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From: lightning57
Date: 01-27-2007, 07:31 PM (1 of 14)
If any of you have experience working on sergers, maybe you can help. My Simplicity serger has worked very well and does a good job. However, it has started doing the following: It will work well for about three to four stitches then the needle will catch on something and unthreads the needle and snarls up the threads. I have tried everything; re threading to make sure the thread routes are correct, checked the tension, changed needles even, but so far nothing is helping. I'm guessing that maybe the timing is slightly off. Any suggestions? 
Sandra from SC
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User: lightning57
Member since: 09-08-2000 Total posts: 119 |
From: Tom Land
Date: 01-27-2007, 08:03 PM (2 of 14)
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It sounds like you may be trying to thread the lower looper without unthreading the needles first.
Have fun or don't do it, Tom
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User: Tom Land
Member since: 09-21-2005 Total posts: 514 |
From: LeapFrog Libby
Date: 01-29-2007, 05:35 PM (3 of 14)
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I think Tom has detected your problem.. My serger behaves the same way when I do that very thing.. (I learned after the 2nd time --I don't do that anymore)
Sew With Love
Libby |
User: LeapFrog Libby
Member since: 05-01-2002 Total posts: 2022 
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From: material_pakrat
Date: 01-29-2007, 07:47 PM (4 of 14)
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It took me 6 months and the threat of the serger out the window before I found out that you have to re-thread the needles and loopers from scratch when you break a thread, and in order too. So now I pull the lower threads out to the tension discs, and the needle threads so they aren't looped under any of the bottom "bits." Now the only thread break problems I have is when I am in a rush and pull the chains out too fast when ending. But having to re thread slows me down a bit.
Cheers, Soph.
I'm happiest when I am sewing! |
User: material_pakrat
Member since: 12-13-2006 Total posts: 220 |
From: lightning57
Date: 01-29-2007, 08:17 PM (5 of 14)
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Thanks for the replies, but I do as you all have suggestioned. I redo all threads just as the manual shows. I have done this dozens of times and yes, I'm ready to throw it out the window or sale it for cost the of postage. Any other suggestions to offer? Sandra from SC
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User: lightning57
Member since: 09-08-2000 Total posts: 119 |
From: plrlegal
Date: 01-29-2007, 09:03 PM (6 of 14)
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Are you threading your serger with the presser foot up or down? If you're threading with the foot down, you're not getting the looper or needle threads into the tension disks. My serger thread upper looper (blue) lower looper (red) right needle (green) left needle (yellow) and if I thread it in any order than that, it snarls and breaks the threads instantly. Patsy Patsy
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User: plrlegal
Member since: 05-19-2001 Total posts: 318 |
From: lightning57
Date: 01-29-2007, 10:08 PM (7 of 14)
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Patsy, I'm pretty sure I do it as you state, but I'll set it up and try again. Thanks.
Sandra from SC
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User: lightning57
Member since: 09-08-2000 Total posts: 119 |
From: Kylnne2
Date: 01-29-2007, 11:18 PM (8 of 14)
| Maybe one of your needles has slipped and is not up into the needle bar far enough. You might want to double check that you have the stitch finger set up for the proper stitch or if your serger takes the rolled hem plate that you have the proper plate on. |
User: Kylnne2
Member since: 07-10-2004 Total posts: 629 |
From: Kylnne2
Date: 01-29-2007, 11:21 PM (9 of 14)
| Maybe one of your needles has slipped and is not up into the needle bar far enough. You might want to double check that you have the stitch finger set up for the proper stitch or if your serger takes the rolled hem plate that you have the proper plate on. You might check also want to check that your thread antenna is up all the way as high as it will go. |
User: Kylnne2
Member since: 07-10-2004 Total posts: 629 |
From: DorothyL
Date: 01-30-2007, 08:13 AM (10 of 14)
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When I got my serger I took it back, practically in tears. The shops serger lady (they have one for everything) sat down with me and I threaded it perfect. "Hmmm," she said. "Are you sure you are threading it with the handle up." It turns out that without realizing it I was threading the machine with the handle -- which lies over the slots above the tension disks -- down. Nothing was getting into the tension disks. I took it home and still had some problems until I figured out that I have to be especially careful to get the thread into the tension disks on the left needle. Now it works like a dream although sometimes I don't. One of the shop women where I bought it (not the serger lady) said she didn't think it matters so much to thread the serger with the presser foot up but with my model, at least, it sure seems too. Dorothy |
User: DorothyL
Member since: 12-09-2002 Total posts: 3883 |
From: Tom Land
Date: 01-30-2007, 09:28 AM (11 of 14)
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It sounds like it may not be you at all and the thing is just out of adjustment.
Have fun or don't do it, Tom
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User: Tom Land
Member since: 09-21-2005 Total posts: 514 |
From: mcfay
Date: 01-30-2007, 09:05 PM (12 of 14)
| Could your needle have a burr on it. That happened to me before, I had accidently left a pin in the fabric and the needle nicked it just enough to get a burr. Changed the needle and everything was fine. |
User: mcfay
Member since: 01-30-2007 Total posts: 16 |
From: lightning57
Date: 01-31-2007, 04:13 PM (13 of 14)
I have tried everything (that was suggested and more) dozens of times to no avail. Even today, again I spent about 30 minutes trying to figure it out. I had even vowed that I was done with it and I would sale it to whomever wanted it in exchange for the cost of mailing.  After putting it away I was still obsessing about it, going over in my head again and again all that I've done in the last few weeks. McFay, you were correct. Because I changed the needle the last time I used it, I gave little thought to it. So I set it up again and removed the needle thinking, just maybe I had picked up an old one or a bad new one. The needle had a burr on the tip. Changing the needle and adjusting the tension is all it took. Now I am happy again and hope to get some sewing done in the next few days. Just think how happy the new owner would have been if I had sold it for nothing. Thanks all. Sandra from SC 
Sandra from SC
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User: lightning57
Member since: 09-08-2000 Total posts: 119 |
From: ruthielm
Date: 02-03-2007, 04:16 AM (14 of 14)
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Change your needle. I did the same thing with my sewing machine. hours spent. I guess this is the reason my forhead is flat OH THE NEEDLE as I slap myself in the forhead. ruthie |
User: ruthielm
Member since: 12-16-2006 Total posts: 12 |
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