My FW has lost it's tension, Why?
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: San Joaquin Valley, California
Posts: 829
My FW has lost it's tension, Why?
I have had my FW for over 10 years and it has worked beautifully but this week I noticed loops on the back of my sewing work. The top tension worked off and on. I guess "Frances" will need to go to the FW doctor..
#2
Super Member
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Centralia, WA, USA
Posts: 4,890
TFSR is one of the best sources for information on fixing old sewing machines.
http://www.tfsr.org/publications/tec...achine_manual/
You have something going on with your top tension most likely.
I wouldn't be surprised if it has a bit of gunk caught in it. That or there's a little pin that slides back and forth inside the threaded shaft that sometimes sticks. It could be that.
Don't be afraid to take it apart and clean it yourself. It's not difficult.
Rodney
http://www.tfsr.org/publications/tec...achine_manual/
You have something going on with your top tension most likely.
I wouldn't be surprised if it has a bit of gunk caught in it. That or there's a little pin that slides back and forth inside the threaded shaft that sometimes sticks. It could be that.
Don't be afraid to take it apart and clean it yourself. It's not difficult.
Rodney
#5
Super Member
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 8,091
If it's been working great for 10 years then suddenly it starts messing up it will usually be some foreign debris in the tensions or under the needle plate, or operator error. That last part is easy if you've been using other models of machines and forget the FW threads opposite most other machines.
Give it a thorough cleaning then rethread it from the start, top and bottom and give it a go.
Joe
Give it a thorough cleaning then rethread it from the start, top and bottom and give it a go.
Joe
#6
Junior Member
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 172
I agree with Rodney -- this shouldn't be hard to fix yourself. I took apart the top tension on two of my machines. It's entirely possible that the tension release (when you lift the presser foot, the tension should let go on the top thread) is stuck. If you look online or on YouTube (I think ArchaicArcane on this board has posted some things either on her blog, or video, or both) you should be able to find the diagram of the various parts and where they go. When I take the tension apart, I just set each piece aside on a towel in the order that they came off, and in the position they need to be when they go on the tension assembly post. It's not too hard, trust me (if I can do it, anyone can).
Good luck!
Ila
Good luck!
Ila
#8
On the videos, I rebuild a bigger tensioner so make sure you read the note about featherweight tensioners in the description below the video.
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