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

Location: 
United States

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.