How George sounds

[katquilter]

Hi all. My George is still teaching me about thread, bobbins, and tension. I am trying to diagnose problems by sound. I know he thumps when I go through seams, no problem. But sometimes my bobbin rattles, sometimes not. Anybody else have rattling, and what does it mean, do you know? Thanks.

[o2b Quilting]

It usually means I need to oil it.

[katquilter]

Hmmm, interesting. I think I will oil and see if it changes. I think it must be a symptom of some kind. Thanks.

[Heritage Keepsakes]

Now, I don't have a George, (well technically I do, he's not an APQS machine though) but when I get a bit of a rattle noise in the bobbin area, it either means it needs a drop of oil or my bobbin is running low.

[pcquilter1]

I notice a bit of a "rattle" as well and wonder if it is the lightweight bobbin.  Oiling doesn't make a difference and the noise doesn't change my stitching.  I want to remember to stitch with a pre-wound that is "paper" and see if the noise is the same.

[Mrs.A]

Have you tracked what bobbin you're using when you hear the rattle?  Pre-wound?  Cardboard sides? Magnetic? Self-wound? Aluminum or steel?

[DawnCavanaugh]

On all APQS machines (not just George) the bobbin will rattle more when:

 

1. the hook assembly's getting dry

2. the amount of thread on the bobbin is getting low

3. the bobbin backlash spring is getting worn (it lets the bobbin slop around a bit inside the case.) To tell if the brake spring is still doing a good job, put a bobbin into the case and then hold the case in the palm of your hand with the bobbin facing up. Tap on the bobbin itself. It should bounce down slightly into the bobbin case and then bounce back up again, slightly above the top edge of the bobbin case. If it doesn't, remove the brake spring and bend up the two little prongs a bit more so that they put more pressure on the bobbin case.

4. you're using a thread that's heavier on top

5. when you make lots of direction changes with your quilting (the bobbin basket itself bumps into a part called the "hook retaining finger". The finger keeps the bobbin basket from spinning around. But the finger cannot be shoved all the way into the bobbin basket's finger notch because your top thread must pass between the two pieces with every stitch. When you change directions, or thicker thread passes through the opening, it will make the bobbin basket rock back and forth. This is normal.

 

Don't worry too much about a little rattle. If you keep the hook assembly clean and well oiled, then you're doing everything right.