How to set the tension on a spinning wheel is a topic that is often overlooked in beginning spinning classes and yet a wheel with badly adjusted tension will spin only poorly if at all. Having the tension adjusted correctly makes spinning a joy while poorly set tension causes frustration and yields poor quality yarn.

One of the problems with trying to give general instructions for setting the tension on a spinning wheel is that there are many different types of tension adjustments in use today, not to mention the different types found on antique wheels.

There is, however, one general rule that applies to all wheels regardless of who made it, when it was made, or what style it is: The tension should be set just tight enough so that the yarn winds onto the bobbin and just loose enough so that the yarn can be pulled back off the bobbin through the orifice.

Look at your wheel and identify the tension control device or devices. Most wheels will have between one and three tension controls depending on the style of wheel and number of drive and/or tension bands that need to be in place for spinning.

The upright single drive bobbin lead wheels (Irish Tension) are probably the easiest wheels to adjust. Modern versions, such as the Louet S-10, use a poly drive band which needs no adjustment. Any tension adjustments needed are made to the flyer break band which is tightened if more take up is needed and loosened for less take up. Note that strong take up is a feature of these wheels and it may be necessary to leave the brake band completely off to reduce the draw in.

Single drive bobbin lead wheels that use cord, rather than poly, drive bands will also have a control of some type for raising and lowering the bobbin and flyer assembly to allow for adjusting the tension of the main drive band. The rear upright may have a nut that is loosed to allow the upright to be raised or lowered or there may be a knob for adjusting tension mounted at the top of the rear maiden. If there is a knob at the top of the rear maiden, there may also be a corresponding knob on the front maiden. The purpose of this knob is to level the flyer after the drive band tension is set.

Single drive flyer lead wheels will have a means of adjusting tension on the main drive band plus a Scotch Tension device for controlling the tension on the bobbin. A Scotch tension device consists of a rubber band or a spring attached to a piece of string and attached to a knob on one side of the mother-of-all and a small hook on the other side. The string goes over the bobbin whorl and just a small turn of the knob adjusts the tension. A free hanging weight may also be used for Scotch tension instead of a spring or rubber band. Some of these wheels have one knob to control tension on the main drive band and some have two. If your wheel has two knobs, one will be located under the table and this knob should be loosened before the knob controlling the distance of the bobbin & flyer from the main drive wheel is adjusted. After the tension adjustment is made, tighten the knob under the table up again. If your wheel is a Saxony type, then the tension controls will be mounted at the rear of the table and possibly under the table. The knob located under the table is there to keep the mother-of-all snugly in place and, while it does nothing to adjust the tension, it must be loosened to allow movement when the tension control knob is turned. An upright wheel will usually have the control knobs mounted on the maidens.

Double drive wheels will not have brake bands or Scotch Tension devices as the double drive band controls the tension on both the bobbin and flyer whorls. Simply turn the main tension control knob to adjust the tension, remembering to loosen
the large nut under the table, if there is one, first and to tighten it again after the adjustment is made.

Note: your double drive wheel may well have a Scotch tension device as many wheels come with this option. This allows you to set up the wheel as a single drive, flyer lead wheel should you prefer that set up to the double drive set up.

The above applies to wheels with a screw type of tension adjustment. The other most common types of tension adjustment controls are tilt tension and rocker tension.

Tilt tension wheels can be identified by a hinged mother-of-all which has a control knob that allows the mother-of-all to be tilted to tension the drive band. The Ashford Traditional has this arrangement. Simply turn the knob, which is located on the mother-of-all, to adjust the tension on the drive band.

Rocker tension is seen on Canadian Production Wheels and Chair Wheels. On these wheels, the mother-of-all “rocks” back and forth and tension is set by positioning the mother-of-all where you want it and tightening a knob to hold it in place.

No matter what type of wheel you have, moving the bobbin and flyer assembly towards the drive wheel reduces the tension on the drive band and gives looser tension moving it away from the drive wheel increases the tension and gives stronger take up. If your yarn is not winding on, tighten the tension a bit. If the wheel is ripping the fibers out of your hands, loosen the tension.