Hi Margaret,
Sorry to hear you are still having problems - I've never heard of this one before. Have you checked that the ribber is at the right height? Your manual should tell you how to check this.
If you put some ribber needles into working position and move the carriage across them slowly, without the joining arm in place, do they form a regular pattern as the carriage moves across them? Are they all returned to working position in a straight line? If they are it suggests the carriage is working properly. If not perhaps a cam on the underside of the carriage is stuck. Take the carriage off the machine and check that all moveable parts are moving freely, oil if necessary.
If that is not a problem perhaps the problem is to do with the yarn tension. Check that there is no fluff trapped behind the tension discs on the tension mast. Are you trying to cast on every needle rib or 1x1 rib? To start with a 1x1 rib is probably the easiest. Make sure the needlebeds are aligned so that the sinker posts are opposite each other and that they are centred at 0, then push up alternate needles into working position. If you start with needle 20 in work on the main bed, start with needle 21 on the ribber bed. Use a low tension on both carriages and move the carriages slowly, the yarn should form a zig zag across all the needles.
This is all I can think of at the moment, hope some of it helps.
Sue, February 2011
