Thread Feed Arm

[jjones9774]

Please someone tell me I am not the only one on this users group to break off the thread feed arm while trying to get the pinch roller off needle #1 while doing a 4,000,000 stitch maintenance. [img]redface.gif[/img]
Jimmie Jones
TJ's Designs

[SilverStar]

Bummer, if you remove the face plate it makes needle #1 much easier to work on.

Janel Harris
Silver Star Embroidery

[Rod or Sharon]

Nope, you are not the first one, nor will you be the last....

As Janel has pointed out, taking off the needle plate cover makes things much more accessible.

Trying to get the #1 pinch roller off the old Amayas was a bit of a chore and now the clearance on the new XT's makes it even more difficult. Shoving too hard on the pinch lever arm will surely get you into trouble as you will break them if you are not careful.

You can pop the pinch roller to the side and clean as best you can and add grease over as much area of the hub and then spin the pinch roller after getting it back on......but taking off the needle plate cover is really the best way....it offers a really good look at the other components this way as well....

Rod Springer
Amaya Tech & Trainer

[Rod or Sharon]

Hummmmm, I didn't mean to say "needle Plate cover"....I meant needle "CASE" cover....been a long week!!!!
Rod

[jjones9774]

Rod, Thanks for the advice. I contacted Melco and the repair is covered under my warranty. Whew! However, my tech is so far away (three hours) I may decide to do it myself. I was told it takes special tools. Can you describe what they are? I consider myself above average in mechanical ability.
TIA
Jimmie Jones
TJ's Designs
Vallejo CA

[Rod or Sharon]

Only 3 hrs? Most of my calls are 7 plus hours away from Boise, ID!!! Some are 11 hrs away up in Northern Montana.....

Jimmie,

You would have to remove the existing thread feed roller assembly and either dismantle it to install the new piece or replace the entire thread feed roller assembly with a new one. Re-installing must be done carefully or warpage of the thread feed roller assembly will occur and/or mis-alignment of the thread feed gears to the main thread feed drive gear will result.

The advantage of bringing a tech on site would allow him to inspect the machine to prevent future failures......installing the thread feed assembly improperly by mis-aligning it, warping it, damaging the grabber sensor flag, or not getting the proper gear backlash in the drive gears may cost you a lot more in the long run than what the travel cost would be to bring this tech on board....

Rod Springer
Amaya Tech & Trainer

[Steve I]

Jimmy,

I broke mine the first time I tried to remove #1 without taking the cover off. I thought surely they wouldn't design this thing so you have to remove the cover to take off one roller (guess I was wrong). Anyway, I replaced it in about 15 minutes it really wasn't that difficult. If it were any other than the #1 arm I may have thought twice about jumping right in and doing it myself. If you are above average with mechanical things you shouldn't have any trouble. If you need an arm I bought 4 when I broke the first one thinking this may be a common problem but I most likely won't need them. I am in AZ so shipping will only take a day to get to you instead of 3-4 from Denver. Contact me privately if you want to do that.

Steve
Trinity Embroidery

[jjones9774]

Thanks to both of you for the info. Melco called and will send a tech for only a one-hour travel charge so I will have him fix it this time and watch so I can do it myself if it ever happens again.