Katie Troubleshooting tips

General Tips for Ashford Katie

• Break-in period: Some parts (like the ratchet/pawl or beater action) smooth out with moderate use.

• Replace stretchy parts early: Many weavers swap stock apron/warp cord for stronger Texsolv cord for better long-term tension control.

• Keep loom square: This single check solves more issues than almost anything else.

Uneven Tension Across the Warp

Problem: The warp feels tighter on one side than the other, or some threads are loose even after winding on.

Causes:

• Uneven winding onto the back beam

• Uneven tension on apron/warp cords

• Cords of different lengths

Fixes: ✅ Re-wind the warp evenly. Make sure the warp winds on layer by layer without shifts or bunching. ✅ Match apron cord lengths exactly. If one cord is longer/shorter, that side will pull differently. Double-check before tying on. ✅ Advance the warp gradually. Stop and check tension as you advance to the breast beam — catches early prevent bigger problems later.

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Beater Doesn’t Swing Smoothly or Snags

Problem: The beater arm jiggles, rubs on the frame, or feels stiff when you try to swing it forward/back.

Causes:

• Beater bar out of square with the loom

• Slight mis-alignment from shipping or initial assembly

• Cords or parts sitting incorrectly

Fixes: ✅ Check squareness. Measure the diagonal from corner to corner — if they differ, loosen and gently re-square the frame before tightening. ✅ Check beater bar alignment. Make sure it sits evenly in its slots; sometimes small adjustments of the pivot bolts help it swing more freely. ✅ Lubricate gently. A little beeswax or dry lube on the moving wood surfaces can improve motion without attracting lint.

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Ratchet/Pawl Doesn’t Hold Warp Tension Well

Problem: The back beam ratchet doesn’t click securely, or when you tighten the warp, it slips back rather than staying locked.

Causes:

• Pawl’s position not engaging teeth fully

• Ratchet screw too tight or too loose

• Cheaper pawl material (typical on small table looms) needing slight adjustment

Fixes: ✅ Check pawl orientation. Ensure the pawl is mounted correctly and fully seated on its pin. If mounted upside-down it won’t engage. ✅ Adjust the pawl tension. Loosen it slightly so it can move more freely into the ratchet teeth, then tighten just enough to stay put. ✅ Rock slightly as you engage. Gentle movement of the loom while setting the pawl often helps it find each tooth and click into place.

Tip: If the pawl or ratchet teeth become worn, order replacements from LoftyFiber.

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Bonus: Shed Too Small or Hard to Open

Problem: The opening between the shafts when lifting doesn’t feel large enough, making difficult or dense warps harder to weave.

Fixes: ✅ Check warp tension. Too tight a warp collapses the shed — loosen slightly and re-tension once threaded. ✅ Check heddle string lengths. Incorrect or uneven lengths can restrict movement; match them carefully or replace with Texsolv strings of equal length. ✅ Confirm threading sequence. Mis-threaded heddles on a multi-shaft warp can limit the shed — re-check threading.

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