Broken Needle Problems. :( *(Help!)*
 

Hi, I'm new, very intimidated. I'm sure you're all quite clever boffs compared to me.
I wonder if anyone has time to brainstorm over my breaking needles problem?

14month old Janome machine (model 2070). I made 2.5 quilts fine (use the machine for little else) but started frequently breaking needles on the last quilt whenever I used the Walking Foot. Am feeling very discouraged about it (woe is me).

It's a standard-looking foot, with a little arm that stretches forward and rests on the needle screw. I've read that this little arm may be working the needle screw loose which would explain the breaking needles. Difficulty is that I can't find a different style of walking foot that doesn't have the little arm sitting on the screw.

My googling must be pants today, so can someone link to an alternative style of walking foot (even feed foot) that fits Janome machines? Or think of something else that might be the problem?

This is what I have that seems to be causing problems:
http://www.coulingsewingmachines.co....-open-toe.html

Many thanks in advance.

If it worked well in the beginning, I'm wondering if the foot could be defective so that it's wearing prematurely? Just guessing here. Hope you can get the problem resolved.

Are your needles breaking in your fabric? Are they hitting the stitch plate when going down? Are they actually hitting the walking foot on the way down? I had a problem for awhile where my needle placement changed of its own volition and wasn't going into the hole properly. After turning it off and on numerous times it fixed itself. Two other things that I'm sure you've thought of that are still worth mentioning, make sure your needle is all the way up where it belongs and screwed in tightly. Also, when you are sewing make sure the fabric is being fed by the machine and that you aren't pulling the fabric at all - that can cause enough tension to break the needles. I hope you can get your problem resolved soon without too much angst...there is nothing worse than a mystery problem that you have no idea how to solve. As toolazy said, maybe there is a problem with the walking foot and needs to be replaced. please keep us updated, we'd love to know what the problem was and how it was resolved!

Is is a walking foot made for your machine (brand) or a generic foot. Generics sometime have problems. Try what has been suggested above, but also take everything out - thread and all......and slowly move the needle with hand wheel and where the needle may be hitting. Also to my knowledge - you said above the "the little arm stretches forward and rest above the screw" This arm should be like a claw and fit inside the screw and not above. Unless it is a type I am not famiiar with. This might sound simplistic but check the manual and make sure the walking foot is positioned correctly. It might not be if you have changed the foot between quilts.

The Janome walking foot doesn't have a claw on the end of the little arm - it's just a straight bar. I also have a Janome and mine is just the straight bar that rests on the needle screw. However, on mine, the arm isn't resting on the head of the screw, it's more on the shank/straight part of the screw. How often are the needles breaking/coming loose? Can you check the tightness of the screw every so often to see how often it comes loose?

Till you figure it out, you could try and tighten the screw every so often, like after every so many blocks, or every 15 minutes. Not ideal, but you can finish your top.

The other thing that can make the needle snap is if your thread gets caught somewhere on the machine, so if it breaks again, make sure that it was threaded properly.

I've never heard of a walking foot that doesn't have a fork or prong that goes over or around the needle screw. If you have a generic one, however, I would invest in the brand name one for your machine.

Ooh... thanks for the replies.
It is a bar, I suppose, as Sephie described, that rests on the shank part of the needle screw. (Who knew sewing was so technical?). What I read was that vibrations from the walking foot can jiggle the screw loose, iyswim. I did resort to tightening the screw regularly, but that didn't sort it either.

Purpose of that little arm/bar thingie seems to be something to do with keeping the feet mostly down.

I only finished the last quilt by winding stitches by hand. No breaks doing that. Or when using other feet. But it wears my hands out to quilt turning the knob by hand, can't do that for whole thing. Needle seems to break because of hitting something metal, the stitch plate or maybe the foot itself. Could be I'm pulling a bit without realising (?).

I could be fitting foot wrong but it's pretty simple, only one way it could possibly go on.

6 or 7 breakages in total, in fairly rapid succession (so anywhere between 5 to 25 minutes use each). Since then I've done a load of other sewing without any breaks (patchwork). The needles are good ones (expensive to break!). I had breakages with all kinds of thread, but not with my other feet no matter which thread, only the walking one.

I'm scared enough to consider asking some else to quilt it for me, darnit.

I use that foot. There is a little screw under the plastic cover that works loose every so often. If you can pop that cover off and tighten the screw, that may help. When it gets loose, the foot slips out of place and the needle hits it.

I'd take the foot and machine to the repair man and tell him what is happening. broken needles can damage your machine. so you must find out why.

I have three Janomes and all of the walking feet just have a bar that goes over the screw for the needle. No claw on them. Never had a problem. I agree with nativetexan, probably repair person should look at your problem..

I had a similar problem and with mine I had to make a minor adjustment so that the needle did not strike the foot itself.

I think you can figure this out and sounds like you are well on your way. Need to put on your detective hat right away when it happens. Did you check when it happened that the needle was loose? All walking foots I know of work that way and I have never had a problem with it loosenin the set screw for the needle.

I would think it is either you moving the quilt too fast that you bend the needle just enough that it is hitting the plate. Look for marks there. You could have some dings that you want to make sure there isn't burrs that may cut thread in the future. Also look at your bobbin case to see if the needle may be striking there.

Sounds like maybe cjsews has the answer for you too.

Good luck and you don't want to be doing this to your machine too often or you may be going to the repair man.

I have a janome which can be temperamental as yours is. Try completely retreading with a different thread top and if necessary bottom. It just happens some machines dislike certain threads. A fussy child.
Also. Use that sewing fine oil and put a couple of drops on the cone and needle wipe down and wipe around bobbin case. This is not just machine oil. Can't find mine and forgot name.

Sewers aid. Find a local supplier and buy a bottle. I did a class with a professional quilter and the tip on drops on cone came from her. Also the stroke he needle and bobbin case. It definitely helps ven if it doesn't solve this problem.
Maureen.

What kind of needles are you using? Are they for quilting or sewing? There are so many variables. I hope you figure it out.

I've used that sort of walking foot on my Janome and am wondering if you are installing it correctly?
You mention that you bring the bar forward ... to me it goes backwards and over.
From the picture you ahve shown the little bar that is coming forward is the one that you can have on (or not) to use as a guide for distance between stitching lines.

There are indeed a lot of variables for possibilities, and with none of us being there IRL, it's like taking stabs in the dark.

ITA with others ... take the machine and foot into your dealer and ask for their help.

Thanks for feedback, I decided to order another walking foot since the problem only seems to happen when I use current walking foot. If needle breaks with new foot then I will know that problem must be with the machine itself, and getting a service is the only way forward.

In meantime I can't face breaking a brand new needle so have decided to make another quilt top before testing the new foot (I hope you appreciate my logic). I may be asking for inspiration in a second. :)