20.1. Replacing A Needle
Sew conditions and material properties will aect the life of a needle, but eventually,
needles will need to be changed.
1. Make sure the safety grabber blade is in the back position before changing a needle. If it is not, press
the Adjustment and Center keys on the machine keypad to move the grabber back.
2. Above each needle is a needle clamp set screw that holds it in place. Using a small at-blade
screwdriver, turn the needle clamp set screw counterclockwise about a half of a turn, until the needle
can slide down and out of the needle bar. Do not loosen too much or remove the set screw. Loosen
the screw just enough for the needle to be removed.
3. Remove the needle by pulling down on the needle.
4. Embroidery needles have a front and a back side. The needle must be installed correctly or the sew
quality may suer. If you install the needle incorrectly, you may also get thread breaks. The front of
the needle has a long groove (thread guide), while the back has an indented notch (scarf) just above
the eye of the needle.
5. With the thread guide facing forward and the scarf facing back, slide the needle up and into the
needle clamp as far as it will go. The eye of the needle should then be turned 5° to the right. The
acceptable range is 0° - 20° to the right.
6. A needle orientation magnet may be used to help determine the angle of the needle eye. This
cylindrical magnet can be temporarily attached to the front of the needle just above the eye. The end
of the magnet will rest on each side of the thread guide and stick straight out from the needle. This
will better indicate the angle of the eye. For reference, one minute is 6° on a clock face.
7. While holding the needle in place, re-tighten the needle clamp set screw to hold the needle in place.
Common Reasons to Change the Needle
· The needle breaks or is bent.
· The thread will consistently fray - this usually means there is a bur on the needle causing it to fray a
part of the thread.
· The needle is dull.
· Sewing conditions change, such as a change in fabric.
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