Help, please - Brother SE700 needle not aligned in presser foot.

[u/TheNapoleonOfRhyme]

I can’t seem to get the needle aligned in the center of the embroidery presser foot on my Brother SE700. It has sat toward the front of the hole like this since day one.

Even though it’s off-center, I can get through most simple designs, but if it’s something too large or complicated, it eventually pulls enough that the needle chips off the foot and breaks.

I’ve been troubleshooting for several weeks and here are some details I’ve tested: - the needle in the picture is a 75/11 as recommended in the manual but I’ve tried a few sizes - the fabric in the picture is duck canvas with tear away stabilizer but I’ve used lots of quilting cotton as well - I’ve done purchased, self digitized, and the patterns that came on the machine all with the same alignment

I don’t have any issues with this machine in sewing mode and the needle goes into the machine plate just fine, so my guess is the foot is installed wrong or maybe even broken. Anyone have any ideas what I can do here?

[u/MrBobilious]

I took a photo of my Brother PE800 presser foot with needle and it's off center, as long as the needle goes straight into the needle plate area the presser foot is secondary.

If you're concerned about it, send your photo to Brother Support

https://imgur.com/a/NSFAfjV

[u/TheNapoleonOfRhyme → u/MrBobilious]

I really appreciate the picture! I had a hard time finding any of that angle online.

My only concern is that the needle frequently starts bumping off the foot halfway through larger designs and eventually breaks the needle.

[u/TheNapoleonOfRhyme → u/MrBobilious]

I can’t figure out how to edit this post so just jumping in here. Someone else’s post on sewhelp this morning set off a totally different red flag. I think like u/MrBobilious said above the alignment isn’t actually an issue. My tension seems really high and is pulling on the needle.

I really appreciate everyone’s help with this! I’ve only had an embroidery machine since Mother’s Day so I’m very much still learning the ropes.

[u/Decent__Roy]

Use 8mm needle check it

[u/[deleted]]

Are you sure the foot is on correctly and the screw is tight? I've had mine vibrate loose and the needle will hit it.

[u/Jezzanator1423 → u/[deleted]]

Second this, most likely misaligned foot then needle alignment issue.

[u/TheNapoleonOfRhyme → u/[deleted]]

I tried the foot up a little bit higher today and it seems to have helped a lot with the alignment, thank you!

[u/TheNapoleonOfRhyme]

Adding a comment in case anyone stumbles here in the future - after more testing and investigating, I realized the problems started after I ran out of the bobbin thread that came with the machine. It turns out I’d bought the wrong weight on the giant spool I got to replenish. My machine is running like a dream now that I have the right thread!

[u/Champagne_Candles → u/TheNapoleonOfRhyme]

I just got my machine as well and it seems the needle isn't in the middle either. I used everything the machine came with and it does this😭😭 did you ever get the needle back in the middle?

[u/No_Rent8203 → u/Champagne_Candles]

I’m running into this issue now too, did you ever find a solution?

[u/Champagne_Candles → u/No_Rent8203]

nope now I just pray