Sewing machine problem

[Shyla]

I've got 2 Brothers machines and neither has a spool cushion. Both have some ...tension issues, and both do the thread jumping. I put a piece of craft felt on the newer one which helped a lot with the jumping. Both were bargain machines (black friday and a mother's day sale) from ....walmart.

[Jezrah]

Huh, weird, I had that problem with a bargain Brother from Walmart too. Mine also had tension problems with the bobbin where the thread would get stuck somewhere and break off no matter how I threaded it or what thread I used. I got too frustrated with it and got a higher quality Singer from Joann's.

[WhiteDove01s]

...

Ok, so, along with the rest it's definitely looking like 'save for a better sewing machine' should be on my list of things to do. XD

[ShadowKat]

I have an ancient (70s to 80s) model Brother, a VX-880, that was my mother's. After it sitting pretty much my entire life (24 years +), it still runs like a dream. I did have to do a thorough cleaning on it, and I oiled it where the manual told me to (I still have the original manual plus all the original accessories that came with including a fancy double needle that I really want to try out but haven't had the chance. I believe my mother used it a couple times then boxed everything back up until she gave it to me last year).

I did have tension issues where it constantly snapped the thread, but that was due to the tension being set about 3-4 notches too high. I also had to clean the bobbin holder like 3 different times to get it running smoothly. Fresh wound bobbins help.

I have no trouble out of my spools, but my machines has a small white plastic ring around the spool holder that I'm not sure if it's a cushion? I thought it was part of the mechanism that let the spool holder extend out and back into the machine. I honestly don't know much about machines.

In short, not all Brother machines are terrible. I really love mine because it's an embroidery machine, and has really tiny stitch settings. I usually run it on about 4 length for 1/6th clothing and that's about the size of my hand stitches.

[WhiteDove01s]

Oh, I was figuring it has less to do with it being a Brother machine... and more to do with being on sale at WalMart. XD

[Shyla]

Oh, I was figuring it has less to do with it being a Brother machine... and more to do with being on sale at WalMart. XD

Same here XD

Edit: I took 2 machines into a repair shop today for **** and giggles. I carried the Brothers in and let the nice lady look at it. One look, she said, "I can't recommend getting it serviced. It's a bargain machine and the servicing charge for these starts at (price I paid for machine new). You can get a new machine for that." The other machine she was thrilled to work on, so eh.

[Cianonzo]

This happens to me about every two minutes, and it is hella frustrating. >A< I know the feeling.
I use my machine's winder as well... and I don't think it's the tension. //sigh/ I have no clue how to fix it, so I just tolerate it. :c