are some simple instructions, which if properly used can save time and mechanics service calls.
TROUBLE;UPPER THREAD KEEPS BREAKING;
This could be trouble;================Do this;
1.Top tension to tight================loosen tension 1 turn
2.Machine improperly threaded=========check threading
3.Thread twisted on guide post========"
4.Thread twisted out of tension======="
5.Take up spring bent or broken=======Check action of spring
6.Thread jumped off pull off finger===Check threading
7.Needle bent or burred===============new needle
8.Bad cone of thread==================try another cone
TROUBLE;LOWER THREAD KEEPS BREAKING;
1.Bobbin tensionspring to tight=======Loosen tension slightly
2.Bobbin threaded wrong===============check threading
3.Bobbin wound to tight or uneven=====try new bobbin
4.lint or thread on bobbin case=======clean inside case
5.Lint or thread inside hook==========clean inside hook
6.Bobbin case nicked bent or burred===check/change case
TROUBLE;MACHINE STARTED SKIPPING STITCHES;
1.Needle bent or burred===============change
2.Needle set in crooked===============Check
3.Thread jumped off take up spring====check threading
4.Thread jumped off pull off finger===check threading
TROUBLE STITCHES SHOWING LOOPS;
1.Forming loops on top of cloth=======Tighten bobbin tension
======================================or loosen top tension.
2.forming loops on bottom of cloth====Tighten top tension
3.Bobbin placed in case incorrectly===remove and replace
4.Bobbin thread slipped from under====check threading of
tension===============================bobbin case
5.Lint or thread in top tension=======clean between tension discs


Thank you and good luck.
1helpful
1answer

Gathering thread under the clothes

check needle to see if it's in backwards
check needle to see if it's bent-lay the needle on a flat surface & roll the needle over, if the needle doesn't roll good replace
check to make sure machine is threaded right
check for lint or loose thread fragment in bobbin area
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Bobbin thread wont pick up

Be sure needle is inserted correctly with the flat side in the proper position. Rethread the machine and try again. If it still won't work you have a timing problem which requires a technician or a good mechanic.
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