red feed wheels breaking?

[signman]

We just had to do the first full maintenance where you remove the feed wheels, etc. to clean and regrease-we had changed them all sometime last summer.
Not too much use as you can see...
and when Sue popped off a couple, she found the 'guide' pins (or snap pins, whatever-they hold the red wheels in place) inside had snapped-a couple wheels were missing one pin.
No sign of the piece broken off...
now we have to order a batch of new ones...anyone else seeing this breakage occur?
Is this a 'warranty' item-will Melco send us replacements?

[Rod or Sharon]

If you are waiting until the timmers to tell you to do the roller maintanance, you are really waiting too long for the most used needles....they need more lubrication than that...

You did not specifically indicate if your machine is still under warranty. If the rollers are/were defective, I am sure that Melco will replace them....give them a call and explain the situation to them..

I have seen some of the centers fractured. This can happen when the rollers are popped back in place and too much pressure is applied. Rollers that are kept properly lubricated come off much eaiser than those that are not and could cause the breakage you are seeing. If the roller hangs up or drags because of the lack of lubrication, the clips could bind and break as the roller turns...

Rod Springer
Melco EMT & Amaya tech

[signman]

The machine is still warranteed, we bought the extended after the original ran out.
It isn't getting overused at all, and we make sure we alternate 'basic color' needles every job over 10-12 pieces to spread out the wear.
We can see 'grease' on every wheel-not excessive, but you can tell they were greased, and when Sue did the maintenance, she said every wheel looked like it had just been done...no 'lack' of grease anywhere.
But she was not happy finding the broken 'prongs' on them-and doesn't think she did it as she removed them because they all came off fairly easily. Its the black 'clip' or whatever that drives her nuts putting back on!
We'll give Melco a call and see if the red wheels are guaranteed-I thought they were supposed to last for a gazillion stitches.

[signman]

Called Melco...absotutely no warranty on those wheels...nada, zip.
At first she said about $5.00 each...and was ready to sell us that price until we questioned it. Good thing! They are only 44 CENTS apiece...we ordered 32 , only need 3 or 4 but might has well have a bag on hand!
When they get here we'll look for the 'wobbly' ones and replace them. Only 4-5 million stitches on them since installation, shouldn't be breaking that fast!
So we'll be extra careful on the installation and see if that's when they break.
My suggestion-anyone ordering parts, make sure they double check prices!

[HERB]

Been watching this post with some interest. I have a red roller in the old machine with a broken retaining peg. I broke it being a putz when I changed from the black rollers to the yellow ones way back when. Has not affected the operation of the roller at all. Been serviced half a dozen times. Acts just like the other 35.

[signman]

we have one of them with a post broken right off...and that needle was breaking thread constantly today. Moved color to another number needle, with a good red roller-and not another break.
You could see the red roller 'wobbling' side to side as it sewed...
so I figured that had to be the culprit after we changed to a new needle and it still kept breaking.

[Impressive Threads]

speaking of red wheels, can anyone tell me how to get them off of needle position #1? I can not seem to get them completely off of the lever. I do not want to apply to much sideways presser on the black lever to move it away from the edge of the needle case. I have been checking them and lubing the inside with them partially poped off. I just wondered what the trick was to getting them completely off.

Cindy Chamberlin
Impressive Threads

[Rod or Sharon]

Cindy,

The #1 needle position is a very tight fit with the red pinch roller and the needle case cover. The needlecase cover gets in the way of pulling the roller to the right....

I usually take the thread feed roller on #1 out and having the pinch lever in the up position, push it to the left and work the red roller off to the right and down turning it kind of on edge as you go. Removing the thread feed roller just gives you a bit more room to work

Rod Springer
Melco EMT & Amaya tech

[Debbie Rinehart]

I am glad someone brought that up!! I too have had a problem getting the red roller off needle #1, but Rod's reply confused me. He said the red roller will be easier to get off if you first take off the thread feed roller. I thought the red roller IS the thread feed roller. When I lift the black arm and try to push it to the left so I can wiggle the red roller out, it feels like I'm gonna break the black arm. What am I missing here! Debbie

[Rod or Sharon]

Debbie,

The red rollers are called the "pinch rollers". I don't know how old your machine is but there were two different kinds of "thread feed rollers." There are the black colored thread feed rollers which are the older style and there is the yellow colored thread feed rollers, which are the newer style.

The "thread feed rollers" have a black cover over them with a rectangular hole in the face of it that the "red pinch roller" fits in when the "pinch lever" is in the down position and the thread is then "pinched" between the "red pinch roller" and the "thread feed roller". The "thread feed roller" is gear driven and the " red pinch roller" turns from pressure being applied to it as it rides on top of the "thread feed roller."

Both rollers need to be properly lubricated when necessary.

Rod Springer
Melco EMT & Amaya tech

[Rod or Sharon]

One more thing, yes you can break the pinch lever (black arm ) if you are not careful. As a tech I always remove the needle case cover making it very easy to remove the #1 red pinch roller, but I am also doing a lot of other maintanance behind that cover too. It is a very tight fit to wiggle that red pinch roller down and out . Applying pressure to the side of the needle case cover will help also as it is the only thing that is making this exercise somewhat difficult.

Rod Springer
Melco EMT & Amaya tech

[Just Sew It]

I have one red pinch roller missing a small chunk out of the back side but it works ok. Do have a tip for the black feed roller covers: start by replacing #15 and work to the right. I find they snap in easier that way. Then #16 should snap in after sticking toung out right side of mouth and holding breath. Ha

[Debbie Rinehart]

Rod and Sharon,
I have a red Amaya with the yellow thread feed rollers, which I have greased several times (#1 red roller was greased without taking it entirely off). I guess what I was confused about is that in your first sentence you said "you take needle #1 thread feed roller out and push the black pinch lever to the left to make it easier to wiggle the red pinch roller off. My question is, don't you have to get the red pinch roller off FIRST to get the thread feed roller out. Did you mean to say you take #2 pinch and thread feed roller out first to make it easier to get #1 red pinch roller out. Hope I am making sense here? Maybe I was just reading too much into your post. Debbie

[Rod or Sharon]

I have not been ignoring you--I have been out on a tech call most of the day and just setting down to ....unwind....

Debbie,

Nope, I meant just that, the yellow thread feed will come out first. It will come up and against the bottom of the red pinch roller but it will come out with just a tad bit of pressure applied to it. Then you have a bit more room to play with the red roller.

Rod Springer
Melco EMT & Amaya tech

[Debbie Rinehart]

Thanks Rod! I guess I have been doing the whole thing all at the same time but just backwards. LOL Now if someone could just show me an easy way to get the black plate back on (the one that goes on last after changing the yellow thread feed roller). It must take me 10-15 minutes to get each cover back on. Thanks again for your patience and help. Debbie