lengthen bobbin thread?

[signman]

I'm running patches and having a lot of 'bobbin break' errors, and when I check the bobbin the pigtail end is less than 1/2 inch. Always happens after it has stopped for a cut and moved.
Is there a setting where I can lengthen the 'thread' end on the XT? It's quadrupling the length of time to get them done.

[Rod or Sharon]

Roland,

What you are describing is a classic selector situation that is not picking up the bobbin thread for the knife to cut it properly.

The first thing I would do is remove the needle plate, blow/clean the area out aggressively and put some on fresh oil so the selector can move freely. This may or may not solve/help the short bobbin cuts. If not, then a selector/selector housing/knife adjustment may be necessary.

The false bobbin break stuff is a different non related issue for the most part. Check all of your thread settings. Where is the auto lower limit set at? How about the run/fill speed? How high are you running your presser foot? How is the bobbin tension? Does the patch material have any kind of adhesive on the backside or are you using adhesive sprays?

Any thing that can cause a loose thread condition around the thread break sensor can/may cause these "false" bobbin break errors. Anytime you see the short bobbin pigtail, as you have described will normally be directly attributed to a selector throw issue.

Now here comes the double talk....a combination of any of the above that could cause the bobbin thread to be loose, may also allow the bobbin thread to be out of position enough that the selector misses picking it up on it's forward strike....

Check all of your settings...presser foot....lubricate..... ;-} and to answer about lengthening the thread end, I am assuming you mean the bobbin thread end? If so, the answer is no.

Rod Springer
Amaya Tech & Trainer

[signman]

I have the XT with the 'curved' needle plate, and I don't see any screws holding it down-how is that removed to clean it? Yup, we haven't taken it off since we got the XT almost a year ago...answers your question you were going to ask.
No adhesive on patch, no adhesive sprays, using magnetic bobbin and doublechecked tension, also rotating 3 different bobbin cases and it happens on all of them-worse with regular not magnetic.
PRessor foot is all the way down but just barely kisses the patch so it isn't compressing it at all.
Bobbin area was just lubricated about 12 patches ago when the message came up.

[Rod or Sharon]

Ther are two allen head screws on the "underneath" side of the needleplate that holds it in place.

If you have not had this off and cleaned out and/or lubricated this area so the selector/knife can move relatively friction free, then you have been living on borrowed time.

Our late friend, Dick, would have said, Now Roland, you know a bit of oil would just do wonders heaa.....

Lubricating the "bobbin area", probably meaning the rotary hook, is not the same as lubicating the selector/knife housing assembly area...

Rod Springer
Amaya tech & Trainer

[The Embroidery Authority - OLD]

Roland,
If I might add to what Rod has said,.. The screw heads are actually on the bottom of the sewing arm and can be seen when looking up from underneath. They are silver in color and there will be one on the left and right. Each screw has a washer that goes with it. Make sure you don't lose these. I like to put a drop of oil on the threads of these screws, maybe once a year, just to make sure they screw in smoothly when you put them back. Also, it is not necessary to put a death grip on the wrench when you tighten them. Just good and snug will do the trick.

Ed

[signman]

thanks guys, now I have something to do after lunch...get into a compromising position under the machine! LOL...don't visualize it-your stomache will turn...
maintainence is supposed to be Sue's job...but she can't do much right now-had ankle surgery. So I'll figure it out and teach her later.
Thanks again!

[signman]

just got it all apart, both top and bottom with Sue helping. As she said...'look at all the crap in there'....LOL...
so she's cleaning it all now.
Thanks!

[Rod or Sharon]

By the way Roland, we will be out your direction this Fall so if anyone is interested in tech work (if you don't already have your favorite tech) or additional training, contact us privately and we will try to get our schedule together.
Sharon

[gcannon]

I don't know if this will help, but on our XT's, we can lengthen our under thread tails by clicking on settings>machine>tail length, and we have 3 choices- short, medium, and long.

[Rod or Sharon]

Greg,

That is true for the top thread but not the bobbin thread....good info for the folks to keep in mind tho.....

Rod

[gcannon]

OK- I get it now- since forever I thought this was setting the bobbin tail length, but, in reality, it sets the TOP thread length- very good to know. Thanks Rod!