JenC Posted August 16, 2006 Report Share Posted August 16, 2006 So I have heard about this happening...I know there is a special cover to use so that this does not happen...but I never thought it would happen to me!!! I was sewing along and the thread broke ....I look up and see the spool is feeding right into the wheel. I have removed the side cover of the machine and unwound yards and yards and yards and more yards of thread. My problem is there is still some thread wrapped tight that I can not get out. I ran the machine for a second trying to maybe loosen the wrapped thread...no luck. Any suggestions? The crack where the thread is wrapped is so narrow I can't seem to find any tools to get down in there. Think it is ok to keep quilting with the thread in there and call the factory tomorrow? The machine seems to run smooth and sounds ok. Jennifer in Indiana Millenium Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mary Beth Posted August 16, 2006 Report Share Posted August 16, 2006 I would try all I could to get that thread out. Maybe if you could unplug the machine - don't want you lighting up - and take something with a point and move the fly wheel backward, to try to un-wind the thread. Once you can get an end sticking out you should be able to get it all out. This is the voice of experience;) I did that about 4 times before I ordered a fly wheel cover. I even tried double stick tape around the slit in the machine where the thread gets sucked in. No problems now!!:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Mitchell Posted August 17, 2006 Report Share Posted August 17, 2006 Jennifer: This is something that happens and the reason for the Hartley Flywheel Cover. Remove the left front side of your machine. You can remove the thread using a thin hemostat. You might want to use a Xacto knife to cut the thread. The APQS has enough clearance to get to the thread. If you have a challenge or need help give me a call at our studio. If you would like a Hartley Flywheel cover I keep them in stock, they are $15.00 including shipping and handling. We also stock needles, bobbins and bobbin cases and the wear items on APQS machines (currently no shipping or handling charges with a $15 minimum order). Contact us here at Country Lane Quilting countrylanequilting@mail.com or 816-350-2002. Before the FW cover we used to use Velcro beside the flywheel (not always effective). John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GERRY Posted August 17, 2006 Report Share Posted August 17, 2006 Hay Jen: That happened to me the last time I cleaned the milli., I got most (I think) of the thread out (know way to know how much thread is in there ). Then I quilted a whole quilt with out a problem. That fly wheel cover is only 14.95 just one more of the things I will be picking up at the convention in Tacama. My DH keeps telling me I can only bring home 250.00 through customs duty free. not sure how I'm going to that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Myrna Ficken Posted August 17, 2006 Report Share Posted August 17, 2006 Hartleys Flywheel cover is a must have. Myrna Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JenC Posted August 17, 2006 Author Report Share Posted August 17, 2006 Thank You Everyone. I think I got all the thread out finally! The Exacto knive did the trick!! Of course it was a king size quilt on the machine. I feel like I invented a new yoga stand to work on the darn thing! Thank you again! ( and I will be getting a Flywheel cover!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mary Beth Posted August 17, 2006 Report Share Posted August 17, 2006 Hey John, Speaking of the flywheel cover. You know the three hole thread guide that just next to the flywheel cover. It is loose. Is that okay? It usually is positioned almost straight up and down instead of at an angle or horizontal. If I try to tighten it, of course it hits the flywheel cover. So far my tension seems right so I have not been too worried about it. But I know when my tension was not right, I went through the book and it said that even a thread guide, out of position, could give you all kinds of trouble. Do you think I should be concerned? And if so, how do I tighten that guide? Also, do you all stock the pre-wound bobbins that come with our machines from the factory?? I think they are Coats and Clark Poly. Thank you for your help - you guys are the best!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
9patch Posted August 17, 2006 Report Share Posted August 17, 2006 I have had to call Connie and get help getting a load of thread out of the machine. Still......I like to be able to use the flywheel. Maybe there is another adjustment that needs to be made, so that I don't need access to the flywheel. Here's what happens on occasion: I start the machine up and immediately I can hear the needle up/down motor running.....and running....and running. I turn the machine off and restart it and this takes is a cure 99% of the time. I know that there is a timing screw to fiddle with if the up/down isn't working properly, but for me it is working when I haven't asked it to. At least I don't think I asked it to. Might have something to do with the way I shut the machine down. Now that I think about it.....I think I sometimes, though rarely, give the needle a little help to penetrate the cloth, especially at a cluster of seams. Am I doing something wrong? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Mitchell Posted August 17, 2006 Report Share Posted August 17, 2006 MB This is one of the challenges with the FW cover. If you want to tighten the guide or remove the right side cover you have to remove the FW cover (scrape the double stick take off of the cover and machine if necessary and replace the double stick tape, is available at Deals or the dollar store normally). the longer double stick tape is on the stronger it gets. For position of the three hole guide see this link http://apqs.com/photosl4.htm The guide should be at 8 o?clock If one more turn clockwise is too tight I put a piece of thread in the hole and screw the guide in. This acts to hold it in place. There are other ways but this should be the easiest for you. Janet and Mary take care of all the thread orders and they are in Duluth at "Quilting of the Waterfront" this weekend. I'll ask them to let you know I'm sure they have your #. Call me if you need more help. John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mary Beth Posted August 17, 2006 Report Share Posted August 17, 2006 Thank you:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ramona-quilter Posted August 17, 2006 Report Share Posted August 17, 2006 Mary Beth, I just got my pre-wound Coats bobbins from APQS. They are poly and quite a bit cheaper than Superior. I love Bobs but at $3.00 a dozen difference, I thought I would give them a try. I ordered the colors that I can't get from Superior. I'll post when I have used them on a quilt. Then I went to the local Gammill shop and got some training on using my bobbin winder. My bobbins sometimes come out so gnarled and loopy looking, I just want to throw them away. Joann, at the Quilted Rose here in San Diego, showed me that I need to pull the thread thru the hole above the tension disks on the bobbin winder and then straight down and under the tension disks. Pull the thread up on the other side of the tension disks and over ensuring that the thread is in between the disks. You can loosen or tighten the disks tension as necessary. I wound 2 sets of bobbins last night and they were straight and firmly packed. Woohoo. Now, about the Hartley Flywheel cover, this is a MUST HAVE. It is awful how the thread gets sucked in to that hole. When I took mine apart, it was like a rats nest in there, so much thread. While that is icky by itself, the thread was steeped in the oil that I have been putting into the wicks at the top of the machine. So my machine was not getting the oil it needed because the birds nest was soaking up the oil. You really need the flywheel cover. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clovismom Posted August 17, 2006 Report Share Posted August 17, 2006 MaryBeth If you like the Coats poly bobbins I think the cheapest place to get them is www.AllStitch.net They are $36 a gross Raquel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mary Beth Posted August 18, 2006 Report Share Posted August 18, 2006 Thank you for the info. I started a quilt and am half finished and no more bobbins....I am stuck. I orded some but realized they were 100% cotton. I will look them up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mary Beth Posted August 18, 2006 Report Share Posted August 18, 2006 Linda, thank you for the reply. The bobbins that I used on this quilt were the bobbins that came with my machine a couple of years ago. They were a perfect match, and I thought there may not be enough, but I took my chances. I emailed Carla last night, but my email service is down, so I don't know if she responded. I will call to order some in them morning. I really like these bobbins, but I have just surfed about every site I can find, and all they have are black or white. I think this one is an egg shell or ivory. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shirl Posted August 18, 2006 Report Share Posted August 18, 2006 I use heavy weight velcro around the slot where the thread feeds into the fly wheel and have not had a problem since doing that. It works like a dream and saved me the cost of a FW cover. Good luck! Shirley AQuiltInn.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bev Posted August 18, 2006 Report Share Posted August 18, 2006 Gerry, Having just returned from Quiltfest in Seattle on Sunday (which was fantastic), I have to tell you that the government has decreased our duty free to $200. However, on my purchases of $387 (since fabric made in the US is duty free) it only cost me $23 PST & GST. So let your DH know that you can come home with all the gadgets that you need! I had an opportunity to meet Sherry Rogers-Harrison, (name removed) and Cheryl Uribe. All were wonderful, warm, friendly and made me feel like I was part of something very special! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quiltjunkie Posted August 18, 2006 Report Share Posted August 18, 2006 Just an FYI, I have my flywheel covered but the thread still gets sucked in the thread guide slot, the one that goes up and down..and you can't cover that..so the Velcro trick sounds good to me. I have had it sucked in the thread guide slot numerous time with the cover on my flywheel..just a word of warning, you are not completely safe with the flywheel covered. Hester Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Susanri Posted August 18, 2006 Report Share Posted August 18, 2006 Has anyone had their hair sucked in??? I keep a ponytail but I would think this would be a hazard...going to order a cover now Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Virginia Posted August 18, 2006 Report Share Posted August 18, 2006 I love the pre-wound bobbins. I was having some problems with a bobbin that I wound myself and when I switched over to the pre-wound bobbins, the stitching was perfect. The last time I worked on a quilt, though, some thread got tangled up in the bobbin area. I managed to get it out with a pair of tweezers. I am just hoping that I got it all. Has this happened to anyone else? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickenscratch Posted August 18, 2006 Report Share Posted August 18, 2006 MaryBeth, I have some of the eggshell prewound bobbins from Superior. Will they work for what you need? If so I will send you some so you can finish. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mary Beth Posted August 18, 2006 Report Share Posted August 18, 2006 Teresa, You are so nice...I placed an order with APQS this morning and since I could not get the person I talked to to run the bobbins to Kansas City, I will settle for getting them on Monday or so. This will give me a chance to organize my quilt studio and maybe work on my daughter's quilt, (since it was suppose to be a wedding present). Thank you so much for offering, that was very kind. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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