mamu Posted May 31, 2013 Report Share Posted May 31, 2013 Boy am I frustrated I have been trying to quilt a friends Bargello quilt with a curly pantograph design using Fantastic variegated on top and Magna classic bobbin. The thread breaks about every 4 inches. The thread acts like it is too tight, but when I loosen it then it pools on the back or loops on the top. I have loosened the bobbin, tightened the top and vise versa repeatedly and it hasn't fixed the thread breaking. Then I checked, re-checked for burrs, grooves in eyes, checked and re-threaded the machine repeatedly, changed my needles and needle size 4 times. Checked the tensioner and cleaned it. It is fairly new, about 8 months old. I then put in a different thread, just in case it was the Fantastic thread causing the problems, and it broke with it too. I have an Ult11 with Intelestitch regulator set on 12 spi. Ult11 machines do not have a hopping foot. So, in order for me to clear all of the bulk seams I have set the hopping foot above the seams, but still touching the fabric top. I have had the foot set this way for a long time and have never had any issues doing that. I even took the throat plate off and re-checked the hook, clean everything with WD40, oiled up Pandora and re-tested. As soon as I start quilting on the quilt, the thread breaks I will try to post a couple of pictures so you can see what I am talking about. The top thread coming onto the back looks like it is actually stitched on the back...what causes that? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickenscratch Posted June 1, 2013 Report Share Posted June 1, 2013 Laura, My Ultimate II has done that before. Check to make sure your thread is really between the two little disks in the tensioner. Also, try wrapping your thread a different way in the three hole guide, or try a thread net. It's because the thread is not getting to the needle at an even speed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mamu Posted June 1, 2013 Author Report Share Posted June 1, 2013 Thanks... I have a thread net on the cone, checked the thread in the tensioner, and have wrapped the thread through two holes..up and down not around the three hole guide. I even pulled a whole bunch of thread off the spool thinking that it might be bad....but then when I changed to different thread and it still did this, well I am at a loss. I wonder if I need to get some more eye's for the thread path? would that help? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LoisSietsma Posted June 1, 2013 Report Share Posted June 1, 2013 Is the tension spring working as it should? Does it move downward about two hours from its resting spot when you pull the top thread back from the needle? Meaning if the spring sits at 11oclock, it pulls down to nine oclock (or from ten down to eight, depending upon its starting position). I experienced similar top thread problems pooling on the bottom recently, and my spring had lost its sprung, and thus was not applying consistent tension with each stitch. A new spring solved my problem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mamu Posted June 1, 2013 Author Report Share Posted June 1, 2013 I did check that and when the spring is resting it is at 11 o'clock and when thread pulled it came down to 9 o'clock....BUT, I do have a new spring I could put on and see if that helps! Anyone else have any suggestions????? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LoisSietsma Posted June 1, 2013 Report Share Posted June 1, 2013 Laura, did you also check the bobbin case itself for a burr? Or try a brand new bobbin case? A rough spot on the interior of the case could catch your thread and break it. Just trying to help you find a solution.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimerickson Posted June 1, 2013 Report Share Posted June 1, 2013 Laura: Check your 3 hole pretensioner and make sure that it's tight, and in the proper position. Also check the check spring and make sure that the back of it isn't dragging on the machine. A clue to this is if the paint is rubbed off where the spring cycles. If the check spring is dragging, loosen the little set screw that holds the tension assembly in place, and move the assembly out enough to provide room for the spring to move freely. Also check the position of the wire thread guide above the cone and be sure there's something (I use a small piece of batting) in the loop to help contain the thread as it pulls off the cone. Good luck. Jim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Butterfly Posted June 1, 2013 Report Share Posted June 1, 2013 Try changing your bobbin case. This sounds and looks like what happened to me. Switching out the bobbin case finally fixed it. Those cases do wear out, even though they don't look worn out. I hope this works. I know how frustrated it can be. Jess Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mamu Posted June 1, 2013 Author Report Share Posted June 1, 2013 Thank you everyone I will be applying all of your suggestions today and keeping my fingers crossed that I can overcome this problem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheri Butler Posted June 1, 2013 Report Share Posted June 1, 2013 I only loop my threads thru the middle hole of the 3 hole thread guide. I do this with EVERY thread I own! Also, you shouldnt need to use "the wad of batting" thing in any guide. Thread tension speaks for itself. It's either your tension from above, or your tension set in your bobbin case itself. That is why I have a bobbin case for every different thread I use. EX: One for bottom line, one forso-fine, one for Glide..one for rainbows..etc.! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LibbyG Posted June 3, 2013 Report Share Posted June 3, 2013 Did you try a larger needle? Maybe the thread is shredding trying to go through the smaller hole. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ginnysnowden Posted June 3, 2013 Report Share Posted June 3, 2013 I am havint the exact same problem, hoping in all your answers resolve will apear! Ginny Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
b.glass Posted June 5, 2013 Report Share Posted June 5, 2013 I had the same or similar issues with my bottom tension. I tried everything and then came the miracle fix-I tried another bobbin case and it fixed everything and I can use any thread. Hope this works for you. Beth Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BobbieJones Posted June 5, 2013 Report Share Posted June 5, 2013 One other thing that I don't think anyone mentioned was to check to make sure that your quilt sandwich is not to tight between your take-up leaders. That has happened to me before. I understand your frustration. Good luck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimerickson Posted June 7, 2013 Report Share Posted June 7, 2013 Laura: Did you get this sorted out? If so, what was the cause? Jim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarieBrewer Posted November 27, 2013 Report Share Posted November 27, 2013 Why does my thread break when I am traveling a path of right to left (straight line)? It does this for Omni and So Fine. I also have more shredding than I ever have and am wondering what's up with that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quilting Heidi Posted November 27, 2013 Report Share Posted November 27, 2013 Laura try some thread lube or mineral oil on the cone of thread. I find that usually solves all my issues when it doesn't want to behave. You can soak a piece of batting and put it in the thread guide to lube the thread. The mineral oil will NOT leave any residue on your quilt, works wonderfully. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mamu Posted November 28, 2013 Author Report Share Posted November 28, 2013 Laura: Did you get this sorted out? If so, what was the cause? Jim I think have this issue resolved. At least it hasn't behaved like this since we replaced the hook assembly. Then we replaced the needle bar as I had some issues with the bar moving about 1/8th inch back and forth. Things are nice and tight now and I have been humming away. I purchased this machine used and the previous owner didn't have a clue about maintenance. Things wear out and need to be replaced. I wish I had realized things needed replacement sooner, would have resolved many of the problems I struggled with over the past year. I will be keeping the 'mineral oil' trick on file as I do have a couple of threads that I can use that on! Thanks for all of the great input I got from everyone...sure did help Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quiltmonkey Posted November 29, 2013 Report Share Posted November 29, 2013 I did check that and when the spring is resting it is at 11 o'clock and when thread pulled it came down to 9 o'clock....BUT, I do have a new spring I could put on and see if that helps! Anyone else have any suggestions?? At 9 o' clock your top thread is still too loose. Tighten the tension disc until the thread is hitting between 7 and 8 o'clock. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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