Tension trouble

[B-LYN]

I have a Pfaff 2046 and I am having trouble with the tension, I am finish a class project that I started 2 years ago. I am doing a decrorative stitch for the quilt as you go and am using varagatied thread, the the bobbin thread which is the same color as the backing is coming throught to the front, not all the time but it seems to be getting worse, is this the bobbin tension as I am afraid to touch the bobbin or is the the top tension do I tighten the stitch or what. This is a really pretty project and I hate for the bobbin thread to show through on the top stitching, of course the man that sold me the machine about three years ago, that I went to regularly for cleaning ups and tuning, has left our area and I know of no one else that works on Phaff machines, any ideas I can try I have tried chaning the top tension and it dosen' seem to help. It does not show on the top all of the time but about half of the time it does. I hate this. Can anyone help!!!! thanks B-Lyn

[kho]

Hi B-Lyn, The book I have on my machne(notPhaff) says the top tension is too high. I am trying to remember, i am thinking someone else had the same problem and I sure wish I can remember what or where I saw it. I will keep thinking about it, to the point I will put robin hunting on the backburner, and see what I can find.Sit tight, someone will know.
Sandy-maybe you need to post under chit chat that you have posted a question here.

[auntjana]

I have the Pfaff 2140 - went to my manual and it tells me that the top tension is too tight or the bobbin is too loose - big help - LOL

I first would unthread the top and then re-thread it - my top tension have a habit of becoming too tight - sometimes it is me - I put the spool on so that it catches the thread keeper as it unwinds - thus making the top too tight and sometimes breaking my thread -

Touching the bobbin tension is OK - if you do a couple of steps -

1 - take a permanent marking pen and make a mark on the bobbin where the slot of the screw is currently at. Both sides of the slot in the screw. This gives you the position that you can come back too - one you know that works-

2 - turn the screw - 1/8th of a turn or less at a time to the right (righty tighty - lefty loosey) - to tighten the tension on the bobbin

Then test sew on your fabric and see if that works - if still not right - go a little further - checking each time

Keep a record of what you do - only do one thing at a time - if you change the top tension - sew a test piece - if nothing changes - go back to the original setting and then try the bobbin tension resetting. Each time keep track of what you did and only do one thing at a time.

If the bobbin is too tight - go the other way when you move the screw

My DH is an electrical engineer and this is how he troubleshoots problems that he encounters.

Also my Pfaff dealer is great for answering my questions over the phone.

Good luck
Jana