Broken needle bar thread guide

[Jordanball33]

Last night while sewing, my needle bar thread guide broke. Has anyone had this happen to them? Just curious why it broke. The only think I can think of is that there is too much top thread tension, but the stitches look great on both sides. I have to get one to fix it then I may try loosening up the bobbin tension and re adjusting all looser from there.

 

any input on this is appreciated, this is my first machine. Only a few hrs on it the machine. Juki 1542s sewing a mix of heavy canvas and leather. 

 

Thanks, here's the part I gotta buy.

[Uwe]

It's unlikely that thread tension is the culprit. Normal polyester or nylon thread doesn't usually break the thread guides. Some specialty threads like Kevlar on the other hand will saw right through metal guides and take-up levers over time. 

Sometimes the needle bar height is set too low and it may touch the presser foot when the foot is raised.  I've worked on several machines where the needle bar was set too low. It happens if hook timing is a little late and the needle bar is lowered to compensate. Most machines have a sweet spot where hook timing is spot-on and the needle bar clears the raised foot by a fraction of a millimeter.  Using the wrong or a poorly made foot may also cause the needle bar to touch the raised foot even if the needle bar height is set correctly.

If the needle bar touches the raised foot, running the machine at thigh speed with the presser foot raised up (e.g. to wind a bobbin) will slam the bottom of the needle bar against the presser foot repeatedly. That can cause the thread guide, which often extends a tiny bit below the bottom end of the needle bar to get fractured and break over time.

Make sure your needle bar does not touch the raised presser foot before you install the new thread guide. 

 

[gottaknow]

Universal Sewing Supply sells that same part for around $13. Don't get ripped off. It's a common part. 

Regards, Eric

[brmax]

I recall reading on the site here somwhere, the machine likes to have about an eighth of an inch more clearence than the material. This was a good tip i do believe.

On a measurement here i get .400" with feed dog to bottom of foot clearence.  With one cup of coffee this morning!  It could get more scientific later if needed. The part mentioned in post is touching the top of a factory walk foot in my measurement. This part surely can be had cheaper and in an Original part, totally agree. This measurement i mentioned is with 135X17 needle sys setup. This setup i havent made time to change anything.

I think there are options available though, needle bending has been a concern spoken about. Honestly with this thickness of material it may be time to consider other machines. Soft rope cording or the likes i wouldnt have an issue considering options. But with that .400" in a solid well? So if on the lighter choice i can offer a bit more, as others.

good day

Floyd

[Jordanball33]

Thanks guys. I was thinking the same thing. Somehow it touched the foot too much. I'll adjust when I get the new one. 

[brmax]

I found 3 different factory installed parts. The one in the photo, one with slight drop in the eyelet hole about a 1/16" or better.  Another without eyelet just a small tang wraped around so making it easier to insert thread behind it. 

None of these parts make much difference in this issue. About .015" at the top of the walk foot so .415" bottom side. So one can assume with perfect alignment the outer presser foot will be ok. Though in sewing super thick stuff the part with the drop down would get trashed by the walk foot first. Versus the others hitting the outer presser foot top as i see it.

The best option i found for myself is to use the 190 system needles in these 15 series if your sewing over .400". The 190 sys will fit the same wheather a 1341, 1541,1541s,1508n, 1508nh and quite sure the other super pro 15 series. 

I found this problem in a (few) begining noise moments and said self this banging crap has got to go!  So in digging around found the 190 sys will give ya like 3/16 of an inch more. 

Floyd

To offer another great reference:

http://leatherworker.net/forum/topic/42556-anyone-have-experience-with-juki-1508-nh/