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Top thread keeps breaking
Posted: Aug. 19, 2008, 9:49 PM
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I am just about ready to take a sledge hammer to this darn machine. First it was the tension timing thing. I took the machine back to the dealer and had that fixed - brought it home and got it set up - quilted one quilt top and got about 2 passes done on the second quilt - changed my bottom bobbin (ran out of thread). Nothing changed - same thread - same quilt and now my top thread keeps breaking. I have fiddled with the bottom tension, top tension, rethreaded whole thing, changed needles, put one of those silicone discs in the bottom bobbin holder, tried different thread. No matter what I do the top thread keeps breaking after sewing about 20 inches. Does anyone have any suggestions. I did phone the dealer and they suggested that I feel around where the bobbin goes in to see if there are any rough spots that the top thread might be getting hooked on but I cannot feel anything there either. |
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Top thread keeps breaking
Posted: Aug. 20, 2008, 5:25 AM
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| Have someone watch your spool of thread while you sew. I had a spool that kept getting caught on the spindle. Also, pull the top thread by hand, through the needle or not, and see if you can see a problem. Check your upper tension disc and make sure there isn't a piece of thread there. I feel your pain, but take a deep breath and try to relax. You will be able to laugh about this at some late date and pass on your hair pulling tension experience. If all else fails see if your dealer will make a house call. |
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Top thread keeps breaking
Posted: Aug. 20, 2008, 1:02 PM
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Have you tried turning your needle JUST A HAIR to the right? What kind of thread are you using? Is this the same thread in the bobbin? What kind of fabric and batting are you quilting on? Have you tested the strength of the thread? Sometime thread can get weak in the middle due to the compression of the outer thread being wrapped around it. Just take a length of thread between your two hands and pull to see how hard/easy it breaks. Batik and hand dyed fabrics can be notorious for thread breakage because of the tight weave of the fabric. I have found that when I get thread breakage, if I turn the eye of the needle just a hair to the right this will solve the problem. In fact, whenever I do change my needle now, I set the new needle with the eye just a hair to the right (your right as your facing the machine) Keep us posted and let me know if this helps. |
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Top thread keeps breaking
Posted: Aug. 20, 2008, 3:55 PM
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Ruth, Also check for lint between your tension disks. I had the same problem you did and I re-thread the machine and found lint in between the disks. I know it can be soooo frustrating but take a break and try again. Let us know if you were able to fix it. |
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Top thread keeps breaking
Posted: Aug. 20, 2008, 8:05 PM
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I am using King Tut thread. I was using the same thread in the bobbin but I did try changing it to Superior Bottom line thread. I have tried using a new spool of thread - I have adjusted the top tension a few times. I have rethreaded the machine a couple of times and when I pull on thread by hand it seems snug but not too tight. I have tested the top thread by hand and it seems strong to me and takes a good pull to break it. I have tried turning the needle a hair to the right. I just went back and again tried to sew but once again got about 20 inches and the top thread broke again. No option of my dealer making a house call as I live 450 miles away. I keep having so much trouble with this machine and every time I do I take a break - usually for a few days and then try it again. I have about 10 quilt tops done (you have to do something when you take a break) and I am starting to think I am going to end up paying to have them quilted. I have already sent 2 quilt tops out to get quilted as I need them for gifts and just don't have any faith that this machine is ever going to work properly. I currently have a flannel quilt loaded in there and I know that you tend to get a lot more lint when quilting flannel so I keep one of those canned air sprayers handy and frequently blow the lint out. I am going on holidays to play with my horses for a week so that will give some time to cool out - if I have room I will put the machine in my truck and take it back to the dealer and see if they can sort it out for me but really hoped I wouldn't have to do that as I just got it back from the dealer. |
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Top thread keeps breaking
Posted: Aug. 21, 2008, 5:16 AM
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| Have you called customer support at Handi Quilter? Maybe they can walk you through the process and figure out what the problem is. Are you moving too fast or is the thread breaking on a curve? Have someone else quilt or have someone watch the thread as you quilt. Watch the bobbin area too. Good luck. |
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Top thread keeps breaking
Posted: Aug. 21, 2008, 8:28 AM
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| I am going to take the machine back to the dealer - I am at the point where I just want my money back as this machine has not worked properly since I bought it. |
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Top thread keeps breaking
Posted: Aug. 21, 2008, 7:41 PM
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I just got my Handiquilter a week ago and haven't had much time to play around with it since I went back to my teaching job this week. The first day I played with it, the top thread kept breaking. After changing tensions I tightened both the top and bottom fabrics, and it worked perfectly. I just now tried it for about an hour and it's still sewing perfectly even after changing thread and bobbin thread. Now I just need to learn to quilt smoothly. |
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Top thread keeps breaking
Posted: Aug. 22, 2008, 9:25 AM
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One thing I noticed at the Handi quilter booth in Nashville yesterday, is they have the quilt top/batting/backing much looser on the frame than I have been rolling it. I think that is part of my tension issues.... So Ruth, You might want to try loosening the tension on your quilt and see if that helps any. |
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Top thread keeps breaking
Posted: Aug. 31, 2008, 6:51 AM
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Ruth Christensen, Just wondered how you were doing? |
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Top thread keeps breaking
Posted: Aug. 31, 2008, 10:20 AM
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OK so I just got back to town after being on the road at cutting horse competitions for the last week - I took my HQ back to the dealer for repair (again). The check spring was broken and the timing thingy (that they fixed last time) was out of whack again. I have just reloaded the quilt I was working on after picking out most of the quilting I had gotten done (not much really as I had just made one pass and was starting on the second) and so far it seems to be working fine. I really like this machine when it is working but holy cow have I had a lot of problems with it right from the beginning and it is doubly challenging as I live about 450 miles from the nearest dealer or service center. I plan on finishing this quilt today and getting stared on a new one! Wish me luck ladies! |
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Top thread keeps breaking
Posted: Aug. 31, 2008, 3:46 PM
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Ruth Christensen, We'll keep our quilting fingers crossed for you. May all you quilt tops be quilted with ease. I think HQ16 should give you a little something to make up for all your troubles. Hint, Hint. |
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Top thread keeps breaking
Posted: Sept. 2, 2008, 10:43 PM
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Thanks Grandmapeg - I did manage to get 3 quilts quilted on the weekend! Yeah! This is the most I have ever been able to do so I am thrilled. I am not sure that my stitch regulator is working correctly though as I am still getting uneven stitching. I have double checked that all the connections are there and the rubber wheel thing is down and in place so I don't know what this is about. I do find that if I keep it going quite fast - just short of having the radar detector going off - my stitches seem to be OK and my tension is good too! WHOO HOO |
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Top thread keeps breaking
Posted: Sept. 3, 2008, 4:50 AM
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| How many stitches per inch? Maybe you should practice on some muslin and see if changing the stitches per inch makes a difference. Sometimes some of us do a bit of speeding when we get in a groove with our quilting. Thank goodness they don't give tickets. Happy quilting. |
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Top thread keeps breaking
Posted: Sept. 3, 2008, 10:21 PM
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I did have it on 10 spi but I changed it to 9spi and it was a bit better although I did have to keep my speed up to avoid those long stitches. For the most part I am pretty successful in keeping it going fairly fast and I quilt using the groovy boards so it it just a matter of keeping smooth. On another note after I posted last night the tip broke off of my stylus but I phoned the dealer this morning and have another 6 stylus tips being sent via courier so should have them by Friday. Gives me some time to get the binding on the quilts I got done. Thanks again for your encouragement - hopefully I have seen the end of troubles for a while! |
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Top thread keeps breaking
Posted: Sept. 4, 2008, 11:37 AM
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Ruth, You said you are waiting on stylus tips to be sent from the dealer. Is this for the stylus that Handi Quilter sells for the HQ 16? If so, how much do new tips cost and can they be purchased from Handi Quilter? Thanks |
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Top thread keeps breaking
Posted: Sept. 4, 2008, 7:04 PM
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my heart goes out to you Ruth Christensen...I had a similar issue, I was told it was my bobbin case, purchased a new bobbin case all was well. I got brave and really played with theold bobbin case tension adjustment on the bobbin case now all is well with the old bobbin case. As for your stitch regulation issues, again we must be twins, same sort of thing. I have the older table (3years)has multiple sections, I found the stitch varied near the sections, what I wound up doing is used carpenter shimms (wooden shingle type thing) placed them on the underside of the table above my brown frame/tracks below the table top. All is well again. Also I do try to keep a steady pace for my speed , when you slow up then speed up you will get variable stitch lengths. I do feel for you, I had issues since I first purchased the machine, the dealer I purchased it from was dropped from HQ early on and have been waiting for someone to take me on for service, they say they have to check with HQ. They really liked my money when I bought it, you did get alot for the money but who would have thought. |
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Top thread keeps breaking
Posted: Sept. 4, 2008, 8:57 PM
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Thanks Chriscandello - I will try on the weekend to shim my table and see if that helps at all with the regulator. I am OK as long as I use a groovy board that allows me to speed but I just tried tonight with a maple leaf board and it has lots of points that force you to slow down and once again I have the long stitches. I don't know if I have the old style table or not. I bought the whole kit and kaboodle last fall as a package but the table is in sections to allow it to be made bigger or smaller. I have had problems with this machine since the day I bought it although I cannot fault the dealer as they have really tried to help me from a distance and when I have taken the machine down to Edmonton they have been really good in getting it serviced right away for me. Kschoeder - I assume that it is the stylus that HQ sells although I don't see it on their web site. I got it with the machine when I purchased the package - it is a white or cream color with a black tip and a little lifter handle thingy on the top. The bottom part of this - with the actual tip that fits in the groovy boards - screws out and the new one just screws in - I got the new ones today and replaced my broken one. |
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Top thread keeps breaking
Posted: Sept. 5, 2008, 11:20 AM
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Ruth, Thank you for you help. I haven't broken my tip yet, but I have been worried about it breaking and would like to have extra tips so I don't have to wait when in the middle of a quilt. I have e-mailed HQ to see if I can get extra tips from them and am waiting on an answer, because my dealer where I bought the machine doesn't carry alot of extra items. |
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Top thread keeps breaking
Posted: Sept. 8, 2008, 9:26 PM
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This machine doesn't sound like a very good choice. I am doing research and it seems that there are so many major issues. Any comments?? I would sure appreciate the input. Thank you, Judy |
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Top thread keeps breaking
Posted: Sept. 8, 2008, 10:10 PM
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I think you will find people who absolutely love this machine and others, like me, who have had a lot of problems. Part of my frustration is that I live so far from the dealer that I bought the machine from (450 miles one way) that it is a real hassle to try and get any help. I have seen lots of comments where people have commented about the help they get directly from Handi Quilter but I know that the one time I phoned (or e-mailed I can't remember) nobody ever got back to me. Since I seem to have gotten my tension fixed that last time I had the machine in to the dealer - I was just unlucky enough to get a machine with a faulty tension thingy - I have been quilting up a storm and my only complaint now is that my stitch regulator is not working properly. I have not tried phoning the dealer to see if they can help me with this but will probably try on the weekend. I do have to say that the dealer I purchased from has been excellent as far as how they have treated me and tried to help me from a distance when they could. I think if you research other long arm quilters you will find that tension seems to be a constant problem until the operator finally figures out the sweet spot. Just my 2 pennies worth. |
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Top thread keeps breaking
Posted: Sept. 9, 2008, 5:58 AM
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| Just to add my two cents worth - I have had my machine since May 2005. I also quilt for other people. I mainly bought the HQ because of a local dealer who soon quit the business. This is a good machine for the size and money. Any commercial machine will have tension issues and need adjustments mostly due to vibration. Glen at HQ is awesome and will do anything he can over the phone to help. Having a local dealer or another HQ owner nearby is also a plus, as is this forum. You can bet that someone has already had whatever problem you are having. I highly recommend the machine and the company. |
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Top thread keeps breaking
Posted: Sept. 15, 2008, 7:34 AM
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| I just bought my HQ16 home on Saturday from the show. I bought it off the floor. My husband set- it up and leveled the table. The only thing I did was change the thread to a different color to start quilting a quilt I had ready. The machice would not work. The top thread kept breaking. I noticed the bobbin they had in the machine for demo was a small plastic one with very fine thread, like a throw away one. It was not the metal one that came with the machine. The book stated the bobbin tension is the foundation of the machine. I tried everything and all it did was break needles and thread. To top it off the screw that holds in the needle was not in straight in the hole and now it's stripped and the book states it is not covered under waranty. I am really saddened by my purchase. I can't afford this and it still does not work. What can I do? Thanks for any information. |
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Top thread keeps breaking
Posted: Sept. 15, 2008, 8:26 AM
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| If I was in your shoes I think I would be calling Handiquilter directly. They are extremely supportive! If you look back on some of the forum discussions, you'll see that the majority of the people are very happy with their machines. Keep in mind that all of these machines (whether HQ or any of the other brands) have issues. The HQ issues are minor in comparison to the "bigger boys". Also keep in mind, that these machines are different than home sewing machines. It does take time to learn what they can do and how to do it. (That's why you'll see that phrase "Practice, practice, practice" mentioned so often.) Don't give up at this point. Talk to the experts at Handiquilter. My guess is you'll be glad you did! |
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