Needle assembly won't stay on - Brother XR-31 Mechanical Sewing Machine

take off side plate and loosen pressure ft screw . it should snap down. make sure the foot stays align wit the needle. u want the foot slot with needle in ctr.

Check the clamp for a crack it sounds like it may have been broken. Good luck

if the machine is still under warrenty, take it back
if it's not under warrenty, take it to the place you bought it from & tell them

it's very possible that the machine is out of time & needs to be serviced at a sewing machine shop

the screw & the needle clamp may have to be replaced

the machine may need to be serviced to see why the needle position won't
move

that use to happen to me on my sewing machines, I would rethread the machine to make sure the thread is not caught on anything like the thread spool, or around anyone of the thread guides

also for both top & bottom threads, I keep a thread tail of 3 to 6 inches & before I start sewing I pull the thread behind the needle to the back of the machine & the I put the fabric under the foot & start sewing & now I don't have that problem anymore

it sounds like the take up lever has either come loose or is broken, & since the needle won't go up & down it needs to be checked

needs a new needle clamp screw & possibly the needle clamp too

try sewingpartsonline.com