I'll do a run through on how we balance the tensions at the shop.
Before we can work with tensions, we clean and oil throughout the whole machine. It's especially important to clean and oil your bobbin area before working with the tensions. That's something you should be comfortable doing yourself. There's a tab at the top that will take you to a page to show you how to do this.
When you thread your machine, the presser foot has to be in the up position, to open the upper tension disks. If the presser foot is down, the tension disks are closed tight, and the thread can't get into them. When that happens, your fabric will have loops on the bottom, like this...
You can click on the pictures to make them bigger.
Next, make sure there's no lint in the upper tension disks or inside the bobbin case. You can sweep the lint out with your lint brush.
Then set your upper tension dial on "normal." If you don't have a "normal" setting marked on the dial, set it at 3.
Correctly thread your machine, top and bobbin. Put a light colored thread in the bobbin and a medium to dark colored thread in the top.
Set your machine to do a medium zig-zag (unless your machine is just a straight-stitch machine). On most machines it's 3 on the width and 2 on the length.
Sew on a light colored, good quality, cotton fabric for about 6."
If the bobbin thread is pulling to the top, tighten the bobbin case tension by turning the little screw to the right. Remember, "righty tighty, lefty loosey." Here's some pictures of bobbin case tension screws...
If the top thread is pulling to the bottom, that's what you want it to do. But, you only want the top thread to be a "tick" on the back. If it's really pulling to the back, loosen the bobbin case tension by turning the little screw to the left.
After working with the bobbin case tension, if you're still not sewing well, try adjusting the top tension. It works just opposite of the bobbin case tension. If the thread is still pulling to the top, loosen the upper tension. If the thread is still pulling to the bottom, tighten the upper tension.
Here's my nearly perfect sew-off sample.
If you're still not sewing well, it may not be the tensions, and you may need to take your machine to the shop.
I have a white 1265 and my upper thread tension regulator is not work properly. .
ReplyDeleteI have disassembled the upper tension regulator... and I can'get it reassembled. .. and I can't find any u tube videos on how to reassemble that model.. and can find some similar, nothing exactly like it..can you help me..tried to find a new tension regulator to replace the broken one.. cannt find one of those either..was wondering if I could replace it with one for a singet brand..I would greatful any help or info..thanks sue.
I have that exact machine with the manual. Mines has an early serial number 3513 it was in working condition years ago but I'm not experienced enough to date fire it up. Be more than happy to send info from original owners manual
DeleteHi Sue,
ReplyDeleteI checked my resources, and couldn’t find even a picture of a White 1265. I did find a user’s manual #1265 for a model 305, which may be the machine you have. But that wouldn’t help you. Each tension assembly is different. You’d need a SERVICE manual to get the schematic for the tension. At work, we don’t use service manuals. There are so many different brands and styles of sewing machines, which have been made for over 100 years. It’s impossible for a sewing machine tech to have access to all of those service manuals. And it’s impossible for a sewing machine tech to have all of that information memorized.
You might be able to make a Singer tension work, if it would fit into the hole and stay anchored.
You have to ask yourself, is this machine worth fixing? If a machine that old came into the shop, with a disassembled tension, we’d first check to see if we could buy a new part. If not, we’d check our “bone yard.” If we couldn’t find the part, we’d suggest putting your money into buying a different machine. Maybe your local shop has a used machine that’s been serviced and is in good working condition. Or you could check Craigslist in your area.
Annette
Did disassemble the upper tension and now can't figure out where the small spring (check spring?) goes, any tension diagram for Kenmore 38512681 would be appreciated. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteHi, good article. I have a question about bobbins themselves. How doI find out which is best for my machine? At one point I had two machines, got the bobbins mixed up. My old faithful Bernina 1130 is still working. I have flat on both sides bobbins and I have bowed on both sides bobbins, how do I find out which one is best for my machine? Thanks.
ReplyDeleteDthe Bernina will use the flat one. 🤓
DeleteI have a Singer 301 and the thread gets caught in the upper tension so that it stops feeding to the needle causing other problems. What do I need to do to stop this? I have re-threaded (presser foot up), it works for a while and then gets caught again.
ReplyDeleteHi, I have a Brother 8015. My thread was constantly breaking, so I cleaned and oiled it, which cleared up that problem. However, all of a sudden now my stitches on the top are extremely loose, so much that they look almost like a straight line, and easily pull right out of the fabric. I've cautiously adjusted both top and bottom tensions, but nothing has changed, and I'm not sure what step to take next. Any suggestions? Thanks!
ReplyDeleteHi Sally,
ReplyDeleteWhen the thread is a straight line on top of the fabric, either the top tension is too tight or the bottom tension is too loose. It makes me think that the thread isn’t under the tension spring on the bobbin. Is it pulled into the slot and under the flat spring?
The thread is pulled into the slot, and under a flat hook part, but it seems impossible the the thread would stay in that hook, as it seems far too big an opening. There are no coils or springs on my bobbin case. I can't seem to find a picture online to illustrate, but the best I can say is that instead of a little coil like on other bobbin cases, it is just a flat square hook.
DeleteGood afternoon
ReplyDeleteI am hoping you can help with my Toyota 5000 sewing machine which I have had for 40 years. I have tried everything that you suggest before calling in a mechanic. My husband even took this a stage further by taking off the tension regulator and adjusted it. This is because when the pressure foot was in the sewing position the thread was completely stuck. While he has improved this the upper thread from the spool is much much too tight and the result is a lot of bunching from this thread on the underside of the fabric. My husband is disappointed he could not do more to help. Any ideas?
When thread is looping on the bottom of the fabric, the upper tension it too LOOSE. When the presser foot is in sewing position, the tension disks are closed tight, and you shouldn’t be able to pull the thread loosely. When the presser foot is up, the thread should pull through the tension disks freely. If it doesn’t, there are a couple things to look for.
DeleteFirst, make sure the thread spool can spin freely. Sometimes the stickers will drag on the spool pin, so it’s a good idea to remove the stickers from both ends of the thread. If the spool is still not spinning freely, put an empty bobbin under the spool.
Second, there’s a “tension release” mechanism on your machine. When you lift the presser foot, there’s a lever inside the machine that pushes a post in the back of the tension, inside the machine. Sometimes this lever gets bent out of shape, and needs to be “adjusted” (bent), so it will push the post better.
I hope you’re able to get your machine sewing again!
Thank you for your reply
DeleteMy husband has checked everything he can thanks and the repair man is visiting tomorrow.
My husband doesn't understand why the thread is so tight on the upper tension on the loosest setting and yet the symptoms of looping suggest the upper tension is too loose. Are you able to help us to understand please
My repair man came today and made an adjustment in the bobbin area. Apparently the finger was out of place and this has now been corrected. Everything looked hopeful then with straight stitches and zig zag. There was also a suggestion that I had not threaded the tension regulator correctly around the clip. However, with further experimenting the stitches did eventually loop and bunch and so it has gone to the workshop for an overhaul.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your comments.
Hi! I came across this blog while searching for help with my sewing machine. I bought an older used machine, whose stitches seem to be having some trouble. It WAS skipping stitches, but I put in a new needle, and haven't had any trouble since. However, my top thread is pulling through to the back and I can't seem to figure out why. I cleaned it out following the steps on your blog (although it was already pretty clean), and tried adjusting the tensions as mentioned above. Maybe it's not a tension issue? But it seems like no matter what I do, the thread pulls through to the back. Help would be much appreciated! :)
ReplyDeleteHere's a few ideas....
DeleteHave you tried a different thread?
Can you visibly see that the thread is in the tension disks? Make sure the presser foot is up before you thread the machine, so the tension disks are open.
There may be a burr on the hook or needle plate that could be causing the pull. Use a very fine sandpaper (400 to 600 grit) to polish the rough spots.
There could be some lint in the upper tension. To check that, loosen the tension to 0 and probe with a small screwdriver.
The tension release mechanism might not be working. When you lift the presser foot, it triggers a lever that opens the tension disks. Make sure that's working by feeling if the tension disks are loose with the presser foot up and tight when the presser foot is down.
Hi Sewing Machine Mechanic!
DeleteThank you for the advice! I noticed that the thread wasn't threaded through the tension discs, even though the presser foot was lifted up. I wiggled the thread between the disks, and they separated easily. When I put the presser foot down, the discs clamped onto the thread and my stitches were even! :)
I have another question now that that one is resolved. Sometimes, 3 threads will come up from the bobbin area when I finish a seam. It looks like the top thread breaks and gets caught in the bobbin area. The thread comes right out, and everything works fine. Why does it do this? Any thoughts?
Thanks again and thank you so much for this blog! :)
Yay! I'm glad you got the problem fixed!
DeleteAll sewing machines will have 3 threads pull up, when the hook rotation is partially complete. To prevent this, Turn your handwheel until the needle has gone all the way up, and barely starts on its way down. That's when the hook rotation is complete. A lot of the computerized machines have a needle up option that will automatically put the hook in the correct position.
Happy Sewing!
I have a Husqvarna Viking Opal 670. Generally, I love the machine, but I noticed a few weeks ago that my upper tension plates were very loose, like they were about to fall off. I was finishing a quilt for my new grandson, so I took it to a Viking authorized mechanic and he serviced and repaired the top tension assembly, but now it's really loose again. The stitches seem to be fine. Are the tension disks supposed to be very very loose? Thanks for a reply - this is a great blog.
ReplyDeleteYes, when the presser foot is up, the tension disks should be loose. When the presser foot is down, the tension disks should be closed.
Delete