# 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.

***

### **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.

***

### **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.

***

### **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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