Rookie issue with Techsew 5100

[TES]

Thanks for any assistance you might offer in advance.

I am very new to leatherworking. Two weeks in actually. 

Last week I purchased a used Techsew 5100. I watched about 15 videos of various topics from threading to adjusting. I loaded up a few bobbins, threaded the machine and off I went to practice with the machine. All started out well and then I started to get a couple of issues. Here are the problems:

1. Initially, the top stitch looked somewhat twisted and the knot was almost popping up through the needle hole. The thread is Techsew Tex207 and the needle is Grosz-Beckert ?25....I can't make out the exact numbers as the label has faded. I also had two or three occasions where there were multiple threads coming from the bobbin when I would finish a stitch line. I took the bobbin out and had to remove the mechanism that holds the bobbin to clear it. This may have been a mistake. I put the bobbin mechanism back in, checked the timing based upon the video and all seemed lined up correctly.
2. Now, the top thread seems to get caught up in the presser foot and the same thing is happening with the bottom thread. The bottom thread will have multiple threads coming from the machine.

I did place a call to Techsew for support. I was informed that the warrantly did not apply to me and that any questions should be directed to info@techsew.com. I did send an email to Techsew asking for a copy of the manual for the machine which they did send about 1.5 days later. I am waiting on the manual for the motor now. I didn't mention this problem to the tech support person because I really don't even know the correct terminology just yet. I had to Google what the inner foot was called just to write this email.

I hope that this is something you might be able to comment on to get me in the right direction.

 

Many Thanks,

Tom

 

[MtlBiker]

I think that in order for anyone here to be able to help, you should post some photos of your exact thread path from the big spool right down to the needle.  Chances are good that something isn't right in the way you have it threaded.  Also it's important to hold back the top thread as you start sewing.  Finally, you should put a new needle in... your saying that the size on the needle can't be read implies it's old.  Needles are cheap and should be replaced often (VERY often).

We'll all try to help but we need to see photos.

[Wizcrafts]

A #25 needle is too large for #207 thread. The hole will be too loose to grip the knots. Move down one size to a #24. Use leather point system 794 (7x4) when sewing leather, and round point 7x3 when sewing cloth, webbing and bio-synthetics.

I don't know how you've threaded the machine on the top, but, make sure that the thread isn't rising up in the top tension disks as you sew.This may call for re-positioning the thread guide just below the disks. Also, it helps to wrap the thread counterclockwise around the top and bottom holes in the top thread post. I feed in through the top inline hole, wrap CCW, and feed out the bottom inline hole. This provides needed back pressure on the top thread which helps keep the thread from twisting and lifting out of the business part of the disks.

Whatever needle you install, make sure the rib is facing due left and cutout scarf is facing due right.

If the bobbin thread tension is too light, the knots will come out the top to easily. Reverse the direction of the bobbin so it makes are sharp turn and feeds against the direction of the path to the spring outlet hole. If it's too tight, feed straight in and reduce the spring tension. These machines need a fair amount of bobbin tension to offset the big spring in the tension system.

[TES]

1 hour ago, Wizcrafts said:

A #25 needle is too large for #207 thread. The hole will be too loose to grip the knots. Move down one size to a #24. Use leather point system 794 (7x4) when sewing leather, and round point 7x3 when sewing cloth, webbing and bio-synthetics.

I don't know how you've threaded the machine on the top, but, make sure that the thread isn't rising up in the top tension disks as you sew.This may call for re-positioning the thread guide just below the disks. Also, it helps to wrap the thread counterclockwise around the top and bottom holes in the top thread post. I feed in through the top inline hole, wrap CCW, and feed out the bottom inline hole. This provides needed back pressure on the top thread which helps keep the thread from twisting and lifting out of the business part of the disks.

Whatever needle you install, make sure the rib is facing due left and cutout scarf is facing due right.

If the bobbin thread tension is too light, the knots will come out the top to easily. Reverse the direction of the bobbin so it makes are sharp turn and feeds against the direction of the path to the spring outlet hole. If it's too tight, feed straight in and reduce the spring tension. These machines need a fair amount of bobbin tension to offset the big spring in the tension system.

Thank you for your replies.

I don't know exactly what needle is in the machine....I can only make out two numbers as the packaging has faded....I also have two additional packs of needles that came with the purchase...both are mfg'd by Organ Needles...One is 160/23 and the other is 140/22. I can get the needles you suggest in a day or two.

 

The first picture below represents what I see when finishing a stitch line. Thread is wrapped through the presser foot and there will be three or four pieces of thread coming up from the bobbin with only one of them actually leading to the bobbin. Pictures two and three are the top and back of the stitch. 

I did check the needle timing with the hook and changed to a new needle. It appears to be timed properly according to the video and after changing the needle, the stitches appeared to get uglier....long groove is facing left.

Thank you again for any input.

 

Tom

[TES]

1 hour ago, Wizcrafts said:

I don't know how you've threaded the machine on the top, but, make sure that the thread isn't rising up in the top tension disks as you sew.This may call for re-positioning the thread guide just below the disks. Also, it helps to wrap the thread counterclockwise around the top and bottom holes in the top thread post. I feed in through the top inline hole, wrap CCW, and feed out the bottom inline hole. This provides needed back pressure on the top thread which helps keep the thread from twisting and lifting out of the business part of the disks.

 

The system will not let me upload the photos of the threading...says I can only upload 1.46mb and the files are actuall 900kb...I assume it is a daily limit.

The thread guide on the top tension disk is at the bottom of the disk. The thread coming from the top thread post actually is so low that it hits the lifting mechanism of the foot. The thread enters the thread post in the top hole and exits towards the top tension plate through the bottom hole. 

The first few stitches with this machine did give me twisted threads on the top stitch. I found that I had it threaded incorrectly, corrected it and the twisting disappeared, but this other mess appeared at that time.

 

Thanks again,

Tom

[Northmount]

1 hour ago, TES said:

says I can only upload 1.46mb and the files are actuall 900kb...I assume it is a daily limit.

I don't believe there is a daily limit.  But it is possible.  Reduce file sizes 800 or 1024 pixels wide and you will have lots of room.  Will also be a big favour to people on the fringes of the internet with low speed connections.

[kgg]

3 hours ago, TES said:

The thread guide on the top tension disk is at the bottom of the disk. The thread coming from the top thread post actually is so low that it hits the lifting mechanism of the foot. The thread enters the thread post in the top hole and exits towards the top tension plate through the bottom hole. 

The following topic may help with threading.

kgg

[TES]

Thanks for all of your replies.

Here is what I have done/found:

 

Thanks KGG for the thread. Mine appears to be threaded as per the video reference.

 

I confirmed the bobbin hook timing with the needle. The problem exists exactly at the second stick everytime. It appears that the bobbin thread is being either pushed into the bobbin by the needle or something is causing the bobbin thread to loop back into the bobbin. The attached picture is what happens each and every time I sew....it always starts on the second stitch.

Back stitches look fine. You can see the loop pulling through the needle holes on the top side of the stitch.

[Wizcrafts]

4 hours ago, TES said:

The problem exists exactly at the second stick everytime. It appears that the bobbin thread is being either pushed into the bobbin by the needle or something is causing the bobbin thread to loop back into the bobbin.

Are you holding back the starting threads for a few stitches? This is a necessity! When you start sewing, can you confirm that the top thread is going inside the inside foot and exiting out the back of that foot? If the top thread is fed between the inside and outside foot, there will be trouble.

How much swing/travel does the check spring have? It must hold the top thread taut until the needle has penetrated the top layer. and must stop moving down before the needle reaches BDC. If your chec spring travel is too short, there will be too much slack in the top thread as the take-up lever moves down. This could lead to the thread getting caught by, and wrapping around the feet.

[Burkhardt]

2 hours ago, Wizcrafts said:

Are you holding back the starting threads for a few stitches? This is a necessity! When you start sewing, can you confirm that the top thread is going inside the inside foot and exiting out the back of that foot? If the top thread is fed between the inside and outside foot, there will be trouble.

How much swing/travel does the check spring have? It must hold the top thread taut until the needle has penetrated the top layer. and must stop moving down before the needle reaches BDC. If your chec spring travel is too short, there will be too much slack in the top thread as the take-up lever moves down. This could lead to the thread getting caught by, and wrapping around the feet.

Without having pictures of how it's threaded isn't there a guide that's missed to get a angle like that to the needle with the thread?