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[BigRig]

I am just looking at troubleshooting the problem causing stitches to run like diarreah starting stitches look good then they run like a loose bowel.

[JimmieJoe]

I am running into the same issue on 1 side of my twin needle. I am suspecting it might be a bobbin tension spring issue on mine.

[BigRig]

@JimmieJoe , I am not sure I am going to look at my manual and troubleshoot this now.

[Adam12]

Pictures!

[BigRig]

@JimmieJoe , how is your camera? My camera takes horrible pictures but I will try. Lets both post.

[BigRig]

@JimmieJoe , reset your needle and make sure groove is fully right on that twin needle on that right side. I am going to run a few long runs on my machine and see if that cleared this issue up.

[JimmieJoe]

This is what I think @BigRig is talking about.
This is the top side


This is the bottom side.


Note the tension looks ok then suddenly I am getting loose stitching on the bottom side, but not on the top side.

[JimmieJoe]

In case it helps this is a longer distance.

Top.


Bottom.


Showing transition from ok stitching to loose stitching.

[BigRig]

@JimmieJoe , that looks like a tension issue and something is going haywire on you. I would be afraid to TOP stich anything with that happening. My stitches were looking smeared but so far I think it is better but will run a lot more trials to make sure.

[BigRig]

, what is your day like down at the shop tomorrow. Maybe I can drive down and see your machines.

[JimmieJoe]

@BigRig I have a job in Santa Cruz tomorrow. Like you said the twin needle is a nice to have.

I have the 111w155 working well, however it would be nice to know what a properly balanced and tensioned stitch looks like. I can balance a stitch but still struggle trying to figure out total tension, and tend to run it lite to minimize puckering.

Where are you located?

[Adam12]

@JimmieJoe , a couple thoughts. My gut says the top thread is getting hung up somewhere as it comes around the bobbin. Try adjusting the bobbin case opener and make sure that the bobbin tension adjustment screw isn't backed out so far that it catches and hangs up the upper thread. Of course check hook timing. Sew down a narrow piece of fabric, small enough that you can open the bobbin cover and turn by hand to observe how the upper thread comes around and casts off ensuring that nothing is hanging it up. Pictures of the thread path from spool to needles and several of the hook area (is it right or left?).

[JimmieJoe]

@Adam12 The left side, opposite the side on a single needle.
The bobbin tension screw was actually out when this was done. The hook timing is good, but the needle height could be off. I normally time both twin needles twice after a gauge change, but have only done it once this time. The opener gap was set to the spec in the manual.

I will have to watch the thread as you mentioned. I previously had an issue with the needle plate not allowing enough clearance due to a burr on another gauge set. It is possible I have the same issue on this gauge set.

[John]

Yeah I have the same thoughts as Adam. Something is going wrong once the machine gets up to speed.

[JimmieJoe]

I made a mistake earlier, it is the left side not the right side that is acting up.
I am getting a click just after this point:

And it jumps to this point after the click:


Otherwise there is no sound during the thread movement.

[Adam12]

Play with the bobbin case opener adjustment in small increments, then cycle by hand and see if the snap sound gets better. If it improves, continue until it goes away. If it gets worse, then adjust it in the other direction. Having said that, you mentioned that you had to give more clearance on the needle plate on one of your other guage sets. That may be the tell tale, assuming they came from the same maker. Check spring could be a culprit as well, are there separate check springs for the needle thread? Less likely if they share a check spring since the other side has no issue.

[JimmieJoe]

The thread uses a common spring and disk, but I did need to change the shape of the spring to get it to function.
The gauge set were all order from the same vendor, but they appear to be from different manufacturers with different quality levels.
I did buy a new tension assembly which does have two disk, but do not remember if the spring was still common or not, but the tension disk do not align with the control disks, so was not sure that it would function properly.

[BigRig]

@JimmieJoe , clean you machine, do as Adam says too. I take my bobbin casing apart on my Singer 111 and always find a surprise under there. I am sure your double needle is of the same era as you single needle.

[JimmieJoe]

@BigRig Yeah, the 111w155 really did not start working well until I took the time to disassemble the machine and free things up. A lot of it was due to dry lubricant on the metal work on the 111w155 and 95-10. But on the Brother LT2-B831-3 it is packed with lint. Seems like bushing a dog during a coat change. I have removed a ton, but as you said I will most likely need to disassemble the machine to really get it out. The last owner seems to use it to put top stitching on denim, so they used a lot of cotton or cotton wrapped thread.

[BigRig]

@JimmieJoe , you can really see your tension is off on the left side. Try and mess with the tension on that side.