Tajima embroidery machine troubleshooting

SOURCE: Needle won't move on Bernina 930

If the machines motor is running but the needle isn't going up and down then the baste stitch finger is gummed up and needs to be serviced.  This is a simple fix and it happens all the time on those machines.  Take it to your local Bernina dealer for a standard service.  Also if you really need it in a pinch try pushing up on the needle bar that sometimes will fix the problem but it will still need serviced.

SOURCE: brothers pe150 embroidery machine will not sew

If you tighten up your needle thread, reduce the tension of the needle thread.
For embroidery, and zig-zag, and because the needle makes side movements, it needs more needle thread.
So try to keep you needle thread not very tight,
and tight up your bobbin case tension more, so that the two threads meet under the meterial.

SOURCE: skipping stitches or won't sew

Re-timing is a possible solution but there is a couple of other possible causes. Bent needles are the first thing to check (but you said you changed needles). Another cause in this machine is wear. This machine has been around long enough for the guides for the needle shaft to have worn. You can check this by grasping the needle clamp screw and pushing it front to back. If there is more play than about half the thickness of you thread you're probably going to drop stitches. To verify this is the problem take a piece of string and loop it around the needle clamp screw and pull backwards on it while sewing. If your machine stops dropping stitches you've found your problem and need to take your machine for service.

SOURCE: can't tighten clutch on Kenmore zig zag sewing machine.

The clutch has fallen off the shaft. Remove the very small screw in the clutch release screw to remove the clutch release. Place the clutch(round thing with ears on it) back on the shaft with the center ears pointing towards the outside. Put the clutch release screw back on. Tighten it to make sure it works
properly. Put the small screw back in the clutch release screw and test it again. If it will not tighten or release properly, remove the clutch ,rotate it180 degrees and try it again.This should solve your problem.
sewman7

SOURCE: skip stitch

The three most obvious causes (other than that of the machine possibly being slightly out of time) are:

1) Too small of a needle size - increase the size.

2) A needle that has a flaw / defect - change the needle.

3) Needle not inserted correctly, either not pushed all the way up into the needle bar, or not installed facing the correct place. On this machine, the small "scarf" in the needle (an indent just above the eye) shouldface the right side of the machine.