Basic Baby Lock Maintenance

In this blog post we are going to go over some of the basic issues and problems that come up when servicing the machines. 

Baby Lock Zest Basic Maintenance

To start we have the basic threading on the Zest one of our sewing machines. You’ll take the thread from the spool stand and turn the hand wheel towards yourself so that the take up lever is at its highest point. Then you’ll take the thread through the thread guide, next to the take up lever that looks like a hook and make sure the presser foot is up using the black lever on the back of the machine to lift the foot up as that releases the tension disc. With the thread you’ll now bring it down and around the thread guides and put the foot down and confirm that there is tension on there, and cut any excess thread.



When you put the needle in you’ll want the flat side of the needle to the back of the machine, and when inserting it make sure it’s all the way up.

When it comes to maintenance for the Baby Lock Zest all you’ll need to do is oil the needle bar. You’ll use the hand crank to bring it down to the bottom and then put oil at the top and work your way up.       

Baby Lock Destiny, Unity, Flourish, Aerial Maintenance 

First you’ll take the slide plate off by pulling it towards you and take your bobbin case out. You can look for any damage like if the needle has gone through.

Next you can use a nickel or your tool that is included with the machine to take the screws out from the needle plate.    

 You can use a paper towel or a q-tip with rubbing alcohol to clean out the hook. You can get the edges and anywhere there is dust or lint on the inside, using compressed air to blow it out is also helpful.

After cleaning, what you don’t want to do is put the bobbin case in first, you want to put the needle plate on and then the bobbin case. If you put the bobbin case in first you can shift around and that will allow the needle to pierce the bobbin case. To reiterate first we will put in the needle plate with screws and make sure they are nice and tight so the needle doesn’t hit the plate. Then the bobbin case and you’ll connect the white dots on the bobbin case and the machine. Lastly, you’ll put the slide plate back on and the foot on the machine.



When it comes to oiling there isn’t much for the average user but for the technicians at Myers Sewing you can get the top of the needle bar, like with the Zest, and there is even a felt there that is meant for you to oil. Once you’ve done that you're good to go, good to sew.

Baby Lock Multi-Needle Maintenance 

Finally we are going to show some maintenance points and common errors that will occur on a multi-needle. First turn your machine off. Sometimes your thread won’t cut and that’s called a wiper error. When it doesn’t cut at the bottom of the machine it’s because it’s full of old thread or you need a new knife. It’s best to start out by taking the needle plate and using the L wrench to remove the two screws. Once you have the needle plate off you can visually inspect it, use your brush to clean in there, and oil the hook as well. Baby Lock suggests every 8 hours of use to oil the hook.  

First we have the moveable knife, and next to it is the fixed knife. The moveable knife moves into the fixed knife to cut your thread and stores it underneath, which is how it fills up. Cleaning it with a brush also helps stop any potential errors.

Turning your machine back on, there is an oil setting inside the machine, if you click that the hook moves and puts it into a good place to oil, once done hit “ok” on the screen and it will move back.

With it back in position you can cover up the needle plate again putting the two screws back in with the L wrench.  

When it comes to basic threading on a multi-needle, if it says “Check and rethread upper” you’ll want to check your bobbin case and make sure the thread is getting in the tension unit. Then from the top of the machine where the thread is you’ll floss it into the guides, one time around the tension disc, through the guides again down and around and straight through the needle. Using the “needle threader button” will help you thread the needle, and once you have that your multi-needle is ready to go.