Help With Tension

[chapelstone]

I have a class 3 machine and love it. I am new at this and have not changed any settings since I bought the machine. I changed from 207 thread with a 23 needle to 138 thread to a 22 needle. At first the knots were showing at the top and the bottom looked good. I adjusted the tension like the book said. Now the top looks good and the knots are showing on the bottom. Any suggestions, I am afraid to change too much.

[Oakley]

I think you loosened the upper thread tension a little bit too much, try to increase it step by step. If that doesn't work you could decrease the lower thread tension a bit, but I always try to use the upper thread tension first.

[chapelstone]

Thanks, tightening the upper tension did it. I was adjusting them both at the same time.

[TinkerTailor]

In most cases, you just leave the bottom tension alone, and adjust the top to get the knot centered in the material you are using at the time. Only in very extreme changes will the bottom tension need adjustment. When setting it, only turn the tension knobs 1/8-1/4 a turn at a time until you get used to the machine. It is really easy to go to far and get way out of wack. I used a paint pen and painted dots on the knob so i can see how far i turned it. I have 4 dots on the quarters, with one of the dots doubled so i can see when i have done a full turn. I also write down how many partial or full turns were needed to get it to work for a particular new. setup. This makes it easier and faster to go back to the other setup, 207 in your case . The next time you switch to 138, just follow your directions and you will be very close to perfect.

[Red Cent]

Some time back, I was told how to set the bobbin on my Cobra 4. I found with a sound setting on the bobbin, I could play with the two upper tension knobs only.

http://www.cascity.com/forumhall/index.php/topic,47819.0.html

[l2bravo]

Chapel, quit being afraid! I am 3 weeks into a Cowboy 3200, and have messed with presser foot tension, 3 sizes of needles, 3 sizes of threads, and a couple of more combos of the threads. I guess what I am saying, is I feel it is better to learn all there is about your machine, and how to run it well, rather than being afraid of something being knocked slightly off balance, and not being able to manage.

What I have not done, is messed with the bobbin tension. Red cent is doing exactly what I am. Which is; once the bobbin tension is "right", you can dial with the upper tensions.

Knots high - loosen tension. Knots low - tighten.

Good luck man!

[Darren Brosowski]

Generally you do not touch the shuttle tension but there are exceptions. As it oscillates there is a fair bit of vibration so over time things loosen up and may need adjustment.

When the main top tension is set right the best way to make minor adjustments is to play with the pre (top) tension.