Baby Lock Jewel BL J18, Instruction And Reference Manual

23

THE NEEDLE 
BREAKS

STITCHES ARE 
PUCKERED

STITCH  
QUALITY 
IS POOR

TENSION  
IS POOR

HAND WHEEL 
WON’T ROTATE

HARD TO 
GUIDE  
MACHINE

• Replace or correctly change the needle. Make sure that the needle 

is pushed up into the needle bar clamp until it can go no farther 

(visually check that it is up to the top of the stop/sight hole above the 

needle bar clamp screw). Failure to do so can cause damage in the 

bobbin area and throat plate.

• Correctly position the needle, throat plate or hopping foot.

• Balance the tension of the needle thread with the bobbin thread. 

• Replace the needle for one better suited for the fabric.

• Adjust the tension of the needle thread if it is not balanced with that of 

the bobbin thread. 

• Since thread slides over the surface of the bobbin case at a high 

speed, make sure the case is free of any material that could impede 

thread passage through the machine.

• If using short staple threads, inexpensive or industrial threads or 

coated threads, lint and other material will build up under the  

tension leaf spring and begin to lift the spring, reducing the spring’s 

ability to compress against the thread. By inserting a needle under 

the spring and clearing out the lint, the bobbin tension will return 

fairly close to its preset tension. 

• Turn off and unplug the machine from the electrical outlet. Remove 

the needle plate to improve visibility. Remove any visible loose 

threads. Lubricate the hook, forcibly turn the hand wheel clockwise 

and if necessary counterclockwise several times, and then remove the 

thread caught in the hook.

• Center the carriage wheels on top of the continuous track. Check 

that the machine carriage has not “jumped” the track. 

• Remove all thread or debris in wheels. Check that the tracks are free 

of lint, threads and dust from chalks (if applicable).

• Level table.

Problem 

Cause 

Correction

The needle is bent or 
not installed properly

The needle hits the 
throat plate

The tension is not  
balanced

Needle too thick for  
material

The tension is not  
balanced

Bobbin case is  
damaged, corroded, 
dirty, etc. 

“Fuzz” caught under 
the tension spring in 
the bobbin

Thread is entangled 
and caught in the hook  

Carriage wheels not  
centered on track

Thread caught in 
wheels

Table not level