Thanks Judy that makes sense

Do you find threads get caught in the little hingy thing on the left side all the time? I have a devil of a time getting them out. [/quote]

Yes! I told my dealer that the thread usually gets caught on that little triangular thingy, and he said that is the thread cutter.

Judy

OK
So this is what was happening to me before you got the kits & we still haven't even been given ours yet. I was hoping that the kits would solve this problem. Libbi, I have found that installing that portable bright light you recommended really helps to see into the bobbin area; that and a very good small flashlight. I'll bet that I can take the throat plate off faster that the tech does. At the first sign of trouble I now take everything apart or I know I am in for a long night. Do you find threads get caught in the little hingy thing on the left side all the time? I have a devil of a time getting them out.

I haven't found a video either but just held my breath and followed the instructions. Some days I do not think the new bobbin assembly is worth the extra bobbin thread it provides. The vast majority of my sewing problems are related to the bobbin. I even think that the bobbin tension slips while sewing and my perfect stitch ends ups with the bobbin thread in a straight line. UGH!! She's due to go in for servicing soon.
Your problem does sound as if there is a thread caught somewhere. I had my DH help me put my 830 on its side in order to get a good view of the bobbin assembly with a bright light and a magnifying glass. Found some threads lodged in the assembly. It took some work with a needle nosed tweezers to get them out. Good Luck

Does anyone know if there are any videos on how to use the new hook cleaning tool in the new accessory kit for the 830? I couldn't find any on the Bernina website yesterday.
I have the new accessory kit, but my dealer hasn't tried the new hook cleaning tool yet. I am not going to poke that hook cleaning tool into my bobbin case without some fairly good instruction.

Last night I was doing a feather stitch, with the D foot and and dual feed engaged, quilting a baby quilt for a shower today. I couldn't finish it. I had a terrible time with thread getting caught under the throat plate. I would clean out all the thread I could see, and try again, and the same thing would happen. I was using YLI polyester embroidery thread. I tried re-threading, new needles (including quilting, embroidery, universal and microtex), size 11 and size 14 needles. I would start sewing again and it would jam right away. I took out the YLI and tested it with Superior's MasterPiece. Same problem.
It would jam everytime for awhile, and then magically start sewing like a dream for 20 minutes, and then go back to jamming. Aauurgh! My best guess is that thread gets caught somewhere that I can't see.

Judy

Libbi
Sorry it took so long to reply. We just returned from a 2 week trip in the Bahamas visiting our kids. From glorious 25 to -29 in a day!
Now to answer your query. I read Dianne's blog. Very interesting & I am going to play with my metallics today. As for the pad on the eyelet we don't have our kits yet so you have me there too. I did see that Bernina has a special Anniversary addition coming out in February. Hopefully it will address all the upgrades they are making to our machines.

Barbara,
Glad to be of help whenever possible. Did you take a look at Diane Gaudynski's blog post on the use of the ball point needle referenced by Pam? I read it, discussed it with my DH, and we decided it was a plausible explanation. I just know that using this type of needle has worked for me so far--go figure. Also Bernina has put a pad on the new eyelet attachment on which to put thread lubricant before the thread enters the 830. I was told that this was a NoNo because of the potential damage it might cause to the automatic thread mechanism within the 830 threading system. Obviously not now--another Go figure!

Libbi
Thanks for giving me insight into why the bobbin thread never comes up-that is also frustrating. In the future I will try your manual trick. I like your idea about turning off the alarm, my dealer also does this. She says that they drive her nuts. Like you, I listen for differences in the sounds that BB makes & I am getting to know when someting is amiss.
As for the needles I am at a loss. I went to the 3 day Superior Threadology course in Utah & that just seems to go against all BoB had to say.

Hi Pam,

Thanks for the link with the answer. Diane is associated with Bernina so maybe her input spurred Bernina to test this out. I usually source Diane for quilting advice but I was focused on embroidery. I have to mention that using the ball point needle makes an awful sound as it punches through the fabric and stabilizer. Or at least a sound to which I am not accustomed.

Libbi wrote: According to Diane Gaudynski an SUK or Jersey needle sometimes keeps the metallic from shredding.http://dianegaudynski.blogspot.com/2010/07/needle-thread-and-fabric.html

Hi Barbara (not Bunny, since you sign Barbara!),

You and I use the same thread spool holder set up. The WTG has worked brilliantly for me but I did have one spool of Superior varigated metallic thread that just gave me fits. I figured that it was the spool because all my other Superior metallics worked very well. Anyway that is the spool I used for my tests and for the first time I was able to embroider an entire design with this thread. And I did it 3 TIMES!

The only thing I do not understand is the logic behind is the pack of needles sent for stitching metallics in the kit. They're SUK which is ball point! This is not the first time I have been told to use this type of needle. The recommendation has always been an embroidery sharp with large eye and deep groove along the shank. I may write to Bob at Superior thread for some insight.

My pet peeve is that the bobbin thread is not picked up by the stitch action. In general it is not because the bobbin is threaded incorrectly but that the bobbin thread cutter appears to cut the thread a bit too short--not the automatic cutter but the cutter to trim the thread when loading the bobbin. So when I change the bobbin, I pull the thread tail just a bit longer and cut it off manually.
I also sew without the cover. My dealer says that unless one has little children that will put their fingers in the mechanism, it's probably a good idea. I also had to shut off the "upper thread broken" alarm because it lies to me too often. With the cover off I can see it and generally can hear a difference in the sound it makes.

Thanks Libbi
I too will compare but really find the WTG fabulous as it has solved so many problems that I was having. I usually put my threads on the large Bernina multi thread holder or on a heavy duty table thread holder before threading them through the various eyes. But you are so correct some of the nasty metallics just make you want to cry.

This morning I was in a hurry & had cotton on top & poly in the bobbin-BB was not happy.

I am looking forward to getting the tool for getting the threads out of the bobbin area when it jams. By the way does your machine ever skip picking up the upper thread. I just keep the upper throat plate off so I can see if the uptake hook has performed it's job or not. This has saved me hours of frustration!

Bunny,
Paragraph 2 of my reply is my test of the WTG and the items in the Bernina accessory kit.

Libbi
OK now I understand. The kit is fun stuff & not tension related. I use the Wonder Guide that you suggested I buy all the time & have been really happy with it. How does the new Bernina device compare with it?

As for the tension problems. Since I took BB in to the dealer my machine is behaving much better. It is still very sensitive. I do agree with you & have a love hate relationship with her at times.

One wonders how many regular folks tested this baby before it went to market. We could have told them a few things!