My thread guide keeps falling out of the needle bar. Is their a screw that is suppose to hold it in. I have a brother xl-5130

SOURCE: Brother XL-5130 Sewing Machine

Put the thread through one of the holes. Then put the bobbin on the spindle. Pull about 3 or 4 inches out of the hole and hold on to it. Start winding the bobbin. After about ten turns, or when the winding thread is secure, you can stop the machine and cut off this 3 or 4 inch tail. To insure that the thread winds up and down the bobbin and not off the top or bottom, there is probably a metal bobbin tension disk that the thread must pass around before it goes to the bobbin. It is probably on the left of the machine and may or may not be part of a thread guide. The thread must pass around this disk on its way to the bobbin in order to put tension on the thread so it will wind properly. If you can't find the disk, which is a small metal button or screw with some type of somewhat moveable spring cap, you can just get the thread to pass through your thumb and forefinger. Hold your hand 6 or 8 inches to the left of the bobbin and pass the thread between your thumb and forefinger so that it makes the thread go in a direct straight line to the bobbin. Pinch the thread only enough to keep it taught but not tight and let it flow through your finger to the bobbin. The thread should go up and down evenly on the bobbin. If not, move your hand up or down to position it so the thread will wind up and down smoothly. It will not be necessary to move your hand once you find the correct position needed for winding.

SOURCE: needle clamp won't attach to needle bar

There is a set screw above the needle pin screw which tightens with an allen wrench--try that.

SOURCE: Thread tension for Brother XL 2230.

If you have pattern dials set correctly then I might guess that one or more sets may have been missed when the thread was being set up in the machine. most of these models show either arrows or numbers for each or way the thread needs to be routed.

SOURCE: Brother XL-5130 Sewing Machine

make sure that when you insert the thread *top hole bottom to top* that you turn the bobbin itself until you hear a click *that is the spring sliding into the ****.

SOURCE: NEEDLE KEEPS COMING UNTHREADED WILL NOT CATCH IN FABRIC

Make sure you are threading the machine correctly and it has the proper tension. Also check the bobbin the thread has to go thru the little lash