20 Most Recent Brother XL-5340 Mechanical Sewing Machine Questions & Answers

You can get a manual at www.ifixmachines.com or you could try www.brother.com. Best bet is the general manual order form, I'd pay with paypal.com and they'll get you the manual or refund your money.

Good luck, that seems to be a older model

if thread is good quality you may have a sharp groove in your needle plate hole from needle breakage. if so, polish with emery tape.

scott

Basic Tips for All

1. Always turn the handwheel TOWARDS you (counter clockwise) as turning it in the opposite direction (away from you, clockwise) may knock the timing out requiring repair from a service center.
2. Always be sure your presser foot is in the DOWN position before sewing. Sewing with the presser foot in the up position will cause your thread to tangle and your bobbin to jam.
3. Change needles regularly (after 16 hours of use) as dull/weak needles can cause damage to your machine and fabric. Only use SINGER needles on your SINGER sewing machine.
4. Always be sure you are using the correct bobbin for your machine. Class 66, Class 15 and Class 15J bobbins look very similar. However, using the incorrect bobbin class in your machine can cause damage.

How do I thread my 3/4 thread serger? (14SH654, 14ET754, 14SH764, 14CG754) Q. How do I thread my 2/3/4/5 thread serger? (14T967, 14T968, 14T957) Why is my electronic machine beeping? Why won't my machine sew? Why will my machine start to sew then stop? Q. How do I sew denim and heavy fabrics? Q. Why is my bobbin not winding evenly? Q. Why won't my machine pick up the bobbin thread? Q. Why is my machine skipping stitches? Q. Why is the thread looping/bunching under my fabric? Q. Why is the thread looping/bunching on top of my fabric? Q. Why doesn't my stitch pattern match what is on my machine? Q. How often should I oil my machine? Q. What types of thread should I use? Q. I can't see the take-up lever? ,,

Make sure you have a tight wind on the bobbin, and it is free and clear of any lose threads. Also if replacement bobbin make sure the size is right for machine model. To thin of one causes them to bounce up and down putting tension on thread as it is sewing.

You can see a the directions on www.ehow.com, they have nice large diagrams. About holding the bobbin case and the tab being used to insert it in the shuttle case. Your manual does a decent job too, with diagrams that you can enlarge. If, you can't find your manual go to www.brother-usa.com and under support you can get a copy to download for free. Save it to your computer.

Sounds silly but check bobbin winder, if stuck in place it shifts the machine to different function.

when the reverse doesn't respond then the machine needs to be checked to see if a gear is bad or broken

If you do that, you'll void the warranty on the machine. You may already have. If the "turning wheel" (handwheel) is stuck, then most likely either the machine has seized from lack of lubrication or thick lubricants, or you've got a heck of a thread jam going on in the bobbin case and feed dog area.

check with these sites, call or email them a1sewingmachines.com sewvacdoctor.com

try adjusting the top tension, one number or letter at a time on a piece of scrap fabric till the bobbin stitches don't loop any morehere is a free manual just incase you don't have one, just click onthe linkhttp://www.brother-usa.com/ModelDocuments/Consumer/Users%20Manual/UM_XL_5130_5232_5340_EN_208.PDF