Problem with straight stitch slide plate on Juki HZL-DX7
 

I just wanted to alert owners of this model, which I believe is sold in the US as the DX2000QVP. I've had this machine for two months. I've used it a lot, did decorative stitches on crazy quilt blocks, etc. All of this was done with the normal large needle hole. I then switched to the straight stitch small hole, using the lever on the throat plate, to do some FMQ.

When I returned to the normal hole to do some zig zag stitches, the machine did not recognize that I had changed from straight stitch to normal hole, and therefore I could not select the zig zag stitch.

I contacted Juki via their Product Support Contact at Juki Home, and was contacted by a technician less than an hour later. It was finally determined that a sensor is not relaying information to the main board. Juki will get back to me in a day or so to let me know how they will handle this.

If you own this machine, you might want to check whether your lever works. When you remove the clear plastic lid over the bobbin, the lever is upper right relative to the bobbin. Detailed information is also available in the Instruction Manual (page 30 for the HZL-DX7).

I think it's important to check this while machine is still under warranty.

Thanks for posting this. I'm sure many will check that haven't done before.

I know it is a pain to deal with this problem, but it is nice that your machine is designed to sense which hole is being used. I have to physically change the throat plate on my Bernina 440QE. I can't remember how many times I've started to do a zigzag, or move the needle far to the left or right when the small hole throat plate was on. Broken needle every time, but so far no other damage and haven't had to retime the machine.

I've had that problem too, dunster, with my old Singer. Fortunately, like you, I've never had to retime the machine.

I'm curious if the mechanism that moves the piece on the plate is attached to the plate or if it's part of the machine.

They don't show the underside/plate removed on the Juki site, but the photos above look exactly like a manually-operated (lever) version of the Janome 7700's APC plate. On that machine, the spring that operates the little rectangle that switches between single hole and zig zag is somewhat fragile. I've been careful with the one on my 7700, but looking at the mechanism you can definitely see wear on it from switching back and forth.

Michelle

Hi Michelle, The mechanism is attached to the plate. I can see the spring that you mention, and it looks OK. I don't quite understand how the "sensor" works and how it connects to the main board of the computer. But Juki seem convinced that the sensor is the problem.

This is why I love the simple, all mechanical machines. So much less to go wrong!

You have a point, sewbizgirl! So glad I have my Juki TL2010Q and my old Singer to do the job until the problem with the DX7 is resolved.

Can you see the sensor or know where it is? If it's optical, I wonder if there could be lint or something like that on it. It must be something that picks up either the position of the little rectangular needle hole piece in the plate, some aspect of the mechanism on the back of the plate, or the position of the lever that operates the plate.

I can't look at my 7700 and see what it used (and based on experience, I don't believe the 7700 has the same sensor).

Michelle

Hi Michelle! I removed the throat plate again to have another look. I can't really see where the sensor is, and to be truthful, I'm not quite sure what I'm looking for .... When the problem occurred a couple of days ago, I did do a thorough cleaning, removed the bobbin holder, etc. I've been cleaning the machine very regularly since I've had it, so there was very little lint, no caught threads. I'm still waiting to hear from Juki. Sent my contact a follow-up email this morning.

Keep us posted! Machine problems are always frustrating, but when you get it solved and post about it, you'll help any number of folks who have the same issue in the future.

Wish I had the same machine so I could offer more help/look to see what might be happening - I'm an engineer and I love solving problems since it helps me learn more about each machine.

Michelle

I've broken more than a few needles doing this as well - but I do love my straight stitch plate.

Sorry to hear that you have had this problem Patricia :( I was ready to order my DX7 right around the time I read your post. I did search the internet and all of the reviews (very few) that I could find and did not find anyone else having this problem, so I went ahead and ordered my machine. I have had it for about a week now. The first thing I did when the machine arrived was test the straight stich slide plate. Mine is working perfectly and I have used it often in the past week. I am loving my new DX7 and hope you get your problem resloved so you can use yours soon!

Sorry to say that this problem is still not resolved. Juki Home in Florida have given me a great big "runaround" ! I took the machine in to the local Juki vendor. They are mainly specialists in industrial machines, but they said they would have a look. They called back the next day to say that the small spring under the throat plate is missing. This seemed weird to me as I had checked that spring before taking the machine in, and it was very much in place. Anyway, apparently there is no such spring available in North America, and they had to order it from Japan. Still waiting.

Spring from Japan! Really, one would think that would be a piece that would be in their little bag of tricks......and suspicious that it's not there, when you saw it there before.......very sorry for your frustration...I personally would be furious!

Well, I'm not happy, that's for sure. Considering asking for my money back. Don't think that would work though, as I purchased the machine in March.

There is a tiny spring on the back of the Janome 7700 APC plate and I believe that is the weak link in that machine as well. If you have your machine back you might take your plate to a Janome dealer and see if it's the same mechanism. If so, the Janome plate will run you about $45 IIRC (to cannabalize for that spring; I don't think it's a direct replacement plate) and you'll be back in business faster.

Michelle

Thanks for the suggestion, Michelle. It might come to that ... I must say though that I don't know if I would feel comfortable playing around on the back of the throat plate. Such tiny parts ...

I too remember seeing something about the spring on that particular Janome model being fragile.

I'll be following up with the local vendor this morning. He still has my machine. Will keep you posted.

Thanks for your interest.

Patricia, I just bought my Juki QVP2000 six weeks ago, and during a quilting retreat the sensor apparently wouldn't let me go back to the wider hole on the plate, so I only had the five stitches that the motherboard will allow with the sensor on. I searched and found that you had the same problem too. Did you get it resolved, hopefully easily? I tried unplugging the machine hoping that the program would reset. I did see that little black spring on the back of the plate, and I haven't been switching it back and forth much since I do mostly piecing on the machine. Thanks for any help you can give me!

Hi Singerbabe, Yes the problem was finally resolved. The spring assembly ordered from Japan finally arrived one day before the vendor closed for a two-week summer vacation! I got the machine back the second week in August.

That little spring is quite fragile. When you remove the throat plate to clean the bobbin area, you have to be very careful and check that the little lever is in the "regular hole" (large hole) position. I think that was probably the source of my problem. If the lever is in the straight-stitch position when you remove the plate, it can damage the spring, which in turn (I think) controls the sensor.

The vendor put a small dot of paint on the lever and also on the throat plate to help remind me to align the paint dots before removing the throat plate!

If your vendor/dealer is close by, they can probably check whether this is your problem, and order the part for you. I hope you have a vendor close by. Mine is about an hour away, in downtown Montreal, and I didn't want to take the machine in unless I had to. Finally my son took it in on his way to work.

I had also contacted Juki Home directly via the Product Support function on their website. However, I got awful "customer service" from them. After about six weeks, I got an email full of apologies from a Manager. Apparently they are having problems keeping up with their Domestic machine market, and service is lagging behind. They are supposedly working on it.

Do let me know how you get on with your problem. If it is the little spring, hopefully it will be available in the U.S. and they won't have to order from Japan!

On the bright side, I love the machine. I use it a lot for decorative stitches on crazy quilt blocks, for piecing of course, and also quilting on smaller projects. I love that I can adjust the height of the quilting foot! Also love the stitch in the ditch foot.

Hope to hear from you soon.

But they do less also.

I don't know why so many machine dealers and vendors are so bad about customer service after the sale. It's like every machine problem is a oh that seldom happens and the part we need has to be special ordered, even if it is a regular screw sold at the hardware store. My last straw was when I took my machine foot pedal in and was told it couldn't be repaired, had to buy a new one. When I went to pick it up, I was given my old one as the new one (I had my name on the bottom of the old one). I won't buy from a dealer anymore. Online with return is the only way for me.

Thanks so much, Patricia! That is very likely what happened to my machine. I also own the F600 and love it a lot. I bought this one because of its extra cool features. Both are really great machines. I bought it from a local chain of sewing machine dealers and even bought their extended warranty, so I should be able to get it fixed for free. Thanks for the tip about the lever having to be in full open position. I am sure it was in straight stitch mode when I removed it to clean the bobbin area. Who would have thought to do that?!

Hi again, Singerbabe. Apparently the information is in the instruction manual. But the text is translated from Japanese, and my vendor acknowledged that the translation is not quite up to par, to say the least .... Hope you get your problem resolved. Would appreciate hearing further from you.

Thank you. My plan is to possibly purchase this machine tomorrow.

Hi Delta! You won't be sorry! I haven't had a problem since that first problem back in 2016.

It's a great machine! I use it mainly for piecing and for the decorative stitches. But I've also done free-motion quilting on it, mainly on smaller projects like table runners, place mats, etc. I know many quilters also use it for quilting larger projects, but I have the TL2010Q for those.

Read the instruction manual attentively when removing the throat plate for cleaning, and you'll be fine.

Keep us posted!

I'm having the same problem with my Juki HZL DX7. My machine is 3 1/2 years old, so is no longer under warranty. How was your problem solved?

Answered upthread. Check for the spring under the throat plate. And welcome to the board! https://cdn.quiltingboard.com/images/smilies/smile.png

Thanks. The mechanism under the plate is in good working order. I'm fairly certain it's the little electronic board that comes in contact with the arm under the needle plate when the sliding plate is engaged to straight stitch mode. The 'little board' is green, has one black and one white wire attached to it, and is covered by a white plastic cover, secured by a small screw. I'm thinking the problem might very well be that little board.

Same problem, HZL-DX5
 

I am having the same issue with my HZL DX5. I took it in for repairs and they tried replacing the needle plate and it didn't solve the problem. They said the sensor is working so they think the motherboard needs to be replaced. They've been waiting in the part for over a month. My machine's part warranty is up in November (which will make it 2 years old). I love the machine but just want it to be repaired already. I am continuing to sew on it while they wait for the part, only using straight stitches. But Covid is causing a delay in everything! Did you ever get your machine fixed?

Hi CyBe! In my case, replacing the needle plate did the trick! However, it did take almost 2 months before the dealer received the replacement plate! Looks like you have a different problem. I certainly hope you get your problem resolved. Keep us posted.