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Brother RH-981A - User Manual

Brother RH-981A
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RH-981A
ELECTRONIC EYELET BUTTON HOLER
ENGLISH

Table of Contents

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Questions and Answers

  • K
    Kristina ChambersJul 29, 2025
    Why does the thread keep breaking on my Brother Sewing Machine?
    • C
      Christopher PatelJul 29, 2025
      Thread breakage in your Brother Sewing Machine can occur for several reasons. The thread tension control nut pressure might be too strong, requiring adjustment to an appropriate pressure. The thread itself may be of poor quality, so try using a better-quality thread. The thread could also be too thick for the needle; in this case, use a differently sized needle. A rough needle groove or needle hole can also cause breakage, so replace the needle with a new one. Finally, incorrect needle and looper adjustment, or damage to the needle, looper, throat plate, or thread path, may be the cause. In this case, adjust the needle bar height or the looper and spreader height or repair the damage with an oilstone or buffer, or replace the damaged part.
  • C
    Christopher StevensAug 2, 2025
    What to do if my Brother RH-981A Sewing Machine skips stitches?
    • Q
      qgomezAug 2, 2025
      Skipped stitches on your Brother Sewing Machine can be caused by several factors. The thread tension control nut pressure might be too strong or too weak; try adjusting it to an appropriate pressure. A broken or bent needle point can also cause this issue, so replace it with a new one. Incorrect needle and looper adjustment, or clearance, as well as incorrect needle and needle guard adjustment, can also lead to skipped stitches; adjust these correctly. Lastly, a blunt looper tip can be the culprit; repair it with an oilstone or replace the looper with a new one.
  • T
    Thomas ReyesAug 7, 2025
    What to do if the needle breaks on my Brother RH-981A Sewing Machine?
    • R
      Richard LarsenAug 7, 2025
      Needle breakage in your Brother Sewing Machine can occur if the needle is bent, in which case you should replace it with a new one. It can also happen if the needle and looper adjustment is incorrect, or the needle and needle guard adjustment is incorrect. To fix this, adjust the needle bar height or the looper and spreader height correctly.
  • J
    Janet RowlandAug 11, 2025
    Why is the upper thread not being cut on my Brother Sewing Machine?
    • E
      elizabeth58Aug 11, 2025
      If the upper thread is not being cut on your Brother Sewing Machine, it could be due to a blunt knife, which should be replaced. Alternatively, the knife might not be moving to its full stroke because the air pressure is too weak; in this case, adjust the air pressure. Another possibility is that the upper thread trimmer knife isn't picking up the upper thread correctly; install it so that it cuts only one side of the upper thread loop. Finally, the movable knife position may be incorrect, so adjust the position of the movable knife or the loop spreader.
  • M
    Michael WilliamsAug 15, 2025
    Why is the lower thread not being cut on my Brother RH-981A?
    • J
      Jose KrauseAug 15, 2025
      If the lower thread isn't being cut on your Brother Sewing Machine, the knife may be blunt, requiring replacement. Also, the knife may not move fully because the air pressure is too weak, so adjust the air pressure. Finally, the movable knife position could be incorrect; adjust the position of the movable knife or the loop spreader.
  • S
    schaeferandrewAug 19, 2025
    How to prevent thread from slipping out of the needle at the sewing start on my Brother Sewing Machine?
    • A
      Adam LindseyAug 19, 2025
      If the thread slips out of the needle at the start of sewing with your Brother Sewing Machine, the thread nipper spring force might be too weak; adjust the force of the thread nipper spring. Another cause could be that the upper thread length is too short after trimming; install the upper thread trimmer knife so that it cuts only one side of the upper thread loop. Incorrect needle and looper adjustment can also cause this; adjust the needle bar height or the looper and spreader height. Lastly, not enough upper thread might be fed out; adjust the amount of upper thread being fed out.
  • A
    Alejandro GuzmanAug 23, 2025
    What to do if the material is not being cut cleanly by my Brother RH-981A Sewing Machine?
    • R
      Robert BrownAug 23, 2025
      If your Brother Sewing Machine is not cutting the material cleanly, the cutting pressure may be too weak; adjust it so that it is strong enough. Also, the knife and hammer might not be contacting properly; grind the hammer surface. Finally, the knife could be blunt, and in this case, replace it with a new one.

Summary

Safety Instructions

Safety Indications and Meanings

Explains safety indications and symbols used on the machine for safe operation and accident prevention.

Notes on Safety

DANGER Warnings

Details critical safety warnings related to high voltage areas and waiting periods after power off.

Cautionary Guidelines

Outlines environmental requirements for safe operation, including temperature, humidity, and electrical noise.

Installation Safety

Provides instructions for safe installation, emphasizing qualified personnel, securing cords, and proper grounding.

General Safety Precautions

Maintenance and Inspection Safety

Outlines safety guidelines for maintenance, emphasizing qualified technicians and proper part replacement.

Warning Labels and Devices

Machine Warning Labels

Lists and explains various warning labels found on the sewing machine for user awareness and safety.

Machine Specifications

General Specifications

Provides detailed technical specifications for different models of the sewing machine, including speed, dimensions, and power.

Specification Changes

Replacement Parts for Specification Changes

Details replacement parts required to change machine specifications between L1 to L7 for -02 and -52 models.

Machine Installation

Installation Safety Cautions

Provides critical safety warnings for installation, including qualified personnel, cord securing, and grounding.

Installing Machine Components

Motor Installation

Provides step-by-step instructions and diagrams for securely installing the sewing machine motor onto the work table.

Machine Head Installation

Installing the Machine Head

Provides detailed instructions and illustrations for mounting the machine head securely onto the work table base.

Accessory Installation

Air Unit and Valve Unit Installation

Provides instructions for installing the air unit and valve unit, including connecting air tubes and cables.

Control Box Wiring

Internal Control Box Connections

Details the internal wiring connections within the control box, referencing specific connectors and PC board terminals.

Connector Connections

Connecting Indexer and System Connectors

Details the process of connecting various connectors for the valve harness, indexer cord, limit switches, and cylinder sensor.

Lubrication Procedures

Lubrication Safety

Emphasizes safety precautions for lubrication, including turning off power and wearing protective gear.

Adding Machine Oil

Daily Lubrication

Lubricating Key Components

Outlines daily lubrication points for moving parts, mechanisms, and felt tanks to ensure smooth operation.

Correct Machine Usage

Initial Data Initialization

Explains the procedure for initializing machine data upon first use or after prolonged power-off, including LED and buzzer indicators.

Thread and Gimp Trimming Settings

Basic Sewing Operations

Needle Installation

Provides instructions for safely installing the correct type of needle, including alignment checks and safety precautions.

Upper Threading

Thread Management

Lower Threading Procedure

Material Setup

Setting the Material for Sewing

Explains how to insert and adjust material for sewing, including setting the sewing margin using cloth guides.

Material Setup Adjustments

Material Setting Adjustments

Continues instructions for setting material, detailing adjustments for vertical and horizontal sewing margins for -52 specifications.

Cloth Setting Positions

Cloth Placement

Cloth Setting Position Details

Cloth Feed Plate Setup

Cloth Feed Plate Installation (-52 Specs)

System Upgrades

Machine Operation

Operation Panel Overview

Identifies and explains the function of each key, indicator, and display on the machine's operation panel.

Operation Panel and Startup

Operation Panel Details

Continues the explanation of operation panel items, including mode indicators, program number display, and detail display functions.

Machine Startup Procedure

Program Settings

Program Setting Method

Details the procedure for setting programs, changing modes, selecting parameters, and accepting settings.

Taper Bar Parameter Details

Taper Bar Parameter Settings

Taper Bar Parameter Details Continued

Additional Taper Bar Parameters

Straight Bar Tacking Parameters

Straight Bar Tacking Details

Straight Bar Tacking Parameters

Additional Tacking Settings

More Straight Bar Tacking Settings

Advanced Operation Modes

Cycle Program Creation

Explains how to create and store cycle programs consisting of multiple steps and knife operations.

Operational Utilities

Production Counter Management

Sewing Procedures

Sewing Safety Precautions

Provides critical safety warnings related to sewing operations, including power off times and avoiding moving parts.

Automatic Sewing Guide

Guides on performing automatic sewing, including initial test sewing and warming up the motor in cold conditions.

Emergency Stop Function

Using the Emergency Stop Switch

Explains how to use the emergency stop switch to halt operations and resume sewing safely.

Thread Tension Adjustment

Adjusting Thread Tension

Details how to adjust upper and lower thread tension, as well as thread take-up spring tension and stroke.

Needle and Knife Alignment

Needle and Knife Position

Explains the relationship between knife position, eyelet shape, and cutting space for optimal cutting performance.

Sewing Mode Settings

Diagnostic Sewing Modes

Test Feed Mode Usage

Manual Sewing Mode

Manual Mode Operation

Mode Switching and Feed Bar

Cleaning and Maintenance

Cleaning Safety Precautions

Provides safety precautions for cleaning, including power off, protective gear, and avoiding tilt during air gun use.

General Cleaning Procedure

Details the cleaning process, including removing thread scraps, checking oil level, and cleaning feed bar and guide shaft.

Maintenance Tasks

Standard Adjustments

Maintenance and Adjustment Safety

Reiterates safety warnings for maintenance and adjustment, emphasizing qualified technicians and disconnecting power.

Spreader and Looper Height Adjustment

Details how to adjust the height of the spreader and looper for correct clearance and smooth operation.

Timing Adjustments

Needle and Looper Timing Adjustment

Provides a detailed procedure for adjusting the timing between the needle and loopers, including measurement steps.

Stroke Adjustments

Loop Stroke Adjustment

Component Height Adjustments

Needle Bar Height Adjustment

Looper-Needle Clearance Adjustment

Component Alignment

Timing and Width Adjustments

Needle Racking Width Adjustment

Knife and Hammer Adjustments

Changing Knife Cutting Length

Hammer Contact Adjustment

Knife and Hammer Contact Adjustment

Knife and Pressure Adjustments

Cutting Pressure Adjustment

Work Clamp Plate Adjustment

Work Clamp Plate Position Adjustment

Cloth Opening Adjustment

Thread Trimming Adjustments

Upper Thread Trimming Adjustment

Trimming Details

Lower Thread and Gimp Trimming

Specific Component Functions

Cloth Feed Bar Adjustment

Cloth Feed Bar Home Position (-52 Specs)

Indexer Hole Spacing

Indexer Hole Spacing Adjustment (-52 Specs)

Limit Switch Adjustments

Circuit Board DIP Switches

Circuit Board DIP Switch C Settings

Explains the ON/OFF settings for circuit board DIP switch C, covering cutting devices, sensors, thread nippers, and tacking length.

Error Code List

Errors After Power On

Lists error codes, their explanations, and resetting methods for issues occurring after the machine is powered on.

Error Handling

Pre-Operation Errors

Lists errors related to initial operation or after using the emergency stop, with resetting procedures.

Errors During Operation

Lists error codes that occur during machine operation and their corresponding resetting methods.

Error Code Details

Operational Error Codes

Continues listing operational errors and their resetting methods, including sensor and motor communication issues.

Hardware Error Codes

Troubleshooting Guide

Machine Head Problems

Provides troubleshooting steps for common problems related to the machine head, such as thread breaks and skipped stitches.

Thread Cutting Troubleshooting

Brother RH-981A Specifications

General IconGeneral
BrandBrother
ModelRH-981A
CategorySewing Machine
LanguageEnglish

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