Table of Contents
Video reference: “How to Thread and Maintain a Multi-Needle Embroidery Machine” by Bazar91
A smooth-running multi-needle embroidery machine starts with spotless threading and steady maintenance. This guide walks you through the full thread path—from cone to needle—then shows you exactly where to clean, oil, and grease so your stitches stay consistent and your machine lasts longer.
What you’ll learn
- The complete thread path (cone → guides → tension → sensor → take-up lever → needle)
- How to seat thread correctly in tension plates to avoid loose or tight stitches
- Weekly maintenance: cleaning the shuttle hook area, oiling springs and rails, and greasing the gear
- Alignment checks that prevent needle breakage
Mastering Your Bazar91 Multi-Needle Embroidery Machine: Threading Essentials
Primer (What & When) Threading is more than getting thread through a needle—it’s how you stabilize tension, engage safety sensors, and set the stage for clean embroidery. Proper threading ensures the thread break sensor can stop the job if thread stops moving, the take-up lever meters thread correctly, and stitches form cleanly.
When to rethread
- First-time setup or color changes
- After a thread break or tension issue
- Whenever you clean the thread path or change needles
Pro tip: Keep tweezers and small scissors at the machine for quick, precise handling of the thread tail and trimming ends. hooping station for embroidery
Prep: Tools, Materials, and Workspace
- Tools: tweezers, small scissors, the thin wire provided with the machine (for the tube), brush, screwdriver/Allen key, oil bottle
- Materials: top thread, sewing-machine oil, machine grease
- Workspace: clean, well-lit, with enough room to open covers and access the shuttle hook area
Quick check
- Thread cones are stable on the stand.
- Tools (especially tweezers and wire) are within reach.
Setup: The Why Behind Each Guide and Tension
- Top guides keep the thread path straight to prevent snags and false tension.
- Tension plates (primary, then secondary) press on the thread to stabilize feed.
- The thread break sensor wheel must rotate when the thread moves; if it stops spinning during sewing, the machine stops to protect the design.
- The take-up lever meters thread for each stitch; missing it leads to loops or tightness.
Threading from Cone to Needle (Step-by-step)
1) Load the thread cone - Place the cone on the stand and press down to seat it firmly. A wobbly cone causes intermittent tension.
Outcome: Thread cone sits flat and doesn’t wobble. Watch out: Poorly seated cones can cause tangles upstream.
2) Route through top guides
- Pull thread from the cone.
- Send the thread straight through the top holes/guides on the upper arm—keep it aligned with the straight guide line.
Outcome: The thread path is straight with no kinks. Quick check: Tug the thread gently; it should feed smoothly. embroidery magnetic hoop
3) Engage primary tension disks and plates
- Feed the thread into the first tension disks; ensure it sits between the plates.
- Guide the thread through the adjacent tension plate, again between the two plates.
Outcome: Thread is gripped evenly; no plate is skipped. Pro tip: If the thread won’t seat, a thin tool can nudge it into the gap—don’t force it. magnetic hoops for embroidery machines
4) Thread through the tube (use the included wire)
- Detach the clear tube.
- Insert the thin wire through the tube.
- Loop the thread to the end of the wire and pull the wire back through, bringing the thread along.
- Remove the wire and reattach the tube.
Outcome: The thread slides freely through the tube; no snags. Watch out: If you feel resistance, back out the wire and try again; don’t fray the thread.
5) Secondary tension (lower plates)
- After reattaching the tube, guide the thread into the lower tension disk set.
- Ensure it goes between the plates and exits on the left side.
Outcome: Thread exits left and is firmly seated. Quick check: A light tug should feel smooth but slightly resisted by tension.
6) Engage sensor and take-up lever
- Pull thread down to the white sensor wheel; loop once (or twice) around the wheel.
- Push the thread into the small guide below the sensor.
- Make a U-turn and pass through the take-up lever hole.
Outcome: The sensor wheel spins when you pull thread; thread sits cleanly in the take-up lever. Watch out: Skipping the sensor means the machine can’t detect a thread break.
7) Final guides and needle threading
- Feed down through the white guides near the needle bar.
- Use tweezers to thread the needle front-to-back.
- Lay the thread into the small spring guide by the needle.
Outcome: Needle is cleanly threaded and the thread is in all nearby guides. Pro tip: Trim the thread tip sharply with scissors for easier insertion.
Operation checklist (threading)
- Cone seated; path straight through top guides
- Primary and secondary tension plates engaged (between both plates)
- Sensor wheel turns with a gentle pull
- Take-up lever threaded; final guides and needle done front-to-back
Comprehensive Maintenance for Optimal Performance
Primer (Why maintenance matters) Lint, dry friction, and under-lubricated gears are top causes of poor stitch quality and stoppages. A short weekly routine—cleaning, oiling, and greasing—keeps motion smooth and extends part life.
Clean and oil the shuttle hook area
- Loosen the shuttle cover screw slightly—don’t remove fully—and rotate the cover open.
- Brush away lint and thread fragments from the shuttle hook, cutter, and bobbin case area.
- Apply a few drops of oil to the moving/friction points in the shuttle hook mechanism.
Outcome: Mechanism turns freely; no lint clumps. Watch out: Oiling before cleaning can trap debris—always brush first. brother embroidery machine
Oil X/Y axis guide points
- Apply oil to the designated holes/grooves on the frame’s guide rails so the hoop carriage moves smoothly.
Outcome: Frame movement is fluid—no jerks or squeaks. Quick check: Slide the frame (with power off if your model allows) and feel for consistent motion.
Reassemble the shuttle cover with needle alignment
- Return the cover to position.
- Confirm the needle tip aligns in the center of the cover opening.
- Tighten screws securely.
Outcome: Cover is steady; needle is perfectly centered. Watch out: Misalignment leads to needle strikes and breakage.
Oil needle rod springs
- Open the side cover.
- Apply oil to each needle rod spring, one by one.
Outcome: Vertical needle motion remains smooth and quiet. Pro tip: A single drop per spring is usually enough—wipe any excess.
Grease the gear mechanism
- Remove the gear cover screws and lift the cover.
- Apply grease to the gear teeth and grooves thoroughly.
- Use a color/needle change to rotate the gear and spread grease around the entire circumference.
- Keep the needle sensor area clear and undamaged.
Outcome: Color changes feel smooth; gear noise is reduced. Watch out: Don’t nick or press on the needle sensor when removing/replacing the cover. tajima embroidery machine
Maintenance checklist
- Shuttle hook: brush clean → oil moving points
- X/Y guides: oil
- Needle rod springs: oil each
- Gear: grease fully and rotate to cover all teeth
- Alignment: verify needle centered in shuttle cover opening
Troubleshooting Common Threading and Maintenance Issues
Preventing needle breakage with proper alignment Symptom: Needle breaks repeatedly. Likely cause: Needle tip is not centered in the shuttle cover opening after reassembly. Fix: Loosen cover, reposition so the needle passes perfectly through the opening, then retighten. Quick check: Jog the needle down slowly and watch its position relative to the cover hole.
Ensuring even tension for quality stitches Symptom: Loose loops or overly tight top thread. Likely causes:
- Thread skipped one of the tension plate sets.
- Thread is not between the plates (riding on a plate’s surface).
- Take-up lever was missed.
Fix:
- Re-seat between primary and secondary plates; use a small tool if needed.
- Confirm the take-up lever is threaded after the U-turn.
- Verify the sensor wheel rotates freely when pulling thread. magnetic hoops
Sensor not stopping the machine on break Symptom: Thread breaks but the job keeps running. Likely cause: Thread not wrapped around the sensor wheel, so the sensor doesn’t detect movement. Fix: Re-route and loop the thread once or twice around the sensor wheel; test by pulling the thread and watching for wheel rotation.
Jerky frame movement Symptom: The embroidery frame stutters or feels rough. Likely cause: Dry guide points. Fix: Apply oil to designated X/Y guide oiling points and distribute by moving the frame slowly.
Thread snags in the tube Symptom: Thread drag or fray when pulling through the tube. Likely cause: The pull wire or thread loop caught inside the tube. Fix: Remove and reinsert the wire smoothly; secure the thread to the wire’s end and draw back without twisting.
Results & Handoff
- After threading: The sensor wheel spins on pull, the take-up lever is engaged, and the thread runs smoothly through all guides to the needle.
- After maintenance: The shuttle area is clean and lightly oiled; the frame glides; needle rods move quietly; gears rotate smoothly during color change.
Pro tip: Keep a small log noting when you last cleaned, oiled, and greased. This keeps weekly routines consistent. mighty hoops for brother
Extending the Lifespan of Your Embroidery Machine
Weekly maintenance checklist (fast)
- Brush shuttle hook area → oil moving points
- Oil X/Y guide holes/grooves
- Oil each needle rod spring under the side cover
- Grease gear; rotate via color change; protect the needle sensor
- Verify needle alignment through the shuttle cover opening
Recommended tools for machine care
- Tweezers for precise threading
- Small scissors for clean cuts
- Thin wire (supplied) for threading the tube
- Brush for lint
- Screwdriver/Allen key for covers
- Oil and grease appropriate for embroidery mechanisms magnetic embroidery hoops for brother
Understanding vital components (quick tour)
- Top guides: Keep the thread straight to the first tension system.
- Tension plates: Primary and secondary sets stabilize feed.
- Thread break sensor wheel: Rotates when thread moves; machine stops if rotation ceases during sewing.
- Take-up lever: Meters thread for each stitch cycle.
- Shuttle hook area: Forms the lock with the bobbin thread; must be clean and lubricated.
- Needle rod springs: Dampen vertical motion; keep them oiled.
- Gear train: Drives color changes and other motion; requires periodic grease.
Decision points for smooth progress
- If tension looks inconsistent → re-seat between both plate sets first.
- If breaks persist → confirm sensor loop and take-up lever threading.
- If needle strikes → recheck alignment through the shuttle cover opening before running.
From the comments
- Readers appreciated the clarity of the process. The channel acknowledged the feedback.
Appendix: Quick run-through (cone to needle)
- Cone on stand, pressed down
- Top guide holes: straight path
- Primary tension disks/plate: thread between plates
- Tube: pull thread through with wire
- Secondary tension: seat and exit left
- Sensor: wrap wheel; guide below
- U-turn → take-up lever
- Final guides → needle threaded front-to-back → spring guide
Extra note for accessory users While this guide focuses on core threading and maintenance, many embroiderers pair their machines with specialty hooping systems and frames. Choose accessories that match your machine’s specifications and follow the manufacturer’s threading and maintenance guidelines alongside this core routine. magnetic hoops for embroidery machines brother magnetic hoop mighty hoops magnetic embroidery hoops