new to this world

Hello everyone... I have just acquired an older ricoma 1201 rt date code 200603 (can anyone tell me the real date ) I got this very cheep and only want to use it to make stuff for my small Business not wanting to go into the embroidery business. I need to know if there are any classes or instruction for beginners. The basics is needed here. I got it working, I got files loaded (old 3.5 floppy) and started working but the thread keeps braking. And how much thread to leave after it goes through the needle? If I don't leave enough it gets pulled out of the needle before it can start stitching. If I leave too much the thread from the adjacent needle gets caught in the pattern .... I live in the Kansas City area any schools around here?

Thanks for any help.....Mike

March 2006 for production year??That would be my guess. Sounds like tension issue for thread breaks. There are online classes on the Ricoma site but I don't know how helpful they would be for a machine that old. I think they are geared toward the new machines.