I learned to sew in Junior High, but when I was in HS and my mother purchased her own sewing machine (I took over the Singer Treadle) she kept having this problem. She fixed it by using a playing card (thin and coated so glides easily) and would clean out the tension discs. We figured out the problem was because she had been changing threads by pulling the thread up from the needle and machine using the spool of thread when changing spools, instead of cutting off the thread and pulling the threads downward toward the needle. I can honestly say I have never pulled the thread out by the spool, as what a pain it was to remember to clean those discs for her. Thread goes downward from the spool toward the needle when sewing. That is the same way I take it out when changing thread. And I change a LOT when using my embroidery machine. I can't get to any tension area on my Babylock Ellegante, so would have to take it in. I still use a playing card on my Babylock Jane, and follow up with dental floss. Glad you came up with a solution instead of having to take it in.

Good for you! I would have panicked too. Just think of how creative you got!!!

I have a question for those who pull it from the bottom. Often, my thread breaks, so I thought I have no choice but to pull it from the top. Any suggestions?

I have a white Quilters Star with tension like that, I stopped using it years ago, after about 5-6 years of use. My Baby Lock Jane and Juki TL98Qe has tension discs that open wide when I put the presser foot up and I occasionally blow on them. I can see into them. Usually my problems come from the bobbin area.
I'm so gald you got it fixed.

Great Job!!!! I always ask DH to help ... he is a wonderful troubleshooter, me not so much as I have no patience. Just wish I could get my Janome 1600 to quit breaking thread. The only thread it seems to accept is Mettler. I am trying to use a variegated King Tut and breaks about six times each row. ARGGGGGG

Love your pictures! We have to be Jack of all Trades sometimes! Good for you! I just had a smaller problem with my machine, but I could reach my tension disks...I used dental floss to clean them.

On this one site sewmuch4retirement.com it showed how to take a $1 bill and run it thru the tension disks every so often to clean them out. It's geared to cleaning a Viking but a sewing machine is a sewing machine and somethings are the same.

You've earned your "doctors" degree! Looks like this was quite an extensive operation! :)
Good job!

My friend has a Juki short arm (not sure of the model) that she is constantly taking into the shop to fix the tensioning problems and thread nests, so I will be sure to tell her about the tips here. Glad you fixed the problem and keep on sewing!

Women are so resourceful !! Never give up, just persevere & alas, fixed !! Congrats to you for such a good job.