HELP PLEASE

[btpingrey]

Hi everyone! I am new to embroidery, so I am begging for some help from you experienced Amaya users.

I have a brand new (just started using it last month) Amaya Bravo, and it was sewing beautifully until recently. It started having a lot of thread breaks and began sewing very rough. I have followed the thread break trouble shooting guide (to the best of my ability) and have checked to make sure it was threaded properly, checked the presser foot settings, changed the needle, checked the bobbin tension, checked the rotary hook (to include timing, etc.), and started sewing out the test pattern for thread breaks. It sews about 20 stitches (?)on the circle and then registers a thread break (even though it has not actually broken). It does seem as if the back of the hoop is sitting snug on the bar (is this normal - if not, what could be causing this)? Also, when the thread breaks, there is a clanking noise right before this (not sure what from). When the thread actually does break, it is very frayed.

I am at a loss and am trying desperately to keep my machine from becoming a lawn ornament (trust me, it may have wound up out the window last night if I could have picked it up...thankfully it is too big and heavy). I have almost lost my religion over this machine...PLEASE HELP!

Thanks,

Tammy

[Rod or Sharon]

Tammy,

This still appears to be a hook timing issue from your description. Exactly how did you go about checking the hook timing? Also, the retaining support finger gap must be set with the supplied guage. This is the support finger tha t holds the rotary hook basket in place and keeps it from spinning freely.

Is this happening on all needles or just one? How is the needle orientation? Are you sure the needle(s) is/are installed with the groove to the front side facing you?

Presserfoot should be all the way down and up 1 or 2 clicks. Where is yours set at?

In Tools, Settings, Threadfeed, what is the "Auto Lower Limit" set at. I believe Melco is setting the default to 2 now?

What kind of material are you sewing on and what kind of backing are you using, hopefully not a tear-a-way?. What size hoop are you using for the tests? How taut are you hooping the material? Loose hooping will cause this problem...

Lubrication is key...when was the last time you lubed the pinch and threadfeed rollers, oiled the needlebars, oiled the reciprocator, etc???

Look for the reason for the sudden change, ie...what have you changed from when it was sewing good and then started going bad...??

Rod Springer
Afmaya Tech & Trainer

[btpingrey]

Hey Rod...thanks so much for your response...here are answers to your questions.

Exactly how did you go about checking the hook timing? I used the Amaya Tech Manual and followed those instructions. I used the guage to measure and set the rotary hook gap. What guage are you supposed to use for the finger support?

Is this happening on all needles or just one? ALL.

How is the needle orientation? 5 - 10 degrees.

Are you sure the needle(s) is/are installed with the groove to the front side facing you? Yes.

Presserfoot should be all the way down and up 1 or 2 clicks. Where is yours set at? This is the setting I am using. I only change it when I am sewing thicker items.

In Tools, Settings, Threadfeed, what is the "Auto Lower Limit" set at. I believe Melco is setting the default to 2 now? Mine is at 1.

What kind of material are you sewing on and what kind of backing are you using, hopefully not a tear-a-way?. What size hoop are you using for the tests? How taut are you hooping the material? Loose hooping will cause this problem.

I am using t-shirt (just realized I should have used broadcloth, so will change it up) with cut away 2.5 backing, and it is hooped tightly on the 14.25 x 11.75 hoop.

Lubrication is key...when was the last time you lubed the pinch and threadfeed rollers, oiled the needlebars, oiled the reciprocator, etc??? I haven't oiled them since I started sewing. I have the maintenance set to remind me when I need to oil them and it is nowhere near time based on stitches...should I go ahead and do this? I do of course oil the rotary hook and keep the bobbins cleaned.

Look for the reason for the sudden change, ie...what have you changed from when it was sewing good and then started going bad...?? I started sewing on Fast Frames using sticky backing. Have had a few problems before this with thread breads, but nothing like this.

I just don't like the clanking noise that I hear right before the thread breaks. I cannot seem to identify where this noise comes from. Any ideas? Is the hoop supposed to be rubbing across the bar? Just wondering, there is an area on the needle plate (towards the back) that shows a thin line on the metal where it appears something is rubbing it. Is this normal?

Thanks,

Rod Springer
Afmaya Tech & Trainer

[Rod or Sharon]

Tammy,

There is not a supplied gauge to set the rotary hook gap. The only supplied gauge for hook timing is the flat metal one that is approx 1.5" X 2" X approx .022" thick. If you are using this to set the "rotary hook gap" then you are setting the gap 20+ thousands too wide. This gauge is used on the Amayas to set the gap between the support finger and the rotary hook basket.

The rotary hook gap or needle guard gap is set visually and the correct gap is "as close as you can get it" without the face of the rotary hook point touching the back side of the needle. The left and right position is for the point of the rotary hook to be "just peeking" out of the left side of the needle.

The loud clanking noise you are hearing when the thread breaks is probably the hook impacting the thread....or caused by the "sticky" backing and/or adhesive sprays...more on that below....

When I test, I usually just use 2 to 3 layers of medium to heavy backing and forget the broadcloth...using T shirt material, except for testing a final design that will be used on T shirts would not be the best way to go....

Many, many times, on this site, I have said , "If you wait for the timers to tell you to lubricate, you are probably waiting too long." The timers can be a useful guide, but there are too many varibles for it to be used as the gospel and only do it when they pop up. Go through and do a "complete maintenance lube" on your machine.

You said..."I started sewing on Fast Frames using sticky backing. Have had a few problems before this with thread breads, but nothing like this."

Sticky backing or adhesive sprays are something for special occasions and should not be used anymore than absolutely necessary. They will gum up your needles and also the glues will transfer to your rotary hook and cause you major headaches. THIS COULD BE YOUR REAL PROBLEM. But I also suspect that now your hook timing is not set correctly yet.

You may need to do a "WD 40 rotary hook wash" to clean the glues off of the hook body. This is done by removing the bobbin case first. Go into Tools, Settings and uncheck "All Thread Protection". It does not matter what needle(s) you are going to use. Lift up the pinch lever(s) on the needle(s) you are going to sew with and pull the thread out of the needle(s). The machine will now run without thread as all thread protection is disabled. Slow the machine speed down as low as you can, 300 to 500spm. Have an old towel or rag and place it under the sewing arm to catch drippings. Start the machine running using a large design ...key is to use one that allows the machine to run continously as much as possible. spray LIBERAL amounts of WD 40 into the rotary hook as it is running. stop the machine and blow out the area with compressed air and then repeat the procedure again. This will disolve the gummy deposits and clean up the system. WD 40 is not a true lubricant, so oil the hook with machine oil when you are done with the wash. Clean up the bobbincase also.

Juli from Kona will attest to this fix....she was having huge issues as you are before i convinced her to do this and now...well...ask her....her issues, as possibly is yours, was sticky backINg and adhesive sprays....

Rod Springer
Amaya Tech & Trainer

[Rod or Sharon]

Oh....re-inable the All Thread Protection when you are done with the wash.....

Rod

[Juli in Kona]

Yes, I had major, hair pulling, throw the f...g thing through the window, why did I ever get into this/ - major trouble! After the WD40 wash, everything ran very smoothly and I have never had such problems again. And I don't use spray adhesive anymore. Instead I use Iron-on No-show. Works very well, specially if I throw a tear-away under it.

Juli in Kona

[Terri H]

I echo Juli's sentiments EXACTLY!

[Rod or Sharon]

We had one of the viewers email us asking about the comment Rod posted regarding the "groove" of the needle facing the front when inserted properly. When Rod stated, "the groove," he meant the skinny groove the thread lays in down the front of the needle up by the shank. The scarf of the needle is the cut out section that goes to the rear and is located down toward the eye of the needle. Just an FYI for those who may not know.
Sharon

[btpingrey]

THANKS A MILLION for your replies. I am going to get started on the WD40 wash...this should be interesting! @Juli...your post was like you reading my mind - it made me laugh! Thanks - I really needed it! [img]smile.gif[/img] I like the Fast Frames, as I sew a lot of bags and such...but...I guess I will have to bite the bullet and buy the more expensive clamps. Thanks again...will post my results. [img]smile.gif[/img]

[Sforte7]

I too laughed very hard over Juli's post... Been there, done that! I invested in slim line clamps and really love them. I simply clip the backing to the frame, hoop my product and clamp down to stsitch. Very rarely use regular hoops anymore...even for shirts.

[btpingrey]

Ok..I am doing the WD40 wash now and it sounds like it is scruffing a bit...any ideas what this could be or is this normal?

Thanks,
Tammy

[Juli in Kona]

Magic hoops - the magnetic ones - just super!

[btpingrey]

Will these work better than the clamping ones? I have the mighty hoop and hoop master...but I only have the 5.5 fixture...do you think the bigger hoops will work for bags and such (I do a lot of thirty-one bags)? I can use the fast frames with clamps on them for some things...just not the bags.

[btpingrey]

Well the WD40 wash worked! Thank you so much for your help with everything! [img]smile.gif[/img]

Tammy

[Rod or Sharon]

Well how about that...!! Juli and I are grinning all over ourselves...Amazing what that will do for a gummed up machine....

Rod Springer
Amaya Tech & Trainer