How To...create smooth machine movement

[APQS]

Typically when owners have machine movement issues, other factors play a role:

? Is the table level, front to back as well as side to side?

? Is the table the same width across each cross bar? (see Connie?s table adjustment section on the web site)

? Is the carriage square and level? (again, check Connie?s response on the web site)

? Are the wheels on the machine?s axles adjusted to the same position?

? Are the carriage wheels adjusted the same?

? Is the machine resting on carpet? (if you park your machine on one side of the table each night, the extra weight can compress the carpet pad, changing the table?s level)

? Is the table ?square?? Moving one end of the table without a helper on the other end can torque the table out of square)

? Are the wheels set too tight (is the carriage or table frame snug into the curve of the wheel instead of the wheel lip ?resting? in the frame)

? Can you move each wheel freely while holding the quilting machine or carriage in place? (if the wheel will not turn without trying to take the machine or carriage along with it, it may be too tight)

? Is any bearing grease oozing out of the center of any wheel (a sign the wheel needs to be replaced)

? Does the machine feel stiffer in regulated mode versus non-regulated mode? (using the regulator increases the feeling of ?drag? since the machine is sensing your movement; with practice, this diminishes greatly. Try running the machine without the regulator on. If you still feel it is difficult to move, then consider making wheel adjustments. If it moves more smoothly, then it?s a matter of getting used to the regulator.)

? Is your hopping foot set correctly? (at the factory, we set the foot to a level consist with today?s popular cotton and thin polyester batting; if you are using thick batting or quilting over bulky seams, the machine will have more drag)

? Are your muscles working too hard? (The ergonomic handles on the Millennium and Freedom keep your hands in the correct position, but shift the effort needed to move the machine to your upper arms. Try sliding your hands outward along the curve of the handles, and rest your pinky fingers out along the outer curve of the handles. This shifts your muscle movements back to your forearms, where you have more control.)

? Is your ?leveler bar? set at the correct height? (when a quilt passes under it, be sure the machine doesn?t drag or rub against the quilt)

? Do you have the fabric too taut between the rollers? (this can cause the fabric to ?cup? under the hopping foot instead of laying flat across the machine?s throat plate, causing the hopping foot to rub on the quilt and create drag)

Certainly if you've worked through the above hints and your machine is still sluggish, something is amiss. If your channel locks aren't grabbing properly, the tension block is not doing its job, or you're still not comfortable with the machine's performance, please call tech support and talk with Connie or one of our other service technicians about your problem.

Service and support is a top priority for APQS. We do our best to handle each case with care, compassion, and fairness.

[Grace]

Please send information about the hydraulic lift for the table. How does this work? Thank you. Grace