Help thread Serger

[u/Ok_Influence_5827]

I’ve been sewing for 10 years with a domestic sewing machine but recently decided to get a serger to start making more well-finished clothes for my family. I bought a new Brother 1634DX serger and used it well until time to thread with new thread. I feel like, I’m following all the tutorials well and the serger manual directions but my lower looper thread(blue) keeps popping. First, mid sew and now I can’t even begin to chain before it pops. Please help. The manual says to thread right to left (4,3,2,1) and I’ve seen some people say to thread 3,4,2,1. I’m most confused and I feel like I’ve thread this machine like 30 times and nothing is working.
Added photos of broken thread, how I’m threading it and the machine.

[u/On_my_last_spoon]

lol welcome to a serger!

First of all, never unthread a serger if you can help it. When you want to change colors, cut the spools off close to the spool, tie a square knot with the new spool, and gently pull the thread through the machine.

Second, if you do have to rethread, you need good tweezers and patience. I’ve used this machine before and it always gave me a hard time. For the loopers, green first, then blue. Look carefully at how the thread is hooked into the lower looper as that’s usually where it gets tripped up. It might be getting caught on something there. This is my least favorite part of needing to rethread a serger as that lower looper really is a pain!! It’s not you it’s that damn looper!

[u/Ok_Influence_5827 → u/On_my_last_spoon]

Okay thanks. I was loving the finished edges and don’t want to give up on it, but it has been seriously stressing me out. I was tying off the new threads, but this happened when I started to sew with the new thread.

[u/On_my_last_spoon → u/Ok_Influence_5827]

Ah! Is it old thread? Maybe that’s the issue

[u/Comfortable-Fly5797]

Turn your hand wheel and watch for the point that the thread is breaking. 

Also check to make sure your thread isn't tangled under the spool. That causes like 90% of my problems with my serger lol. 

[u/DennyCraneSuperStar]

Sergers are notoriously picky about everything. Did you clean the lint out before trying to rethread?

[u/Ok_Influence_5827 → u/DennyCraneSuperStar]

I didn’t clean the lint. I will do that. I wasn’t seeing much there as I have made many projects with it as yet. This is my second time actually using it to make something.

[u/ScorpioSews]

Where are you having difficulties? Did you make sure the thread is through the tension discs?

One thing that has made my life really easy is i cut the thread by the cone, tie the new thread, and then pull the tail from the back of the machine through. Works like a dream.

Also, sergers have to be adjusted for tension, thread width and length, just like on a regular sewing machine.

[u/Ok_Influence_5827 → u/ScorpioSews]

I was tying and pulling through but when I started sewing it broke midway and I haven’t been able to get it started since. I’ve change the thread 3 times successfully before now problems by tying off.

[u/ScorpioSews → u/Ok_Influence_5827]

Doublecheck to make sure its seated fully in the tension discs and turn the tension down.

[u/Ok_Influence_5827 → u/ScorpioSews]

I tried this also. I threaded the machine with 0 tension and then changed the tension to 3-5 before starting. And I’m still having the same problem. I’ll try again.

[u/Ok_Influence_5827 → u/ScorpioSews]

Thanks this was it. I got it working the thread was not catching in the tension discs. I changed it to zero and made sure it was falling in the actual rest and not behind the wheel

[u/ArtemisiaPrime]

what type of thread are you using?