Cowboy 4500 sewing machine

[trent2005]

Hey guys, I have a cowboy 4500 & with a computer box ,which has needle positioning etc. When sewing and I turn my work & sew off in different direction, Most of the time I’m breaking a needle?? Any body no what I’m doing wrong please 

cheers 

[Northmount]

4 hours ago, trent2005 said:

Hey guys, I have a cowboy 4500 & with a computer box ,which has needle positioning etc. When sewing and I turn my work & sew off in different direction, Most of the time I’m breaking a needle?? Any body no what I’m doing wrong please 

cheers 

Do you lift the foot slightly so you can turn the leather without it acting like a lever and pushing your needle to one side or the other?

[Wizcrafts]

When you come to any sharp corner, bury the needle, then feather the speed pedal, or hand wheel the machine until it rises a little so that the hook is inside the thread loop on the right side of the needle. Raise the presser foot enough to clear the leather, then rotate the leather, lower the foot and continue sewing. Doing these steps insures that you don't break the needle or lose the thread loop, which will cause a skipped stitch. 

[kgg]

6 hours ago, trent2005 said:

Most of the time I’m breaking a needle??

In addition to the other comments you never mentioned what size of thread being used with what size of needle in how thick of leather.

kgg

[dikman]

I presume the needle is hitting the needle plate? That will happen if you put sideways pressure on the workpiece, been there done that! You have to guide the piece not force it.

[trent2005]

On 7/15/2025 at 3:06 AM, kgg said:

In addition to the other comments you never mentioned what size of thread being used with what size of needle in how thick of leather.

kgg

I’m sewing 8mm of leather, 160 needle and 138 thread 

On 7/15/2025 at 9:01 AM, dikman said:

I presume the needle is hitting the needle plate? That will happen if you put sideways pressure on the workpiece, been there done that! You have to guide the piece not force it.

Yes it most likely is that’s why it’s breaking the needle 

[kgg]

6 hours ago, trent2005 said:

I’m sewing 8mm of leather, 160 needle and 138 thread 

Personally I think what factors that are contributing / causing you to breaking the needles are:

1) Needle size: a 160 (#23) needle is meant for V138 thread in thinner leather.

i) On a straight run a 160 (#23) needle may work as there is just enough room in the needle hole to allow for the 3 threads in the hole (1 for the top thread, two for the loop). 

ii) On a turn there isn't enough slop in the needle hole to allow the twisting movement and the bending on the needle.

iii) When you are finishing off by reversing into the same last couple of holes you now have 3 stitches that are all ready in the needle hole and you want to add 3 more. In thin items this may not be as much of a problem but in 8mm (5/16") it probably will be ending with cutting the thread or broken needles.

2) Friction on the needle.

i)When the hole isn't big enough, diameter wise, there is friction being created by the threads grabbing the walls of the thread and pulling on the needle. As the thickness and toughness increases so does the friction.

ii) This friction will increase ever so slightly with darker coloured thread.

iii) If you are using a edge guide the leather will not move sideways but when free handing you are going to add an additional twisting / bending moment on the needle.

iv) Also when using a cylinder arm machine you get additional twisting and bending as the item moves farther back as most times the item wants to move to the left. Also unless you are using a flat bed table attachment the item will want to droop down once it doesn't have any support from the needle plate. Probably will be ending with a broken needle.  

Suggestion: i) Change needle to a 180 (#24) and see if that works. ii) change thread size to V207 and use a 200 (#25) needle. iii) Add a flatbed table top attachment.

kgg

 

Edited Friday at 11:03 AM by kgg