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brother profile 831

Start by studying the tension for the UPPER thread: are you sure the thread is properly seated between the tension disks? They should look like two saucers back to back, and the thread goes between them. Floss the space between them with either something like a spectacle cleaning cloth or some thick lint free thread, then re-thread the machine.

Then take a good look at the bobbin and bobbin thread. Now, if this is a drop-in bobbin, just drop it in the bobbin space, and make sure you pull the thread into the leaf spring that sets the bobbin thread tension. It should unwind off the bobbin in a clockwise direction. Pull the thread up to the top side of the stitch plate by holding the loose end of the UPPER thread and turning the top of the handwheel TOWARDS you: pull up the loop and put the tails behind the foot.

If this is a take-out bobbin case, again, pop the bobbin in the right way round (anti-clockwise thread as you look at the open end of the bobbin case), and pull the thread through the slot and under the leaf spring. Re-insert the bobbin case, pull the thread up through the stitch plate (always wind the top of the handwheel TOWARDS you!), and try again.

If this doesn't work, get back to us.

Reply to
Kate Dicey
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this is my first visit to this group, i was given a brother profile

831 machine that someone was going to throw away. it has sat in an outdoor starage shed in Tucson, Az for at least 13 years, I have no books, and no attachments for the machine. so far what i have done is oiled everything i could see that moves and replace the dried out belt, and needle. But i cannot seem to get the tension set on either the bobbin, or the needle thread. I basically need to know where to go next.

please be gentle on me as the last time i did any sewing was back in highschool in the 60s

TIA Gene

Reply to
treebeard

Good for you for saving this machine from the dump heap!!

Oiling is great but don't forget to _clean_ it, too...dust bunnies, felt wads, lint, threads, etc. from between tension discs, all along the thread path, in the bobbin areas, etc. Take come clean cotton and 'floss' between the tension discs to dislodge anything that shouldn't be there.

Also look closely for sticky laquer from old 3-in-oil applications, a lot of people put this stuff on SMs and it dries into a terrible gunk that needs to be removed.

And, if you need more help, join us on the WEFIXIT Yahoo group - we're a bunch of vintage sewing machine mechanics!

-Irene

-------------- You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.=20

--Mae West=20

--------------

Reply to
IMS

i used some old yarn and got that part cleaned out just fine. also followed a link from way back that helped me thread it properly.

same link told me i had the bobbin in backwards, got it adjusted so it pull out just slightly, however now i cannot get the upper thread to latch the bobbin thread. ( a relative suggested this might be a "timing" problem)

where do i look now and thanks fot the tips

Gene

Reply to
treebeard

Come and join the Yahoo group, Wefixit!

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see if you do have a timing problem, thread up and leave the 'door' open so you can see the needle and thread in the bobbin area: turn the machine over by hand, and if the hook doesn't catch the thread at just the right point (probably when the needle is at its lowest) you may well have a timing issue. The Old Sewing Machine Guys (some of whom are ladies!) on wefixit are great at helping out with this sort of problem.

Reply to
Kate Dicey

You need a couple of inches of thread sticking out from the bobbin tension for the upper thread to pick up. Also, the bobbin tension is not very tight...somewhere around 20 grams of pull.

You can roughly check the timing by taking out the bobbin case and turning the handwheel. The hook should pass just above the eye of the needle when the needle has risen a couple of millimeters from its lowest position.

Two other things to check are whether the needle is properly inserted and whether the needle is properly threaded.

If the bobbin case is inserted from the left end of the machine, then the flat side of the needle likely goes toward the right side and the thread goes through the needle from left to right. If the bobbin case is inserted from the front of the machine, or it's a top-loading bobbin, then the needle would be inserted "normally" with the flat side at the back and the thread inserted from front to back.

gwh

Reply to
G. Wayne Hines

you might try sewusa, they carry brother manuals. Did not see your model but maybe a similar machine might help

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Reply to
gman

i have about 30 pages printed out from them, they helped me a lot. i'm still having a problem with stitches being uneven and bunching up. But at least i have the darn thing thing threaded properly, and the bobbin wound correctly, and my biggest problem fixed......an "expert" that i asked to help me had the darn needle in wrong. I havent had time the last few days to really try to test it out after that, but maybe this weekend.

Reply to
treebeard

i joined the group, but i'm a bit confused as to how to navigate it, and what i'm supposed to do there. i could use a little guidance.

thanks again

Reply to
treebeard

Just ask something - anything! - about sewing machines, and someone will know! :)

Reply to
Kate Dicey

Go to your Yahoo Groups page, look up WEFIXIT, and you can read the archives. You can also look at any files, photos, etc.

Reply to
Pogonip

That is kind of what is confusing me, i get a bunch of archives but don't really understand how to post a question. I guess i'm not that up on all these new fangeled things.

Reply to
treebeard

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