I just got a (new to me) used Brother 1500 S. I can take it back and have it looked at but until then I am having issues with my thread breaking when I use the reverse.
Any ideas what I can check? Am I doing something wrong? It sure takes time to get used to a new machine. It goes so fast compared to my old Janome, I feel like I have to hold on when I take off. LOL

1. Change the needle
2. Rethread, even the bobbin
3. Look at the plate under the needle and see if has a sharp spot that is catching when you reverse
4. Congrats on the new machine!

I have never had this problem, but someone had another question and called Brother. They walked her through her problem, so you might want to give it a try.
1-877-BROTHER (877-276-8437)
M-F, 9:00am to 5:45pm Eastern Time

I've been through several spools from the bobbin so that's not it. I stopped reversing and still having thread break. I'll put on a new needle just in case. I think it might be a sharp spot on the plate.
Thanks for the number to Brother. I'll give them a call.

Thread will rot and cause it to break. Also a burr on the needle will cause breakage.

make sure it isn't catching where it unwinds from the spool. I've had that happen several times.

Hope you're able to fix it.

I had this problem with I had put in a new needle. Finally, a friend advised me to change to another new needle. Turns out sometimes even new needles have burrs. Once I did that, no more thread breaks. Hope this helps.

I picked up a small booklet from 1979 in a yard sale. It's called STITCHOLOGY..has a lot of interesting thing in it.

Under the chapter for Breaking Thread is

Needle in backwards
Upper tension too tight
Debris in tensions
Incorrect needle
Lint pack in lower race
Thread too thick
Needle too thin
Poor thread, or thread too old
Burrs on thread handling mechanism
Spool holder in backwards
Material too thick

Check all of these, and if you are still confused. I'll
write you all what it says on each page for all of these.

Thanks, you had some things I never considered. Appreciate the info.