Can’t thread my machine

[u/Martiansheepy]

Sorry if I look like an idiot based on this video lol 😭

I’m not very familiar with sewing machines but I have used them plenty when they behave.
For some reason, my brother xl-2230 will not thread for the life of me.
It may be broken, it’s worked before just fine a while back but ever since I’ve encountered this I just haven’t been able to use it.
I’m not sure why, I don’t think I’m doing anything particularly wrong, it’s like the bobbin just won’t move. I’ll turn the wheel, I’ll step in the pedal, but it does nothing. Just sits there while the top needle does its thing. I don’t really think this video is all that helpful I took the cover off and I can see that the bobbin is just sitting there. I’m not even sure what I can do to fix it.

This is a really old machine, should I just find myself a new one? Or is this some sort of problem that is really easy to fix and I’m just a noob?

edit: even if something is bent out of shape, I don’t even know what it could be or how it should look… sigh
Video of me doing it with the cover on normally in the replies

Thank you for all the help ❤️‍🩹

[u/RubyRedo]

hold the needle thread tail and put the bobbin tail across the top of the bobbin, turn wheel slowly till needle thread hooks the bobbin thread.

[u/Martiansheepy → u/RubyRedo]

I tried this but nothing hooks :( the top needle just kinda ignores the bobbin thread

[u/Muddy_Wafer → u/Martiansheepy]

Don’t hold the needle thread tight, just hold it lightly, to imitate how the fabric might hold onto the thread.

[u/RubyRedo → u/Martiansheepy]

you do not see the needle thread sweep across the bobbin as you are turning the wheel? As muddy says hold it so its droopy not taut.

[u/katjoy63]

Wow, there is a lot of slack in your top thread. I bet you need to rethread it and try again.

[u/Martiansheepy → u/katjoy63]

That’s mostly because I’m just trying to record a video and my hands are a bit busy, I did try to thread it while pulling the thread! It’s the same result as this

[u/__miichelle]

Don’t turn the hand wheel away from you. You need to hold the top thread gently when you are trying to pick up the bobbin thread. Also, you need to do this with the foot up, not down. Make sure you thread the machine with the foot up too. Do you have the manual for this machine? I recommend you read it and learn how to use the machine.

[u/Martiansheepy → u/__miichelle]

https://reddit.com/link/ph8v9c6/video/agjjjzq3gyvh1/player

Thank you, here I’m holding the thread, the foot is down, and the thread should be in the threading parts… I’ll go dig for the manual tomorrow as it’s late but is there anything else that I may be doing wrong here?

[u/ThreadLaced → u/Martiansheepy]

the presser foot should be UP

it looks like you've overfilled the bobbin

and are you sure this is the right type of bobbin? it seems to say "Singer" but you said your machine is a Brother? Allegedly they can use each others' parts, but in my experience Singer-brand things (newer than the 1980s) are garbage.

At the very least, unwind some of the thread and try it again with the presser foot UP.

hope this helps!

[u/Martiansheepy → u/ThreadLaced]

Thank you for the tips!!! I’m hoping this will help

[u/__miichelle → u/Martiansheepy]

Foot needs to be up.

[u/AdmirableBig3375]

Hi there! This might not fix your current issue (but would be a near future issue): you’ve missed the last thread guide while threading. The manual should detail the whole threading path but if you can’t find your manual, likely you can google it. There are usually PDFs saved for manuals online.

[u/Martiansheepy → u/AdmirableBig3375]

Thank you so much! I’ll definitely look into it asap

[u/ArtemisiaPrime]

I think you missed threading the hook right above the needle

[u/Geepers1099]

Bobbin is in wrong

[u/AbiJ_]

Same shot but, Take the bobbin and bobbin case out. Turn the handwheel two full rotations and lets see where the needle goes