tenngal

I tried sewing on my Pfaff 260 today and had a ton of trouble. I got the bobbin case to where it is easy to get in and out - lots of manuevering and a different bobbin and OIL. I tried a straight stitch and a zigzag and the top of the piece looked beautiful, but the bottom was a tangled mess. I put in a new needle and new thread, changed the top tension (which is very loose) - then the bottom tension was too tight, so I know how to turn the bobbin case screw to loosen - which I did next. I read through the book and searched online as to what else to do. On the last 4 attempts, as soon as the needle went into the fabric, the spool of thread on top jerked and spun and everything just stopped. Never had that happen before. Any ideas?

Thanks from Tennessee

Candace

Are you sure you have the correct Pfaff bobbins?

Mitch's mom

The bobbin is either the wrong bobbin or you have the bobbin in backward. If I recall the 260 bobbin thread should pull off the top of the bobbin and to the right. If you are using new style Pfaff bobbins they are too narrow for the machine.

Daylesewblessed

I have a Pfaff 130, and it cannot handle new bobbins. Although the bobbins look identical to the original bobbins in size, thread does not flow from the bobbin case when using them -- it pulls very tightly once the thread is brought up through the hole in the needle plate.

J Miller

Phaff bobbins are that phickle ..... what a pain.

I'll stick to Singers and Kenmores ...

Joe

Candace

As with any repro parts, Joe, China has poorly remade Pfaff parts too.

J Miller

Candace,

I know, I was just being facetious. I've run into some really crappy Singer repro bobbins too.

Joe

shasta5718

Also check and see if you need a new needle.

cricket_iscute

Change ONE variable at a time and test that.

Generally, a mess on the bottom means tension is not set properly on the top, or thread is not between tension discs.

Did you oil the bobbin area? More than one drop, applied infrequently, will cause this. Take a swab and clean it out.

Don't mess with the bobbin tension as a regular thing; it will only cause more confusion.

As for the spool on top jerking, take it off and see if thread is wound around the spool pin/holder. Re-thread with the thread coming from the back of the spool, counter clockwise.

Make sure the needle is the right size for the thread and both are right for the fabric.

Make it a habit to start EVERY seam with four stitches in a small piece of fabric and then leave that attached, take a stitch or two on air, and start your seam. Since I have done this, I have had ZERO problems with a thread nest on the bottom, no matter what machine.

I assume you cleaned out the lint? Are you using a quality thread?

Pfaffs are fussy about their bobbin areas because of tight engineering. Any piece of lint or thread, even the smallest one caught in there, will cause the machine to stop.

Joe, if you sewed on a Pfaff 130, you would change your mind about Pfaffs. They are fussy but worth it.

J Miller

cricket,

I'm sure that eventually I'll pick up a Pfaff. The problem with me is .... I don't like fussy machines. I just want to sit down and sew, and if I got to fiddle with something each time I try to use it, out the door it goes.

Joe