Troubleshooting - Simplicity SA200 Instruction Manual & Reference Manual

Problem
TOP THREAD BREAKS
LOWER THREAD BREAKS
SKIPPED STITCHES
NEEDLE BREAKS
STITCHING FORMS LOOPS
SEAMS SHRINK OR PUCKER
THREAD BUNCHING OR
"NESTING" ON UNDERSIDE
OF FABRIC
24
TROUBLESHOOTING GUIDE
Possible Cause
Machine is threaded incorrectly . . . . . Rethread machine and needle
Tension is too tight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Reduce tension on top to a smaller number
Thread is too heavy for needle size . . . Use a larger needle
Needle is inserted incorrectly . . . . . . . Reinsert needle with flat side toward back
Needle is damaged . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Insert new needle
Thread is caught on spool pin . . . . . . . Remove spool, unwind excess thread, clip, turn spool
Bobbin case is not inserted correctly . . Reposition bobbin. If thread pulls smoothly, it is correct
Bobbin case is improperly threaded . . . . Refer to instructions for correct threading
Bobbin tension is too tight. . . . . . . . . . Change bobbin tension according to instructions
Needle is not inserted correctly . . . . . . Reinsert needle with flat side toward back
Needle is damaged . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Insert new needle
Wrong type of needle is used . . . . . . . Match needle size to fabric and thread weight
Wrong presser foot is used . . . . . . . . . Check the proper presser foot needed for specific task
Foot pressure is wrong. . . . . . . . . . . . . Check foot pressure regulation for proper setting
Needle is damaged . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Insert new needle
Needle is not inserted correctly . . . . . . Reinsert needle with flat side toward back
Fabric is too heavy/wrong needle size . . Match needle size to fabric and thread weight
Fabric is being pulled during sewing . . Check for proper foot pressure; make sure feed teeth
Needle is not threaded correctly . . . . . Thread needle from front to back
Bobbin is not threaded correctly . . . . . Check instructions for proper bobbin threading
Improper needle and/or thread used . . Match needle size to fabric and thread weight
Presser foot pressure is too heavy . . . . Reduce presser foot pressure to a lower number
Top tension is too loose. . . . . . . . . . . . Increase top tension to a higher number. Normal
Machine is not threaded correctly . . . . Rethread machine making sure presser foot is raised
Bobbin case is improperly threaded . . . . Refer to instructions for correct threading
Thread is of poor quality . . . . . . . . . . . Use quality thread
Needle is too large for fabric . . . . . . . . Use a smaller size needle
Wrong stitch length is used . . . . . . . . . Adjust length for proper stitches
Top and bottom threads are not. . . . . . Draw both threads back under the presser foot and
drawn back under the presser
foot before sewing
Solution
over, and use felt disc on spool pin
are raised and operating correctly; lengthen stitch
length. Fabric should feed automatically. Pulling the
fabric will throw the machine out of time.
settings are between 3-5.
and the take-up lever eye is threaded. Raising the
presser foot will help seat the thread between the
tension discs.
hold until a few stitches have formed