hello, we are new to serging and we recently bought our first serger, an old broth er 634d. we are having an issue with one of the tension knobs and can't seem to find any information on it really, but i stumbled across this group in my searc h and thought i would try reaching out. the overlooper tension knob doesn't seem to be working... when we turn all the other tension knobs they go from feeling very loose to pretty snug, but when we turn this one it just seems to go from loose to loose. is it possi ble to adjust this, or do we need a new tension mechanism, or...? thank you, ashley and brent
I don't know your machine, I hope our Ron Anderson jumps in here.
In the mean time I will offer a few suggestions:
Maybe you have already done this, but if not, give the serger a thorough cleaning (and lubing if the manual calls for it). When you clean it DO NOT USE CANNED AIR , that just blows lint into various nooks and crannies where it will gum up the works. Use a brush and small vacuum. Use dental floss to clean between the tension disks, running the floss back and forth several times, replacing the floss as it accumulates lint.
Thread the needle(s) and loopers FROM SCRATCH with DIFFERENT COLORED THREAD and sew a test. Refer to the threading instructions in your manual, and follow them EXACTLY. Sequence matters in threading a serger. Using different thread colors will help you to determine which thread (if any) is not properly tensioned. Thread with the presser foot UP, then lower the presser foot and pull on each one to see if each thread is tensioned. (Tension is not applied to any of the threads until the presser foot is in the lowered position)
Then, ONLY IF YOU HAVE A SERVICE MANUAL, because it is quite complicated, take the tension apparatus apart, and see if you can determine how to tighten it. It may have loosened over time, in which case perhaps you can adjust it. Or it may just be worn out, in which case you will need parts.
There used to be an online "tension repair" link for *sewing machine* tensions,
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but I just tested it and it's 404. ;-( However, I don't know if it would help much with serger tension. I do take my Bernette MO2-3-4 tension apart from time to time when the tenrsion seems off, but it's an older fairly uncomplicated serger.
Perhaps you can find something here which will help:
My Bernette 234 serger left needle was so loose it had no tension at all. I decided to take the front panel off to check it. Found out it had come unscrewed so I tightened it up and added a bead of the strongest glue I could find over the the nut and screw to keep it from loosening up again. Hope this will help someone.
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