Argh! Overlocker threading problems

I've been trying to thread my overlocker for two days now without success and I'm about to go mad so I'm hoping that someone can tell me what is happening.

It's a Janome Mylock and I never seem to have any problems threading it whatsoever so this makes it extra frustrating.

The two threads for undernath seem to be fine. The two top threads which go through the needle however are driving me crazy!

I thread everything up fine, and test it on a piece of scrap material. Everthing is fine. Even the tension is fine. I do another test to make doubly sure that is ok and then one of the needles is somehow not threaded. It isn't even the same needle each time.

The first time it happened, it was on the needle which was using wooly nylon overlocker thread so I thought it must be a fluke accident where the thread had snapped and the tail got caught up with the 3 threads that were working. (the unthreaded thread is still moving along out the back of the machine with the 3 correctly 3 threads that are stitching fine)

I tried again, and the needle using poly cotton thread did exactly the same thing as the wooly thread did.

I tried it with just poly cotton thread. Same thing happened again with one needle at a time.

This is a rethread afer one of my needles broke and I've changed both of them. I'm sure it can't be possible that the needles have a hole in then for the thread to escape, but it's the only think I can think of.

I've got my husband involved in the threading of the needles to try and prove that I'm not actually going crazya dn he has come to the same conclusion as I have. The overlocker fairies are out to get me as it didn't like me making 3 skirts in one day, so the machine has gone on strike.

Can anyone advise me? It's probably something so amazingly simple but after

2 days of trying to thread it, I need to catch up on my work, hence my plea.

Sarah

-- i canb ty[p3 wei9th m6y n0s4e

Interesting problem Sarah. Here's a few things to try, but I don't guarantee the results.

1) Check the needles are the right needles, in the right way round and as far up the holder as they can go, and tightened up properly. 2) Make sure all your tension discs and thread paths are clean, and the mass of gubbins under the stitch plate. 3) Thread the machine according to the instructions, making sure all the threads go properly into the tension discs. Use long tails. 4) Check that none of the thread is getting caught round the cones / spools / back of the serger (I've had that one before - leads to some interesting results but not usually jumped needles) 5) Check the thread hasn't popped out of the guide on the top of the machine between the overhead thread carrier and the tension disc - mine seems to do that sometimes (in fact it did this on my new blouse last weekend :( ). 6) Check the thread hasn't possped out of the tension discs (had this happen before) 7) Watch the stich being formed as you hand wind the machine without any material to see if you can see anything strange happening. Very occasionaly I miss one of the thread points on my lower lopper path and this causes strange things to happen and much swearing.....

HTH and my sympathy. I'mn sure someof the other more knowledgable people will chip in with help.

When I was serging last weekend - just a wide 3 thread overlock on my quilting cotton blouse, wizzing along at top speed, the needle broke! Thats the first time thats ever happened, and has made me worried something has gone a bit wonky........ I've run the machine since with no apparent problems at a lower speed. I must check when I bought the machine - I have a feeling it might just be just over a year ago.....

Sarah (in N. Wales)

MY MIllie MyLock was giving me simialr problems and lots of grief. Took her to the shop I bought her at and after an hour of fiddling the nice lady found that the needles were not quite in place. they took a great deal of loosing of the screws and a good hard shove. That might be your problem. Juno

You'd be amazed how often needles are the source of all evil in a sewing machine of any type. With a serger, even more often since they use more of them than the average sewing machine, Boo-boo! ;)

Like several others have said, Sarah, change those needles again. Make sure they are seated all the way in. Loosen your screws (that hold the needles in) more than you think you need to. I will loosen mine almost to the point that they come out. That way I know the hole for the needle shaft is completely open.

What may have happened.....I don't like woolly nylon in the needle. The eye on the loopers (down below) is bigger than an average machine needle's eye. So woolly nylon will pass through there fine. But I've seen it hang up in regular needles. (Whacha making with woolly in the top??? Sounds interesting!) If I were going to bet money on what happened, I'd guess woolly nylon snagged in the needle and broke out the side of the eye. Then when you changed the needles, you were ticked at the whole thing, went quickly and didn't get the new needles seated all the way. (wanna ask me how many times I've done that??? I try to remind myself it's like dealing with a toddler having a hissy fit. Doesn't do any good to get mad. Just remain calm and work the problem. Promising myself a glass of wine for after I win the battle also helps LOL) Then with the needles not in all the way, it's easy for one to break or bend. And you might not be able to see the break either. It very well could be in the side of the eye. I took a magnifying lense to one once. Yep sure enough, the side of the eye was cracked and thread could pass through.

My rule of thumb with all my machines is if there is a problem, and it's not obviously something else (like thread is caught on the spool or the machine's unplugged, etc.) I change the needle(s) first. 9 times out of 10 that's it.

Good luck!

Sharon

PS.

And don't try to change the needles with your nose. I'm really proud of you that you can type with your nose, Sarah. But don't try to change the needles that way.......body peircings are fine, but that's not the best way to get one. ;)

Too I have one of these:

's a Two Needle Installer. Very handy little doohicky. :)

Sharon

Dear Sarah,

I just had that problem. It's not the needles, although that could be the problem if they're not embedded properly. Look carefully at the needle plate. There is a tiny finger, over which the stitches are formed. It is most likely bent. Even a very slight bend will cause major stitch problems--namely, one thread will hang free of the finished stitch, or, one of the needle threads will break. This is the weakest part on the serger--I'll be glad when it is resolved. In the meantime, I keep an extra needle plate on hand (about $20 for my machine).

Teri

Hi Sarah,

If you are using standard spools of thread for the needles instead of cones check the spools. More then once I've put a regular spool on the machine only to find the thread catches in the little thread notch on the spool or on a rough piece of plastic. If it is the notch, turn the spool upside down to get away from it. If it's a bit of rough plastic, file it down with a nail file. Good luck.

Liz W.

Ooh! What a good idea! I didn't know they existed.

Sarah

Ooh! How will I know it is bent? I've had a look at it whilst winding the machine on by hand and the stitches seem to be forming properly until about

18 inches into stitching when the thread from the inside needle catches on the already formed stitching. I don't notice this until the material starts bunching up as it can't flow freely away from the machine due to the catch.

Sarah