TROUBLESHOOTING GUIDE
Problem | Possible Cause | Solution |
TOP THREAD BREAKS | Machine is threaded incorrectly . . . . . | Rethread machine and needle |
| Tension is too tight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | Reduce tension on top to a smaller number |
| Thread is too heavy for needle size . . . | Use a larger needle |
| Needle is inserted incorrectly . . . . . . . | Reinsert needle with flat side toward back |
| Needle is damaged . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | Insert new needle |
| Thread is caught on spool pin . . . . . . . | Remove spool, unwind excess thread, clip, turn spool |
|
| over, and use felt disc on spool pin |
LOWER THREAD BREAKS | Bobbin case is not inserted correctly . . | Reposition bobbin. If thread pulls smoothly, it is correct |
| Bobbin case is improperly threaded . . . . | Refer to instructions for correct threading |
| Bobbin tension is too tight. . . . . . . . . . | Change bobbin tension according to instructions |
SKIPPED STITCHES | Needle is not inserted correctly. . . . . . | Reinsert needle with flat side toward back |
| Needle is damaged . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | Insert new needle |
| Wrong type of needle is used . . . . . . . | Match needle size to fabric and thread weight |
| Wrong presser foot is used . . . . . . . . . | Check the proper presser foot needed for specific task |
| Foot pressure is wrong. . . . . . . . . . . . . | Check foot pressure regulation for proper setting |
NEEDLE BREAKS | Needle is damaged . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | Insert new needle |
| Needle is not inserted correctly. . . . . . | Reinsert needle with flat side toward back |
| Fabric is too heavy/wrong needle size . . | Match needle size to fabric and thread weight |
| Fabric is being pulled during sewing . . | Check for proper foot pressure; make sure feed teeth |
|
| are raised and operating correctly; lengthen stitch |
|
| length. Fabric should feed automatically. Pulling the |
|
| fabric will throw the machine out of time. |
STITCHING FORMS LOOPS | Needle is not threaded correctly . . . . . | Thread needle from front to back |
| Bobbin is not threaded correctly . . . . . | Check instructions for proper bobbin threading |
| Improper needle and/or thread used . . | Match needle size to fabric and thread weight |
SEAMS SHRINK OR PUCKER | Presser foot pressure is too heavy . . . . | Reduce presser foot pressure to a lower number |
THREAD BUNCHING OR | Top tension is too loose. . . . . . . . . . . . | Increase top tension to a higher number. Normal |
“NESTING” ON UNDERSIDE |
| settings are between |
OF FABRIC | Machine is not threaded correctly . . . . | Rethread machine making sure presser foot is raised |
|
| and the |
|
| presser foot will help seat the thread between the |
|
| tension discs. |
| Bobbin case is improperly threaded . . . . | Refer to instructions for correct threading |
| Thread is of poor quality . . . . . . . . . . . | Use quality thread |
| Needle is too large for fabric . . . . . . . . | Use a smaller size needle |
| Wrong stitch length is used . . . . . . . . . | Adjust length for proper stitches |
| Top and bottom threads are not. . . . . . | Draw both threads back under the presser foot and |
| drawn back under the presser | hold until a few stitches have formed |
| foot before sewing |
|
32