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Posted

I just picked up a Brother LS2-B837 for some leatherwork and Tac-Nylon Gear. I cannot for the life of me get the bobbin to feed correctly. It just spools up in the case and jams within 5 stitches. 

I've watched every YouTube I can find and scoured the Internet for the appropriate model but nothing has this setup or an explanation on how to do it. 

Does anyone have any experience with this machine that can help a guy out? 

Bobbin Photo

Super Thanks in Advance! It's a little discouraging and I'm trying to push through the buyer remorse lol

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Posted

Are you brand new to sewing, or do you have experience with other machines?

Industrial machines have many commonalities, meaning there are lots of machines that work like yours.

Please post photos of how you have the needle thread threaded, all the way from the spool to the eye of the needle.

And photos of how you have the bobbin threaded.

And if the following suggestions don't help, then a video of you installing the bobbin and making stitches.

 

Suggestion A is to read online about balancing tension between the top and bottom. When it jams up underneath, it's usually because not enough top tension to pull the knots taut, so it leaves loops hanging on the underside, and the hook can grab those leftover loops and then it jams.

Suggestion B: make sure the presser foot is DOWN when you stitch (otherwise it releases the top tension and you'll get a mess underneath)

Suggestion C is three-fold:

1. Start each seam with the take up lever at its highest position. (Otherwise thread yanked from your fingers)
2. Hold the top thread firm against the material or against the table for the first couple of stitches. (Not holding at all, the thread will jam (bad). Pulling on the top thread, that will unlock the first couple of stitches (less bad, but not optimal.) So just hold it against the table or material so it's neutral.)
3. Finish each seam with the take up lever at its highest position. (This locks the final stitch and allows you to pull the material away from the hook)

 

Looking forward to your photos/videos 🎥

 

friquant. Like a frequent, piquant flyer.

Blog: Choosing a Motor for your Industrial Sewing Machine

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Posted
On 6/19/2026 at 11:53 AM, friquant said:

Are you brand new to sewing, or do you have experience with other machines?

Reply:

I'm apparently much newer than I felt I was haha... I've done garment repairs before and have tinkered with designs on smaller domestic home machines. But this one has me stumped...

 

Suggestion A is to read online about balancing tension between the top and bottom. When it jams up underneath, it's usually because not enough top tension to pull the knots taut, so it leaves loops hanging on the underside, and the hook can grab those leftover loops and then it jams.

Suggestion B: make sure the presser foot is DOWN when you stitch (otherwise it releases the top tension and you'll get a mess underneath)

Suggestion C is three-fold:

1. Start each seam with the take up lever at its highest position. (Otherwise thread yanked from your fingers)
2. Hold the top thread firm against the material or against the table for the first couple of stitches. (Not holding at all, the thread will jam (bad). Pulling on the top thread, that will unlock the first couple of stitches (less bad, but not optimal.) So just hold it against the table or material so it's neutral.)
3. Finish each seam with the take up lever at its highest position. (This locks the final stitch and allows you to pull the material away from the hook)

Reply:

I reached out to a fellow on Instagram who posted on here that I recognized. He seems to think it may be out of time. I sent a request to a shop nearby my house to see if it's something they can handle and look at for me. Maybe he can show me what I'm doing wrong. 

 

 

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Posted
4 hours ago, Oak Ridge Company said:

I reached out to a fellow on Instagram who posted on here that I recognized. He seems to think it may be out of time. I sent a request to a shop nearby my house to see if it's something they can handle and look at for me. Maybe he can show me what I'm doing wrong. 

If the hook timing is too advanced, it can cause jams.

This looks like the service manual for your machine: https://www.manualslib.com/products/Brother-B837-4237661.html
See page 61 for timing the hook on single needle machines.

Additionally, this video by Uwe will give you an excellent visual insight into how to time a machine. The machine looks to me quite similar to yours.

 

 

friquant. Like a frequent, piquant flyer.

Blog: Choosing a Motor for your Industrial Sewing Machine

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Posted

I think your machine is a lot like the Singer 111W155

This page shows how to thread the top thread:  https://embroideryhooping.com/blogs/20251013-052410/singer-111w155-threading-stitch-speed-guide

This video shows how to thread the bobbin case and pull up the bobbin thread: 

 

With the bobbin threading, make sure after you pull up the bobbin thread that you press one finger on the bobbin and give a little tug on the bobbin thread to make sure that the thread is locked in place under the tensioner. (He didn't really do that in the video)

friquant. Like a frequent, piquant flyer.

Blog: Choosing a Motor for your Industrial Sewing Machine

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Posted
1 hour ago, friquant said:

I think your machine is a lot like the Singer 111W155

 

Yes! It actually takes many many parts from the 111W! 

 

Heres a link to a bunch of what I'm working with... 

https://imgur.com/a/IyxRBNi

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Posted
50 minutes ago, Oak Ridge Company said:

Heres a link to a bunch of what I'm working with... 

https://imgur.com/a/IyxRBNi

Needle Thread

You got most of the needle threading correct. There are two more points worth getting and you'll have it perfect. First the thread controller (the round thing with the thread check spring attached). You need to pull the thread against the thread check spring to get the thread hooked behind the little thing inside the thread controller. Second there is a thread guide on the bottom end of the needle bar. These are both worth fixing but they are not what is giving you trouble.

Bobbin Thread

The bobbin case is where the trouble is at. I was lucky, when I bought my first industrial machine the seller delivered it to my house and showed me how to thread it, then watched me thread it to make sure I had absorbed the info. Here are the steps:

  1. Thread the needle thread
  2. Turn the hand wheel so the take up lever is at its highest point
  3. Leave at least 3 inches (10cm) of thread hanging out of the bobbin.
  4. Drop the bobbin in the bobbin case such that when you pull on the thread, the bobbin spins counterclockwise. (There's a good reason for the counterclockwise)
  5. Hold one finger on the top of the bobbin so it can't spin
  6. Feed the thread over the lip and pull it forward so it goes under the thread tensioner. Give it a little tug to make sure it's under the tensioner
  7. Let go of the bobbin and bobbin thread
  8. Hold the end of the needle thread against the table so it can't go anywhere
  9. (optional) lift the presser foot
  10. Turn the hand wheel one revolution while you're still holding the needle thread against the table
  11. Now pull on the needle thread and the bobbin thread will come up through the needle plate
  12. Pull a couple more inches of thread from the bobbin thread until it's all lined up and going where it ought

At this point you would be ready to make a seam.

friquant. Like a frequent, piquant flyer.

Blog: Choosing a Motor for your Industrial Sewing Machine

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Posted
16 hours ago, friquant said:

Second there is a thread guide on the bottom end of the needle bar. 

Man when I noticed I biffed that up after posted I was kicking myself lol... I was more focused on getting the video done than paying attention. But I'll check out the other part for sure! 

 

I'm gonna go play with the bobbin now and report back 

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Posted (edited)
17 hours ago, friquant said:

 

Bobbin Thread

The bobbin case is where the trouble is at. I was lucky, when I bought my first industrial machine the seller delivered it to my house and showed me how to thread it, then watched me thread it to make sure I had absorbed the info. Here are the steps:

  1. Thread the needle thread
  2. Turn the hand wheel so the take up lever is at its highest point
  3. Leave at least 3 inches (10cm) of thread hanging out of the bobbin.
  4. Drop the bobbin in the bobbin case such that when you pull on the thread, the bobbin spins counterclockwise. (There's a good reason for the counterclockwise)
  5. Hold one finger on the top of the bobbin so it can't spin
  6. Feed the thread over the lip and pull it forward so it goes under the thread tensioner. Give it a little tug to make sure it's under the tensioner
  7. Let go of the bobbin and bobbin thread
  8. Hold the end of the needle thread against the table so it can't go anywhere
  9. (optional) lift the presser foot
  10. Turn the hand wheel one revolution while you're still holding the needle thread against the table
  11. Now pull on the needle thread and the bobbin thread will come up through the needle plate
  12. Pull a couple more inches of thread from the bobbin thread until it's all lined up and going where it ought

At this point you would be ready to make a seam.

So I'm positive I still don't have the top thread done 100% correct but but but... 

 

BOBBIN WORKS!!! THANK YOU!! 

The Bobbin Opener/Lever needed opened like 1/16th of an inch (something I found randomly in a YouTube for a singer 111.

Got it to feed by hand and under power. 100spm and 1900spm without issue. I do need to adjust the top tension though so I'll have to figure out the correct direction to wrap the thread.

 

Can't express my gratitude enough! 

Edited by Oak Ridge Company
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Posted
24 minutes ago, Oak Ridge Company said:

BOBBIN WORKS!!! THANK YOU!! 

Got it to feed by hand and under power. 100spm and 1900spm without issue. I do need to adjust the top tension though so I'll have to figure out the correct direction to wrap the thread.

That's great! Which part of the needle thread is not quite right?

 

friquant. Like a frequent, piquant flyer.

Blog: Choosing a Motor for your Industrial Sewing Machine

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