Arg! Hate my BabyLock!

[threadbey]

I think the cute little "puff the thread through" threading system that's supposed to be so "easy" has finally died. Maybe it's just old... I got it second hand a number of years ago (maybe 5?) and the threading system has always been iffy. Just ran out of thread in the middle of something and can not for the life of me get a new thread in (using MaxiLock).

Plus, I just got some woolly nylon to make nice fuzzy edges on ds's diapers and there is no WAY that is going through the stupid threading ports. :

I can't figure out any way to bypass the system. Anyone else out there figured it out?

If I must buy a new serger (since I can't live without one now) - are the "hard" to thread ones really that hard? I have to imagine it would be better than a machine that's totally useless once the silly puffer thing won't work right...

Baby awake...

Thanks!

[jessielove]

The Brother that I have is really easy to thread. The tension dials are color coded and there is a color coded guide printed on the machine to show you exactly how to thread both loopers and both needles. It's a Brother 1034D.

I have no idea about the Babylock. I'm sorry I'm not much help! Have you tried calling a repair shop?

[rubelin]

it's probably clogged. you should have a wire threader (that you're supposed to use for thick and/or fuzzy thread, it looks like a long wire with a loop at one end) and you can push that through to make sure it's clear. Mine got a big chunk of lint caught in the looper once and it took several passes of the wire threader in both directions to get it out.

you can also get lots of help on the babylocksergers group on yahoo. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/babylocksergers/

[threadbey]

a wire threader! what a great idea. i'll look for one in the box of stuff that came with it.

no repair shope where i am...

[rubelin]

if you can't find the one that came with the machine (it is usually coiled up in a little baggie), then you can probably use some other thin wire. You don't want anything much thicker than thread, but you'll want to double or triple the end to make it strong enough to push through a lint clog

[threadbey]

couldn't find one. i'll look again now that i know i'm looking for a bag, but i did try a thin wire (pulled it out of a wired ribbon) - it got almost all the way (through two 90 degree bends), then couldn't get past the third and final bend. i even tried pushing it from a point past the first bend and still no luck. maybe it's a clog, or maybe the wire just can't handle the turn...

i may well be in the market for a new serger. dh makes lots of fun of how many "sewing machines" i have (he says 6, but the treadle singer is just furniture at this point, and the hand cranked singer-look-alike from india is really just a souvenier, plus the embroidery machine (a second hand mistake) is only for embroidery, and the serger is not a sewing machine) but says i've "gotten such good use" out of the serger that he "could support" a new one if this one is broken!

it won't be an immediate purchase, though, sadly :

thanks for your advice. i'll keep fiddling.

[rubelin]

hee about the zillion machines. I've got 3 vintage Singers but one doesn't technically work right now (I replaced the gears but can't get the zigzag working right) and an old babylock that has a broken stitch finger and then my Babylock Evolve.

I really recommend at the very least tracking down someone to help you fix your babylock. They really are awesome machines and all the machine mechanics I've spoken to have told me that they almost never have to do repairs on them.

Oh, try pushing the wire through from the top, at the end of the actual looper. You'll probably want to remove the foot to get in at the right angle, but it might help since it sounds like the clog could be closer to that end and it would give you more leverage.

[AlaskanGrown]

I also have a BabyLock. Sounds like you have a clog in the pipes. I would continue to try and find the wire and run it through the system.