carolinequilts Posted August 22, 2009 Report Share Posted August 22, 2009 I was just working on a quilt and hit a spot on the quilt that wasn't flat (lots of seams meeting). The machine made a sound and at first I thought the needle broke, but it didn't - although it started making a popping sound. I changed the needle and still get the popping sound. However, there does not seem to be a problem with my tension. Any ideas? Could this be a timing thing? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quiltmonkey Posted August 22, 2009 Report Share Posted August 22, 2009 The sound could be coming from your bobbin. Try a new bobbin. Sometimes a good cleaning-- air blow out and squirt with wd40 and oil drops in bobbin area will make things sound happy again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quilting Heidi Posted August 22, 2009 Report Share Posted August 22, 2009 My guess is it was needle flex and the needle was hitting your bobbin case. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carolinequilts Posted August 22, 2009 Author Report Share Posted August 22, 2009 I'm going to try Shana's cleaning suggestion. I already tried a new bobbin and a new bobbin case, and it still makes the same sound. Heidi, if you think it might be needle flex and I've changed the needle and it still makes the sound do I need to retime the machine? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quiltmonkey Posted August 22, 2009 Report Share Posted August 22, 2009 Do you have a spare bobbin case?? It's alwas a VERY GOOD IDEA to have about 3 or 4 spares on hand... these go bad after a while, especially if they get dropped. I've tossed two out already and use new bobbin cases and this is a big problem solver. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Mitchell Posted August 22, 2009 Report Share Posted August 22, 2009 Check your Hopping Foot height. This normally sounds like a tapping rather then popping. JM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carolinequilts Posted August 22, 2009 Author Report Share Posted August 22, 2009 That could be it John. It does sort of sound like a tapping/popping. I'm also going to change the needle again too, just in case I put one in that had a burr or something. I've heard that can happen occasionally with needles out of the pack. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quilting Heidi Posted August 23, 2009 Report Share Posted August 23, 2009 Caroline, I didn't realize the sound was continuing after your went through the seam. I thought it was while you were in that thick area. I would clean it well and then do a manual test to see if you can see the needle hitting anything. Like Shana said you might need to change the bobbin case. I haven't had any problems with the hopping foot but John is the expert with the mechanics so I'd listen to him first! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carolinequilts Posted August 23, 2009 Author Report Share Posted August 23, 2009 Okay, first I want to thank everyone for offering their knowledge and expertise, but in the end it was the needle afterall. I did change it, but it must have been a bad needle. I put another one in and voila - no more pop, pop, pop! I am sorry if I've wasted your time, but I sure did learn a thing or two about my machine (again) in the last few hours. I did check the hopping foot height and it is just the thickness of a credit card, which I think is correct. I also checked the timing setting and everything was like the pictures in the manual. However, it was a good lesson for me on how the needle and hook assembly should look like just in case I have some sort of problem in the future! Thanks again guys! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quilting Heidi Posted August 23, 2009 Report Share Posted August 23, 2009 Caroline, Thanks for letting us know the solution. Always good to hear about these things so that when we face them we can solve them quickly! Happy quilting! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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