Pfaff 260 – Fabric bunching and thread tension issues?

I'm a beginner, but I have successfully finished a few projects on cheap modern machines.
Now I have a vintage Pfaff and I can't get it adjusted right.
I've spent days fine tuning the upper and lower/bottom (I know you're not supposed to, but you would have too if you'd seen this!) tensions.
Now I've eliminated the common looping thread problem that loose tension produces, and I have the top and bottom tension set as very low, but on a mere 2 layers of t-shirt material the stitches still look like the bottom tension is too tight and the top tension too loose. The top thread is visible on the underside of the fabric and the fabric bunches up when I sew. The top tension is at "1" but if i tighten it, thread breaks and fabric bunches worse. If i loosen the bobbin tension the tiniest bit, the machine becomes very stubborn, doesn't want to turn, and/or thread gets loose and bunches up.

I have cleaned and oiled everything to the best of my knowledge.
I have no idea what kind of life this machine had before i found it at a resale shop.
Is it really true that cheap needles and thread can screw up the performance of a machine like this? Do I need to take it to a repair shop? Is there something else I can check or adjust that I just don't know about?
Please help. I'm so excited to have a machine again, especially this beautiful workhorse, and I have projects all pinned together and ready to go. It's driving me crazy and a repairman would have to wait til payday!
If you have ever owned or used a Pfaff 260, tell me everything you know! It's hard to find info about them. I have the regular and mechanic's manuals, though.
Possibly Related: The bobbin will not move if the machine is not running. After I pull up the the dangling tail of the bobbin thread (with the needle, by turning the wheel), i cannot by hand pull the bobbin thread up any more.
Is that normal?

Comments

4 Responses to “Pfaff 260 – Fabric bunching and thread tension issues?”
  1. Donya says:
    May 22, 2010 at 4:55 am

    here is a handy link to help with problems.
    Always use good thread, not cheap or old.
    Change the needle and make sure you are using the appropriate type for the fabric you are sewing. Ballpoint for knits and sharps for cottons or use a universal needle that works on all types of fabric.

  2. drip says:
    May 22, 2010 at 4:55 am

    Tensions should not be at 1. set all tension back to normal – it should tell you in the manual.

    for thin t-shirt material make sure you are using the right needle and stitch length. hold the bottom and top thread for the first few stitches. Your needles should be fine. but cheap thread does make a difference.

    You may want to go in to a sewing machine dealer (that has Pfaffs) and just talk to them before getting the machine repaired. make sure you are threading the bobbin correctly and putting into the machine right.

    I would get the machine working with some woven cotton fabric first.

  3. kay says:
    May 22, 2010 at 4:55 am

    It sounds like you’ve got bigger problems than you’re likely to be able to fix yourself without help. I’m guessing filthy tensions and machine just generally way out of adjustment. Either the repair shop or, if you’re good with your hands and patient, a group like the yahoo group "wefixit".

    This, btw, is what a properly adjusted straight stitch looks like — the first two photos. Red thread on the bobbin, blue on top — you will see the top thread on the bottom, bottom thread on the top, despite the diagrams showing the thread interlocking only in the very middle.
    http://www.picturetrail.com/sfx/album/view/22521551

    And yes, a bad needle can make a machine do all sorts of strange things. As can poor quality thread.

    Suggested reading: John Giordano’s The Sewing Machine Book, Gale Grigg Hazen’s Owner’s Guide to Sewing Machines, Sergers and Knitting Machines.

  4. pattiann42 says:
    May 22, 2010 at 4:55 am

    I would go back to the ‘cheap modern machines" you had success with.

    Your "vintage" machine is worn out (and likely full of rust and gunky old lubricant).

    Trying to find replacement parts (sounds like the tension control needs to be replaced) may be difficult and then there is a possibility the timing needs adjusting.

    As for the bobbin issue – you could have tighten the bobbin case too tight and this is why you cannot pull up the bobbin thread.

    Get out the check-book and find a Pfaff service tech.

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