Janome MC230E Troubleshooting guide

SERVICE MANUAL
&
PARTS LIST
Model: MC230E
First Edition: 19 July 2018

CONTENTS
Replacing External Parts (1) Face Cover .................................................................... 1
Replacing External Parts (2) Bed Cover ...................................................................... 2
Replacing External Parts (3) Front Cover .................................................................... 3
Replacing External Parts (4) Rear Cover..................................................................... 4
Adjusting the Needle Drop Position ............................................................................. 5
Adjusting the Hook Timing ........................................................................................... 6
Adjusting the Needle Bar Height.................................................................................. 7
Adjusting the Clearance between Needle and Hook ................................................... 8
Adjusting the Backlash between the Rotary Hook Gear and Lower Shaft Gear.......... 9
Adjusting the Needle Stop Position............................................................................ 10
Adjusting the Needle Thread Tension ........................................................................ 11
Adjusting the Tension Release Mechanism ............................................................... 12
Replacing the Thread Tension Unit............................................................................ 13
Replacing and Adjusting the Needle Threader .......................................................... 14
Adjusting the Height of the Embroidery Foot ............................................................. 15
Replacing the Printed Circuit Board A........................................................................ 16
Replacing the LCD Module ........................................................................................ 17
Replacing the Printed Circuit Board F........................................................................ 18
Adjusting the Tension Solenoid.................................................................................. 19
Replacing the DC Motor and Adjusting the Motor Belt Tension ................................. 20
Replacing the Carriage Unit....................................................................................... 21
Adjusting the Y-sensor ............................................................................................... 22
Adjusting the X-sensor............................................................................................... 23
Adjusting the X and Y-sensors (Simple Adjustment).................................................. 24
Adjusting the Y-motor Gear........................................................................................ 25
Adjusting the X-motor Gear ....................................................................................... 26
Adjusting the Y-carriage Supporter ............................................................................ 27
Replacing the Switching Power Supply ..................................................................... 28
Parts List .............................................................................................................29 - 47

1
Replacing External Parts (1) Face Cover
Replacing the face cover
To remove:
1. Remove the setscrew and remove the face cover.
To attach:
2. Follow the above procedure in reverse.
Setscrew
Face cover

2
Replacing External Parts (2) Bed Cover
Replacing the bed cover
To remove:
1. Turn the power switch on to move the carriage to
the stored position, then turn the power switch off.
2. Remove the setscrew (A) and remove the needle
plate.
3. Remove the 6 setscrews (B) and remove the
bottom plate.
NOTE:
Place a 100 mm thick block on the back of the
machine when laying the machine on the back to
prevent the carriage from damage.
4. Remove the bed cover while pushing the rear
cover to unlock the hooks.
To attach:
5. Follow the above procedure in reverse.
Setscrews (A)
Needle plate
Setscrew (B)
Carriage should not contact work surface.
Block
Setscrew (B)
Setscrew (B)
Bed cover
Hook
Hook
Setscrew (B) Bottom plate
Rear cover
Hook
Hook

3
Replacing External Parts (3) Front Cover
Replacing the Front cover
To remove:
1. Turn the power switch on and select the em-
broidery pattern #1 to move the carriage to the
starting position, then turn the power switch off.
Remove the face cover and bed cover.
2. Loosen the setscrew (A).
3. Remove the cap and setscrew (B).
4. Remove the 2 setscrews (C).
5. Remove all the connectors from the pointed cir-
cuit board A and unlock the hooks, then remove
the front cover.
To attach:
6. Follow the above procedure in reverse.
NOTE:
Refer to page 16 to locate the connectors.
Setscrew (A)
Setscrews (C)
Setscrew (B)
Cap

4
Replacing External Parts (4) Rear Cover
Replacing the Rear Cover
To remove:
1. Remove the face cover, bed cover.
2. Remove the setscrew (A).
3. Remove the 2 setscrews (B), (C), and (D).
4. Remove the carriage cover.
5. Loosen the setscrew (E), and shift the Y-carriage
supporter up.
6. Unlock the hooks, raise the carrying handle and
remove the rear cover by opening the left end of
the covers.
To attach:
7. Follow the above procedure in reverse.
NOTE:
Adjust the Y-carriage supporter (refer to page 27).
Setscrew (A)
Setscrews (B)
Setscrews (C)
Rear cover
Rear cover
Carriage cover
Setscrews (D)
Setscrews (E)
Rear cover
Front cover
Machine
socket part
Y-carriage supporter

5
Adjusting the Needle Drop Position
1. Lower the needle to the lowest position by turning
the hand wheel.
2. Remove the face cover.
3. Loosen the 2 setscrews (A).
4. Move the needle bar supporter back or forth to
adjust the position of the needle.
5. Loosen the 2 setscrews (B).
6. Move the needle drop adjusting plate laterally to
adjust the position of the needle.
7. Tighten the setscrews.
8. Attach the face cover.
NOTE:
Check the hook timing and clearance between the
needle and hook. Adjust them if necessary.
The needle should be positioned at the center of the needle plate hole.
Setscrews (A)
Needle bar supporter
Needle plate hole
Setscrews (B)
Setscrews (B)
Needle drop ad-
justing plate

6
Adjusting the Hook Timing
1. Remove the needle plate and bottom plate.
2. Remove the presser foot, needle plate and
bobbin holder. Replace the needle (#11) with a
#14 needle.
3. Lower the needle bar to its lowest position by
turning the hand wheel toward you.
4. Raise the needle bar 1.65 to 1.95 mm up from the
lowest position.
5. Loosen the setscrews on the lower shaft gear.
Turn the lower shaft gear until the tip of the rotary
hook meets the right side of the needle, while
holding the hand wheel so the needle bar does
not move.
6. Tighten the setscrews.
7. Attach the bobbin holder, needle plate and
presser foot. Replace the needle with the #11
needle.
8. Attach the bottom plate and needle plate.
The hook timing is an amount of ascending travel of the needle bar from its lowest position
to where the tip of the rotary hook meets the right side of the needle that should be 1.65 to
1.95 mm.
Needle plate
Bobbin holder
Tip of the rotary hook
#14 needle
1.65 to 1.95 mm
Lowest position
Setscrew
SetscrewLower shaft gear

7
Adjusting the Needle Bar Height
1. Remove the face cover.
2. Remove the presser foot, needle plate and
bobbin holder. Replace the needle (#11) with a
#14 needle.
3. Turn the hand wheel to raise the needle bar from
the lowest position until the tip of the rotary hook
meets the right side of the needle.
4. Loosen the setscrew on the needle bar
supporter.
Move the needle bar up or down to set the
distance between the top of the needle eye and
the upper surface of the rotary hook at 3.2 to 3.5
mm.
5. Tighten the setscrews. Be sure that he groove of
the needle is facing right in the front.
6. Attach the bobbin holder, needle plate and
presser foot. Replace the needle with the #11
needle.
7. Attach the face cover.
The distance between the top of the needle eye and the upper surface of the hook race
should be 3.2 to 3.6 mm when the tip of the rotary hook meets the right side of the needle
in the ascending travel form the lowest position.
Needle plate
Bobbin holder
Tip of the rotary hook
#14 needle
3.2 to 3.5 mm
Groove
Upper surface of the hook race
Top of the needle eye
Rotary hook
Setscrew
Needle bar

8
Adjusting the Clearance between Needle and Hook
1. Remove the bed cover.
2. Remove the presser foot, needle plate and
bobbin holder. Replace the needle (#11) with the
test pin.
3. Loosen the setscrews (A), (B) and (C) and tighten
the setscrew (C) slightly.
4. Turn the hand wheel to bring the tip of the rotary
hook behind the test pin.
Adjust the clearance between the test pin and the
tip of the rotary hook to -0.0 to +0.05 mm by
moving the rotary hook set plate up or down.
5. Tighten the setscrews (A), (B) and (C) firmly.
6. Check the backlash between the rotary hook gear
and lower shaft gear and adjust the backlash if
necessary.
7. Attach the bobbin holder, needle plate and
presser foot. Replace the test pin with the #11
needle.
8. Attach the bed cover.
The clearance between the needle and the rotary hook should be -0.10 to +0.05 mm.
Test pin
Tip of rotary hook
-0.10 to +0.05 mm
Setscrew (A)
Setscrew (B)
Setscrew (C)
Rotary hook
set plate

9
Adjusting the Backlash between the Rotary Hook Gear and Lower Shaft Gear
1. Remove the bed cover.
2. Remove the needle, presser foot, needle plate
and bobbin holder.
3. Loosen the setscrew.
Check the rotary play of the hook.
4. Turn the lower shaft bushing (eccentric) in the
direction “A” if the gears do not turn smoothly.
Turn the lower shaft bushing in the direction “B” if
the rotary play is larger than 0. 8 mm.
5. Tighten the setscrew.
6. Attach the bobbin holder, needle plate, presser
foot and needle.
7. Attach the bed cover.
The rotary play of the hook should be 0. 8 mm or less.
Rotary play should be
0.8 mm or less.
Setscrew
Lower shaft bushing
A
B

10
Adjusting the Needle Stop Position
1. Remove the face cove, bed cover and front cover
(do not disconnect any connector).
2. Turn the power switch on and press the start/stop
button twice.
3. Turn the power switch on and press the start/stop
button twice.
4. Loosen the setscrew.
5. Turn the upper shaft shield plate in the
direction “B” if the needle stop position is higher
than 12.9 mm.
Turn the upper shaft shield plate in the direction
“A” if the needle stop position is lower than
14.4 mm.
6. Set the right side of the shield plate at the center
of the slit of the sensor and tighten the setscrew.
7. Turn the power switch off and attach the front
cover, bed cover and front cover, bed cover and
face cover.
The needle should stop 12.9-14.4 mm above the needle plate surface when machine stops.
Setscrew
#11 needle
12.9-14.4 mm
Shield plate
Slit of sensor
B
A

11
Adjusting the Needle Thread Tension
The needle thread tension should be 46 to 54 grams when the tension dial is set at “4” and
measured with a #50 polyester thread being pulled in the direction of the arrow at
approximately 110 mm/sec.
1. Set the tension dial at “4”
2. Lower the presser foot lifter and measure the
thread tension..
3. Remove the front cover cap.
4. Turn the adjusting screw in the direction “B” if
the tension is less than 46 grams.
Turn the adjusting screw in the direction “A” if
the tension is more than 54 grams.
5. Attach the front cover cap.
Polyester thread #50
Front cover cap

12
Adjusting the Tension Release Mechanism
When the presser foot lifter is raised the tension disks should open to release the needle
thread tension.
1. Remove the front cover.
2. Lower the presser foot lifter and set the tension
dial at “9”.
3. Loosen the setscrew and adjust the paly of the
tension release rod to 0.3 to 0.5 mm.
4. Tighten the setscrew.
Raise the presser foot lifter and check if the
tension disks open 1.0 mm when the dial is set at
“9”.
6. Attach the front cover.
Setscrew Tension release rod
1.0 mm
Tension disks

13
Replacing the Thread Tension Unit
To remove :
1. Remove the face cover, bed cover and front
cover.
2. Remove the setscrews (A) and (B).
Remove the thread tension unit.
To attach:
3. Follow the above procedure in reverse.
NOTE:
After replacement, adjust the tension release mech-
anism and tension solenoid (refer to the next page).
Thread tension unit
Setscrew (A)
Setscrew (B)
Thread tension unit

14
Replacing and Adjusting the Needle Threader
If the hook of the needle threader is damaged, replace the threader plate as follows.
To replace:
1. Pry out the threader plate with a screwdriver
while pushing down and holding the threader
knob.
2. Align the groove of the threader plate with the
pins on the threader shaft. Push the threader
plate up until it snaps in place.
To adjust:
1. If the threader hook thrusts or hits against either
left or right side of the needle eye, loosen the
setscrew (A) and adjust the lateral position of the
threader plate.
2. If the threader hook thrusts or hits against either
upper or lower side of the needle eye, loosen the
setscrew (B) and adjust the vertical position of the
threader position setting block.
If the threader hook does not enter the needle eye smoothly, adjust the threader position
as follows.
Threader hook
Pin
Threader plate
Setscrew (A)
Setscrew (B)
Threader plate
Threader position
setting block
View (X)
(X)

15
Adjusting the Height of the Embroidery Foot
Space between the needle plate and bottom of the embroidery foot should be 1.0 to 1.3 mm
when the presser bar is at the lowest position.
1. Remove the face cover.
2. Turn the handwheel to bring the presser bar to
the lowest position.
Lower the presser foot lifter.
3. Loosen the setscrew and move the presser bar
up or down to adjust the height of the embroidery
foot.
NOTE:
Make sure not to turn the presser bar.
4. Tighten the setscrew.
6. Attach the face cover.
Setscrew
Presser bar
Presser foot lifter
Embroidery foot
1.0 to 1.3 mm
Needle

16
Replacing the Printed Circuit Board A
Printed circuit board A
Setscrew
Touch panel (white)
LCD module (white)
LCD brightness
control (white)
LCD module (green)
LED lamp (red)
Thread detection
sensor (white)
Setscrew
DC motor (white)
Switching power
supply (white)
Setscrew
Setscrew
Presser foot
lifter sensor
(white)
Upper shaft sensor
(black)
Y-motor (black)
X-motor (white)
Tension solenoid
(white)
Bobbin winder switch (blue)
To remove:
1. Remove the face cover, bed cover and front
cover.
2. Disconnect all the connectors from the printed
circuit board A.
3. Remove the 4 setscrews and remove the printed
circuit board A.
To attach:
4. Follow the above procedure in reverse.
NOTE:
Refer to the following diagram when connecting the
connectors.
Printed circuit board F
(black)
Disconnecting LCD Module Flexible
PCB
Flexible PCB
Lift up the clamp to unlock.

17
Replacing the LCD Module
To remove:
1. Remove the face cover, bed cover and front
cover.
2. Remove the printed circuit board A.
3. Remove the 4 setscrews and remove the LCD
module.
To attach:
4. Follow the above procedure in reverse.
NOTE:
Refer to the previous page for connector diagram.
Place the LCD module and press it against the ribs
of the front cover.
Setscrew
LCD module
Setscrew Setscrew
Setscrew
Front cover rib
LCD module

18
Replacing the Printed Circuit Board F
To remove:
1. Remove the face cover, bed cover and front
cover.
2. Disconnect the connectors from the printed
circuit board A.
3. Remove the 2 setscrews and remove the printed
circuit board F.
To attach:
4. Follow the above procedure in reverse.
NOTE:
Refer to page 16 for connecting the connectors.
Setscrew
Printed circuit board F
Setscrew
Front cover