Embroidery machine help please
 

I hope you all can help. I have a Brother 779 that I have not used for several years and now I would like to start using it again but......I cannot figure out how to insert a new needle. It is difficult to get my fingers into that small space (I must have the fattest fingers around!) and I cannot seem to find the opening to insert the needle. I guess I am hoping someone has some tips for me. It really shouldn't be this hard, should it? Am I the only one who has this problem?

maybe this video will help...it's generic but a very close up view... good luck

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ot9fCAd11t4

I use a needle inserter like this one to remove the fat finger problem:
http://www.amazon.com/Dritz-247-Need...dp/B000YQISB8/

Basically it holds the needle in an upright position (you drop the needle into the hole). A pair of long tweezers can help hold the needle in the correct orientation while you are searching for the hole. (Clamping tweezers work too.)
http://www.amazon.com/item4ever-TWE6...dp/B0012DNMXG/

Were you able to get the old needle out completely? If so, the hole should be there. :)

Edit: I don't know about your machine, but many take needles with a flat side in which case the flat side needs to be facing the back.

Thanks for the video - I know the how of replacing the needle, just can't seem to do it. I was able to get the old needle out entirely and easily so I don't think the hole is blocked. I will look for the needle threading tool locally before ordering from Amazon. I may even try to find something like a dental mirror to help me find the hole. If all else fails I will take the machine to a dealer and have them insert the needle. Then I am never changing the needle again!

Never say never.....that needle will have to be replaced and before you know it, if you are doing embroidery. I have the long tweezers and find it much easier to hold the needle in them and it usually inserts very quickly. Not so much when I use my fingers and they aren't fat at all. lol

Edited to add: You can take off the pressure foot and use any flat mirror to see where the needle goes.

did you try to hit the up down needle button make sure the needle bar is at the highest postion

I use hemostats to hold my needle on my embroidery machine, I bought them cheap off Ebay

can you use a mirror to see where the hole is?

Sometimes I put the machine on it's side with pressure foot down, that gives a little more room, and use a needle nose plier. It has little ridges and grips better.

Thanks for all the suggestions - I have tried most of them without success unfortunately. I have ordered the needle holder and an angled mirror from Amazon and dug out my old pickups from my nursing days. Something has got to work! I'll let you know when I succeed.

I have purchased the needle holders but with my newer machines there has been one included. I also place a piece of paper or fabric over the hole on the machine so the needle doesn't fall through into the machine.

Sometimes even though you've losened the screw enough to take out the needle,you may have to losen it a little bit more to get the next needle in. If you know in what direction the needle goes in as far as the flat side then you can use a piece of styrofoam and insert the sharp part in the foam and use it to put the needle in, anything that will hold it upright without being to hard to dull the needle.

You know, MarleneC, you may be right. I think my newest machine may have one of those gadgets. Unfortunately, most of my sewing stuff is already packed up as I am preparing to move to Va soon. Darn! And I hadn't even thought of using styrofoam. But I am beginning to think there is a problem with the screw as there seems to be an awful lot of play in it. Oh well, Amazon says my order should arrive in a day or so. Thanks everybody.

Just to let you all know, I finally took my machine in to the shop. Even with the needle holder thingie I got from Amazon, I was not having any luck. I actually got the needle in a couple of times but it would fall out after a bit of sewing. I thought I got the needle in as far as it would go but apparently not. Anyway the tech put the needle in with no problem and it is embroidering with no problems! Like I said, i don't ever plan on changing the needle again. (Just kidding). Anyway thanks for all the help.