Geech, I don't normally have thread breaks!!

[Debbie Rinehart]

I know you guys must get really tired of hearing the same complaint about someone having constant thread breaks but, this has me totally stumped. I had already stitched this normal size logo on my XT on 8 twill shirts last night and two more tonight without even one thread break on any of them. But after a color change, out of the blue it started breaking thread after every 50-60 stitches. One thing I did notice was when the needle case moved from needle 9 to 11, it made that loud snapping noise as it passed by both needles. Then immediately it started showing lots of white bobbin thread on the edges and breaking every 50-60 stitches. The satin outline around the edge of complex fill areas (which looked perfect on the other 9 shirts) look terrible. I got to wondering if a gear might have cracked during one of the loud snaps (which I tried to stop but couldn't get to quick enough). So, I thought I should try stitching on other needles just in case one of those two had cracked, so I moved the 4 spools of thread from needles 9-12 to 1-4, but still no good. I was still doing everything exactly the same as I did on the other nine twills that didn't have one thread break. I was using the same type backing as before, same logo, acti-feed, presser foot up two clicks like on the others. Something that caught my eye was the acti-feed was spiking from 2-12; looked like mountains on the screen. How can you go from 9 perfect shirts to one that can't go more than 50 stitches without breaking on all four colors??? I'm current on all the maintenance, cleaned out under the needle plate, changed all needles, checked for proper needle incertion, did the bobbin drop test to check for bobbin tension. Can't feel any nicks on the bobbin hook. Any takers out there??? Debbie Rinehart (who wasn't on the cruise, but my sister-in-law Amy Broxton was) <g>

[Debbie Garifi]

Hi Debbie,
Did you try shutting down/restarting your computer and reloading the design from design shop to your amaya? Just a thought.....I know it has happened to me.
Debbie Garifi
Design Wizard Embroidery

[TinaK]

That is exactly what I was going to suggest as it looks like you covered everything else or just about everything.

Maybe you can join us on the next cruise as it was great to meet your sister in law.

Good luck!

[Debbie Rinehart]

Thanks gals,
Yup, I did turn it off late last night, got up today and reloaded, crossed my fingers and held my mouth just so, butttttttt, no such luck. I'm going back down and (try to) find the CD with the latest update and re-load that. Maybe that will jog something. I just have a bad feeling about this since I was running shirts just fine and then heard that dreaded snap-snap on a color change!!!! But, if all else fails,I'll just take everything to Amy's since I've got 40 more shirts waiting to be stitched. With only being able to do 4 an hour (10,500 stitch count), it's gonna be a LONG two days!!! THANKS for your help Tina and Deb!! Debbie

[GF]

What DOES the "snap snap" mean when you hear it? My XT is starting to do that during needle changes but seems to be sewing fine and the "snap snap" isn't consistent. What can I do to keep ahead of any problems that may be brewing? Maintenance is up-todate and I oil the bobbin every day before I start.

Geri in NJ

[signman]

Sorry I can't tell you exactly-my brain is compressed on drugs for a few days...but our Big Red has done that 'snap' occasionally and it is because the needle case has 'jumped a gear' inside.
Hopefully someone reads your question and can tell you how to put everything back where it belongs. All I can remember is something to do with realigning the 'physical' (head) with the sensors (computer) so that everything meshes together again.
Ours has done it from hitting a cabinet on a long move to the side or from someone leaning on or hitting the head from the side enough to make it 'jump' a cog. But it is a very simple procedure to fix it.
Sorry I can't think of it but I'm brain mush from anti anxiety meds while we wait for further cancer test results and I'm still down a few quarts from full due to major bleed out when they nicked a blood vessel.

[Rod or Sharon]

GF
The snapping sound is the main threadfeed drive gear not lining up or meshing properly with the gears on the threadfeed roller assembly. The threadfeed roller assembly gears then drive the individual threadfeed rollers.

Debbie,
The right upper color change motor cover can be removed to check the condition of the main threadfeed drive gear. It is a white nylon gear approximately 1.5" in diameter. If this gear is broken or fractured it will cause the gear to wobble resulting in gear slippage,for lack of a better definition, which in turn will cause all kinds of grief. Eratic sewing, loose loopy stitching, false or real bobbin and thread breaks, etc.. If it is fractured or broken, it will need to be replaced.

I have often seen lots of thread get wrapped up in these gears which will cause them to fail....it is mainly a maintenance issue..

Rod Springer
Amaya Tech & Trainer

[GF]

Wow, Signman, I really hope to you get and feel better.

Rob, with the description of my "snap snap" pre-problematic discovery, what specifically should I do?

Geri from NJ

[Rod or Sharon]

Geri,

In "Maintenance", "Steppers", you can go to the far right hand column labled "Threadfeed", click on "Home". This puts the threadfeed drive motor back at a preset home position. But, unless you check for any thread buildup in the total threadfeed drive gearing system, which could cause drag and failure, then this will not help.

Look at the instruction I mentioned before for Debbie in my last post....that is the first step. Removing the threadfeed rollers and looking down in the pockets with a flashlight to make sure one of these gears are not broken and/or there is thread buildup around the shaft would be another step.

I know you say that "Maintenance" is up to date, but what exactly does that mean....up to date based just on the timers popping up?

Rod Springer
Amaya Tech & Trainer

[GF]

Hi Rob,

Maintenance is something I don't ever depend on the timers for. I maintain these machines daily and/or weekly depending on what and how much they're sewing. I oil the bobbin, knife, etc. daily . . . other areas weekly, or as I see necessary. I vaccuum or air-can areas that need it daily and am always checking them. I'm probably over-diligent in the maintenance but heard too many stories about negligence. I'm careful not to over-oil and am not afraid to pull off the covers and check often. Amazing where a little piece of thread can rest itself. There are no pockets of stray thread anywhere. No cracks. Just once in awhile, a snap-snap as it's changing needles. I never liked the sound because it's always "oh #&*%" and ends up being a false alarm. But I'd really like to know more about this. I'll try the steppers instruction. Thanks for that. Anything else you can think of, I would really appreciate it.

Geri in NJ

[Rod or Sharon]

Sent you an email...
Rod

[Debbie Rinehart]

THANKS sooo much to everyone!! What a great group! I had a big order to finish so I was luckily able to go to my sister-in-law, Amy Broxton's to use her machine the past two days and finish the order. I haven't had any extra time to look at the gears, but after reading all the posts, I figured it was broken. So I've called a tech since I've got a couple other issues, like needle 15 & 16 not performing well( occasionally having false bobbin breaks)and the lazer light is out, too. So, I figured it's time to bite the bullet and call a tech! Never seems to happen when you only have 4 or 5 shirts!!! THANKS TO ALL!!!!!! Debbie

[GF]

Hi Rod,

I just checked my XT's threadfeed gear like in the photos you sent (thank you). XT1 that is not snapping actually is the one which looks out of alignment somewhat. XT2 seems perfectly aligned and that's the one that has a random snap-snap sound. What is the procedure to align the gears? On XT1, it looks like the main threadfeed drive gear would need to come out closer toward me, or all the other ones need to rest outward toward the main gear.

On XT2 that was having a snap sound, when I gently pushed on the gear, it kind of slightly moved because I heard a nice snap noise. Maybe it just became misaligned a little and now it's okay?

But now I'm concerned about XT1 and the visual misalignment of the gears. Both machines are sewing fine though. What are your thoughts about this? I have a photo of it if you'd like a visual.

Geri in NJ

[GF]

Hi Rob, actually I see a crack in the main threadfeed gear on XT1. This needs to be replaced. How do I do this?

Geri in NJ

[GF]

I am sooo sorry I keep spelling Rob instead of Rod . . . typing error.