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From: sewnew2
Date: 04-15-2004, 06:44 AM (1 of 17)
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Hey all, I was sewing fine and encountered a snarl where the thread balled up on a seam. Cleared the snarl, but then tension was off! The tension dial goes from 0 to 5 or so, and I was sewing at tension 3. After the snarl, tension was way off, with wiggley bottom threads and the top thread laying flat on the top of the fabric. I tried adjusting the tension dial down to about 1 or so, but now it seems like the tension is uneven, with the bottom thread loosish, and the top thread sometimes flat, sometimes normal interlocking, and sometimes bottom thread flat, all in the same seam! This is a new machine, a Janome Harmony 4052. Question: Other than the tension dial, what am I missing? There is a dial on my machine that says feed balancing dial in the manual, but the manual does not say what a feed balancing dial is! Also, I have a pressure adjusting dial, and it is set at 3, the default for regular sewing according to the manual. I might play with that next. Meanwhile, my skirt has its elastic band all sewn except for the hems and about 2 inches along the waistband casing! Heather
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User: sewnew2
Member since: 03-31-2004 Total posts: 70 |
From: paroper
Date: 04-15-2004, 08:47 AM (2 of 17)
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The fact that it was sewing fine up to the "nest" makes the problem suspect. Start by putting your tension dial back on 3 and totally rethread your machine top and bottom before you do anything else. Sometimes a thread will mysteriously "jump the track" bypassing a tension disk when you are sewing, or when you put the bobbin thread back in, you may have put it in backwards. Then, try it again. If it is off, then start adjusting your dials and screws. From the sounds of it, I would guess that the problem is in your bobbin tension....I am not one who likes to deal with that because once it is moved it is hard to put back where it was if it was right. However, your bobbin case should have a screw to tighten or loosen. That regulates the amount of tension on your bobbin thread. If you mess with this screw, remember that more is less....so move it in slight amounts, not large.
pam
Bernina 200e, Artista V5 Designer Plus, Explorations, Magic Box, Bernina 2000DE & 335 Bernette Serger, Bernina 1530 Sewing Machine, Bernina 1300 DC Overlock (with coverstitch) |
User: paroper
Member since: 02-03-2004 Total posts: 3775 |
From: MaryW
Date: 04-15-2004, 09:14 AM (3 of 17)
Moving that screw a tiny bit can make all the difference. boy, did I learn this the hard way years ago. 
MaryW
owner/editor of Sew Whats New |
User: MaryW
Member since: 06-23-2005 Total posts: 2542 
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From: mamahoogie
Date: 04-15-2004, 01:08 PM (4 of 17)
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This is how I was taught to make sure the bobbin tension is correct. Remove the bobbin case (if removeable) and insert your bobbin of thread, making sure it is threaded thru as if in your machine. Pick up the thread and let go of the bobbin. It should stay where it is, mid air....if it starts to drop, it's way too loose. If it stays put, do a gentle tug upwards with your hand and the thread should unwind very slowly about the same length as your tug and then stop mid-air. If it doesn't move, your tensions are too tight, if it keeps unthreading after you stop, it's too loose. Clear as mud? This came from a sewing teacher and from a sewing machine operators manual. Hope it helps. Violet I've decided to live forever - so far, so good.
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User: mamahoogie
Member since: 12-25-2002 Total posts: 461 |
From: sewnew2
Date: 04-15-2004, 02:59 PM (5 of 17)
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Hi all, Violet, thank you, actually your description helped clarify bobbin tension for me. While on lunch break today I found the following article on bobbin tension, and found it a bit confusing: http://www.gpbwebworks.com/fwinfo/tension.shtml Your explanation was short, sweet and to the point! Thank you! I will try rethreading (again) and resetting to the 3 tension level for needle thread and checking for lint or thread ends etc, and if nothing else works I will play with bobbin tension. I did try several times playing with upper tension last night, but will use a flashlight to look around tonight, and will check needle etc. too. Thank you! Heather
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User: sewnew2
Member since: 03-31-2004 Total posts: 70 |
From: paroper
Date: 04-15-2004, 03:58 PM (6 of 17)
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It certainly isn't impossible but it is unusual for a tension to suddenly change like that. If you have been sewing on a fabric and it was right it is more likely a thread problem, unless you dropped a screw or something some place (which I don't think you would know.) I had a machine where that type of thing would happen, but it changed gradually while I was sewing so that I could see the change...it wasn't sudden. On that machine, I never could get the tension to hold.
pam
Bernina 200e, Artista V5 Designer Plus, Explorations, Magic Box, Bernina 2000DE & 335 Bernette Serger, Bernina 1530 Sewing Machine, Bernina 1300 DC Overlock (with coverstitch) |
User: paroper
Member since: 02-03-2004 Total posts: 3775 |
From: sewnew2
Date: 04-15-2004, 04:08 PM (7 of 17)
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Since this is my first project, I will recheck and rethread everything before I attempt bobbin tension. Lowdown: Only one type of thread used on this machine ever by me (the good German brand recommended for sewing machine use) and only one type of fabric (linen rayon medium to light weight). I sewed some practice stitches, all fine. Sewed the side seams of the skirt, overcast the edges on the bottom and the waist, zigzagged the seam allowances, all no problem. Sewed the waistband casing 80% the way around, snag! Tension off. I will explore tonight and let you know what is up, I WILL get this machine to work, else it goes back to the factory!  Does anybody know what the Feed Balance dial is? My machine has one, but it isn't covered in the manual other than with a number and a name for it. Heather
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User: sewnew2
Member since: 03-31-2004 Total posts: 70 |
From: LeapFrog Libby
Date: 04-15-2004, 06:20 PM (8 of 17)
I have never heard of one before.. What brand machine are we talking about?? Have you looked on their website for an answer.. By the name alone , I would think that it has something to do with feeding the layers of fabric into the feed dogs.. 
Sew With Love
Libby |
User: LeapFrog Libby
Member since: 05-01-2002 Total posts: 2022 
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From: sewnew2
Date: 04-15-2004, 07:14 PM (9 of 17)
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This is a new machine, a Janome Harmony 4052. I bought it at Sears. The Janome website has no information. I emailed Janome, they basically said we have no information, call Sears. So I emailed the Sears Kenmore department, and will let you know what I find out!
Heather
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User: sewnew2
Member since: 03-31-2004 Total posts: 70 |
From: sewnew2
Date: 04-15-2004, 08:05 PM (10 of 17)
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Well, I got home, and tackled the tension problem. I got a new bobbin, and re-threaded it. Re-threaded the machine. Replaced the needle. Reset all the dials by turning them to the highest setting then back to "normal" settings for straight stitching. Blew air into the bobbin case to move any dust around. Voila! Tension now okay. I did a tension test by sewing on the bias, and pulling to see which thread broke first. After a few tries I got it perfect, where the stitches locked firmly. I am not sure which of the above was the problem. Thank you all for the support! Now on to that skirt... Heather
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User: sewnew2
Member since: 03-31-2004 Total posts: 70 |
From: paroper
Date: 04-15-2004, 09:22 PM (11 of 17)
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Fantastic!
pam
Bernina 200e, Artista V5 Designer Plus, Explorations, Magic Box, Bernina 2000DE & 335 Bernette Serger, Bernina 1530 Sewing Machine, Bernina 1300 DC Overlock (with coverstitch) |
User: paroper
Member since: 02-03-2004 Total posts: 3775 |
From: plrlegal
Date: 04-16-2004, 12:18 AM (12 of 17)
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When I first read your post earlier today, my first thought was that the thread had jumped out of the take up lever. I had a Kenmore machine that would do that every now and then and I finally learned that when the thread nests started happening on the underside of my fabric to stop and check the take up lever before doing any fiddling iwith my tension dials or my bobbin. That happened with my Pfaff 2044 a couple of nights ago and sure enough, I apparently had not seated the thread good in the take up lever when I first threaded it. Patsy Patsy
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User: plrlegal
Member since: 05-19-2001 Total posts: 318 |
From: sewnew2
Date: 04-16-2004, 07:21 AM (13 of 17)
I guess half the fun is getting to know your machine!  I imagine that it will only take me about ten more times of the tension going off like that after a snag to figure out exactly what the problem was. I am glad I don't have to take it back to its maker, my skirt came out well and I have more projects lined up.
Heather
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User: sewnew2
Member since: 03-31-2004 Total posts: 70 |
From: mamahoogie
Date: 04-16-2004, 10:05 AM (14 of 17)
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Glad you understood my instructions. Once you get the bobbin tension set you seldom have to reset it. Have fun Violet I've decided to live forever - so far, so good.
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User: mamahoogie
Member since: 12-25-2002 Total posts: 461 |
From: wghmch
Date: 04-16-2004, 10:50 AM (15 of 17)
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"There is a dial on my machine that says feed balancing dial in the manual, but the manual does not say what a feed balancing dial is!" Feed balancing is for one or both of two purposes. The first is so that, when a machine buttonholes doing one leg using reverse feed, the two legs are of equal density. The second is so that, on machine that have stitches where the feed motion goes in and out of reverse, the stitches are in a proportion that will give the desired appearance. On machines that have both of these features, there are models with one control for both, models with separate controls, and (unfortunately) models where the only control is a screw inside the machine. Bill Holman |
User: wghmch
Member since: 03-04-2003 Total posts: 249 |
From: sewnew2
Date: 04-16-2004, 06:20 PM (16 of 17)
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Originally posted by wghmch Feed balancing is for one or both of two purposes. Thank you, Bill, now I know! Heather
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User: sewnew2
Member since: 03-31-2004 Total posts: 70 |
From: bkool
Date: 09-29-2004, 10:06 PM (17 of 17)
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Sewnew2, I have just gotten a Janome Harmony 8080, and the manual refers to something called a stretch stitch balance dial. I'm guessing that its the same thing as your 'feed balance dial.'The 8080 manual reads:'the sewing results of the stretch stitch patterns may vary depending on sewing conditions such as sewing speed, type of fabric, number of layers, etc.' and then shows an illustration of a single stretch stitch, its 'compressed' version (where the reverse stroke backs up too far), and its 'drawn out version' (where the reverse stroke doesn't back up far enough.) I take it from this that when your sewing conditions cause the stretch stitch to go out of balance, you can fiddle with this dial to fix it. The manual then says for compressed stitches, turn the dial in the direction of the '+.' For drawn out stitches, dial toward minus. Hope this is helpful. I'm curious, since you've had your Harmony for a while now, what you think of it. Is it working out well? I've sewn on mine only a couple of hours and it seems fine so far. |
User: bkool
Member since: 09-27-2004 Total posts: 2 |
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