At Fixya.com, our trusted experts are meticulously vetted and possess extensive experience in their respective fields. Backed by a community of knowledgeable professionals, our platform ensures that the solutions provided are thoroughly researched and validated.
- If you need clarification, ask it in the comment box above.
- Better answers use proper spelling and grammar.
- Provide details, support with references or personal experience.
Tell us some more! Your answer needs to include more details to help people.You can't post answers that contain an email address.Please enter a valid email address.The email address entered is already associated to an account.Login to postPlease use English characters only.
Tip: The max point reward for answering a question is 15.
Are you sure it's a 5 thread?
I looked at the threading diagram on the 804 and it appeared to be a 4 thread. It looked like an overlock with a safety stitch in the center.
The 5 thread looked like the number was an 814
tension on an Elna L4 overlocker (or serger in USA) is controlled with the four dials on the front of the machine, an overlocker has a tension dial for each thread (usually 3, 4 or 5) and the mid range setting will be 5 on each dial. It is critical to lift the thread pole to its maximum height and follow the threading diagram correctly taking the thread from the cone, through the thread eyelets on the pole, then usually a thread carrier on top of the machine, down and around the tension dial, then usually through another couple of thread carriers until reaching the needle or loopers. Many overlockers will have a threading diagram inside the front looper cover and will use colour coding on the components so you can see where each thread goes.
I would suggest that you drag out the manual (or buy one if you don't have it) and then go to You-tube and search on threading overlockers and watch a video or two. The threading techniques are same for most machines, you need to thread loopers, then needles through all the thread guides. Open the front flap of your machine and check if there is a threading diagram there and follow it. MAKE SURE YOU ALWAYS RAISE THE THREAD AERIAL TO FULL HEIGHT BEFORE YOU USE THE MACHINE.
Also make sure you use the correct needles for it, usually EL705 rather than the standard sewing machine 130/705H. It has a groove down the front which helps with stitch formation.
I would also suggest that you hunt down a local dealer and enquire about classes on cleaning, threading and using an overlocker as it will help you so much.
And if your machine accessories are not all there, then invest in tweezers and the fine wire threading up gadgets, they really help getting the thread into needles.
ALWAYS start with the right thread (Lower Looper) and move to the left progressively.....the diagram in the door shows where the guides are for each thread.
All sergers thread the same way and sergers have to be threaded in a certain order. I made a jingle out of it...
upper looper
lower looper
right needle
left
It would be best to have a tweezers handy to help with the thread and threading.
always be sure the lower looper thread goes over the top of the upper looper then out the back. I would be surprised if your thread guides are not color coded.
If you look at the top thread guides or the spools. First from left to right thread the 3rd spool, then the fourth spool. Then you thread the right needle (the second spool) then the left needle (1st spool.
The lower looper can be tricky because you have to thread it from the back of the looper to the front.
Pull the threads out the back from under the foot. Then go ahead and run it slow watching to see if it starts making a chain. It should. If not do it over again.
Good luck
Rick Engel
When the thread breaks too often, try these, that goes for all sewing machines
1. Replace the needles,
2. Loosen slightly the tension of the needle threads.
3. The top threads are to thin,
4.The sewing (rotary) hook or looper, has burs,
5. Wrong threading
×