My serger works fine.....but I am wondering if you are working with different threads in the different loopers? Is there a burr somewhere where the thread catches? Is the tension too tight somewhere.....play around with your machine. Don't give up....there must be a reason....change needles...try just about everything listed in your owner's manual (hopefully yours has a troubleshooting section). I would check at the local library for a book on sergers (a question and answer type of repair book). Just MHO....keep trying .....if nothing else take the machine in and have a serviceman take a look (after quoting a price first naturally). Budster

When I first got my serger about 15 years ago I lived in dread of a thread breaking. However a thread breaking was a good thing because it forced me to learn to re-thread. Now I can thread the whole thing in minutes and I have found over the years that sometimes re-threading clears up a problem. Sergers seem to be much more demanding than sewing machines-at least older models anyway. I have it serviced occasionally and I wouldn't want to be without it. Be patient and as Budster says play around with your machine, and make notes on settings that work for you on different projects. Good luck.

I bought my serger around '98. I don't know if you would consider that old or not. The thread breaking doesn't happen often, but when it does, it drives me nuts. I am sewing on a medium weight denim. What I really don't like is trying to thread that lower looper. I have to make a loop with my thread in one hand, and use this little wire thingy to pull it through to thread the looper. It's hard to get to and hard to see. When I sat down to use it today, it hadn't been used for a few weeks. I am using the same kind of thread on all 4 spools, as I bought them at a fabric store where I used to work. I didn't think to check the needle or for a burr, but I will. Thanks to all.

donna
I also had that problem with the same model.
bought it used from a good dealer.
tears every time I used it. oncs called my 18 yr. old
grandson to come and thread the darn thing.
solved my problem. hit a small jackpot in vegas,took the
money to sewing machine dealer (George, no longer in
business) and he shipped it home to me. euro pro.
it has a thing in it that threads the lower looper
for you. go to all brands and see what they have.
most new ones have this feature. five yrs. now,
and NO TEARS. changed colors 3 times thie AM.
best $288 I ever spent.
good luck
gerryo

My serger made me so ill I've had it packed away for years.

gerryo86, I don't care for changing thread colors either. I know how to tie on the new thread and just pull it through the tensions and then thread the needles, but it's time consuming. I mainly use black, white, and sometimes off-white thread. You only spent $288 for your machine?? Mine was brand new when I bought it and I think I paid somewhere around $800.00 for it.

gerizone5...I've never gotten THAT frustrated (yet)LOL. Maybe you should get it back out and try using it again. I do know one thing, you (or at leat I do) have to be in the mood to mess with it.

donnas
you paid for the name.......
I paid $350 for the used one from the dealer.
go into joanns and look at the sergers they sell.
smae thing the name. but they also sell white for a
lot less.
if you break a looper thread you MUST rethread the
whole machine. you can not rethread just 1.
also when I had the used one I found a very fine crochet
hook helpful to pull the lower looper thread.
teacher at the store said gray thread blends well with
most color fabrics

gerryo
ps:i use serger thread on my regular machine.

Hi Donna,
I went thru the same thing when I first got my machine. Sew for 15 minutes, thread for 45 minutes. Got a couple of serger books, one was The ABC's of Serging. the books have really helped me a lot, they help to explain the reasons behind thread breaking and other problems I may have. Still don't like to rethread, but it is necessary sometimes.
Kathy g in MI

When I first got my Viking 936 serger, the instructor had me thread, re-thread and thread it again, and again, and again. It was irritating at the time, but now I can thread it in a flash, although I do refer to the manual to set up the cover stitch which I don't use as often as the 3- or 4-thread overlock and rolled hem. I'm glad the instructor was that insistent on teaching the threading. And I always say there's no substitute for hands-on classes...at least *I* learn better that way as opposed to just reading the manual.

Mary

It could be just a very difficult machine or it could be you've had so much frustration you've developed a mental block with the thing!

I had a wee look for reviews of older Bernettes and the issue with the lower looper does seem to come up with lots of people.

I'd say you have a few options. Ditch it in favour of a new model. (some reviews said this is a solidly built machine that copes well with heavy fabrics, newer, cheaper ones might not)

Get it serviced to see if there is a problem somewhere.

And the one I'd favour...

Clear an hour of your time with the intention to do nothing but thread and re-thread, like someone else said, it's tedious, but the best way to learn. Once you have conquered it you'll feel a lot better and it'll speed up all future sewing!!

If you think it'd help get someone in to be moral support and cheering squad!

You can beat the thing!!

Cheers,
AJ

I bought a Singer Serger in 1985 for $299. I found the best way to learn the threading system was to thread, unthread and thread it again...over and over. During the years, I have used it continuously until I started to quilt. I still keep the manual handy and follow the directions, and especially for balancing thread tension.
. Keep trying, check the directions and try again. Tying the theads is fine if you use the proper knot. Best Wishes for happy sewing.

PS It also helps, when learning to thread your serger, to use a different color thread for each looper and each needle. For instance, use red thread for the looper with red guides, blue for the blue guides, etc. That way you can tell which thread is out of whack if the stitches aren't forming properly.

All good advice. But yes, I do feel your pain. Serger's are just that, a pain IMHO:)
Mary

LOL, Donna, (but with you, not at you...)
I've had many heated intimate can't-be-repeated conversations with my serger in the past. It gets worse when you have limited time to sew. I have 2 kids and a FT+ job and a husband who is a CPA always at work, so when i sit down to sew I want it to work. I can't fart around on a machine for 45 minutes.

Yes, re-threading as practice really helps. I've done that. Don't have too many problems now.

2 other thoughts to consider: a) are you pulling or tugging on the material (which will cause breaks) b) is your thead old? that may be causing breaks.

Good luck!

gerry086, the reason I purchased this Bernette is because I had bought a Simplicity serger on display at the fabric store that I used to work for. I had nothing but trouble with the thing. As much as I paid for my Bernette, I don't think I'll trade it in. I think the problem is me, not the serger. needle_babe, thinking about it, my thread is old, but all my thread is old now. I worked at the fabric store from '90-'99, and I bought notions whenever they went on sale. What about my serger thread that still has the clear covering on it and has never been opened? Would that be good?

donnas
go to joanns and buy 3 new spools of thread (with coupons of course) . see if that is the problem. then try with the old thread on just the lower looper. if the old thread
breaks then it is the machine. I am not an expert on a serger,mostly self taught by trial and error. you might have to go to a dealer and have them look at it.
good luck
gerryo

I operated an overlock machine in a factory setting for several years. In addition to several other "multi-needles" (the generic term for the many machines that employ loopers in place of bobbins). I can rethread my machine (5 thread overlock, Willcox&Gibbs) in under a minute when I use it regularly and just under 3 when I'm out of practice.

What's up with the threading ORDER? in all the years I've operated overlocks I've NEVER read anything so foolish! If the machine is properly timed and the tensions properly adjusted it shouldn't matter in what order you THREAD THE THING; once the machine begins the stitch cycle the only thing that matters is that it's been threaded properly and the tensions are in correct adjustment. Once you learn how to "time" a machine you become irritated by wivestales like that; they do little save breed fear, insecurity, and indigestion in owners. Trust me.

I THINK there is most likely a tension issue. When I suspect this I immediately back ALL THE TENSIONS off and then begin the rather tedious task of patiently bringing them all into proper adjustment.

You may have a burred needle. A burred needle will be "retarded" in its scheduled stitch cycle and it may actually fray the thread of the looper that passes by it in the stitch cycle. The fraying may occur over many repeated cycles, so changing out a needle is a good first step.

My guess, though, is a tension issue. This was the number one cause of "down time" in the line. Don't be cowed by the manual. You need to sit down and fiddle around with the tensions; until you're willing to GO FOR IT, you will never master your machine and forever be a slave to it.

Take an antacid, change the needle, and start screwing around with the tensions. Really.