1) The lever at the back that keeps the foot up when threading etc will not stay up on it's own. When you put it up, it just falls bak down a second later. 2) The needle won't go up and down, like something is stuck under, near the bobbin. There doesn't seem to be anything obvious stuck there.

Possibly zero thread tension. To test top thread tension; Place presser foot, up needle, set tension to 4 snd thread machine. Then make a long slow steady pull off thread. Place foot down and make another slow steady pull of thread. Note difference in zero tension (foot up) and tension 4 (foot down).

If no marked difference the thread is either not in tension discs, debris in discs, or tension mechanism failure.

Sounds like the presser foot holder is bad, get a new one.

Do you need the directions for threading the upper thread or the bobbin? For the top thread, place the spool on the pin (pull it up if needed). Then raise the presser foot with the lever and the needle (with the balance wheel on the side) to their highest point. Now work from the right to the left. Hook the thread on the rear thread guide and bring the thread forward and down to the front thread guide. Bring the thread up and pass it through the Take-Up lever. Bring the thread up and back down so that it falls into the slot. Bring the thread down and pull it behind the guide above the needle. Then thread the needle from front to back. If you have put in the filled bobbin, hold onto the thread and use the balance wheel to bring the needle down and back up. Use the upper thread to pull up the bobbin thread and pull several inches of the thread to the back of the machine.

Brother has the manuals and quick set-up guide on the product support page: http://www.brother-usa.com/support/ModelInfo.aspx?R3ModelID=XL2230#.VRHrpaSFr3g . The quick setup guide, http://www.brother-usa.com/VirData/Content/en-US%5CHAD%5CConsumer%5CQuickSetupGuide%5CQSG_XL_2230_EN_3166.pdf , has very good pictures of threading the machine.

I hope this helps.

Cindy Wells

it's a problem with the thread take up lever, either put a small
piece of tape on the take up lever or take a pair of pliers and
carefully place a cloth over the take up lever and close the take up
lever a little but don't damage the take up lever

if you don't have a manual, here is a link for a free manual
http://www.singerco.com/uploads/download/1313_2732.pdf

You have to keep the presser foot in the UP position in order to thread it properly. If presser foot is in DOWN position when threading, the thread cannot fall correctly into the tension discs.
Needle nice and new? Inserted all the way up as far as it can possibly go in the needle bar groove? Flat side toward back and thread inserted into the eye of the needle front to back? Feed dogs cleaned of broken thread?
If bobbin thread is problem, it's a threading issue. Did you actually put your threaded needle down into the needle hole and make a loop with your bobbin thread? Quite fixable. Relax, have a cup of tea and get away from machine for a good minute, then check all the things I just mentioned. Then you will be sewing happily in no time.
Jimmy

Remove bobbin, presser foot, needle. Tip machine back on towel gently. Unscrew plate--don't lose screws! Do not service in presence of children and curious pets. Put foot pedal next to you on tabletop. Use Zoom Sewing Machine oil. Any part MOVING that are NOT gears get one drop oil. Any DRY ONLY gears get dab of Singer sewing machine lubricant. Replace screws. Secure screws. Open left front compartment & one drop oil @ top of needle bar. Open race shuttle (where bobbin case fits in). One-half drop oil of on oscillating hook (bottom left - hand corner...smear that oil around! Insert NEW needle all way UP in needle bar groove, flat needle shank toward back. Turn handwheel towards you and raise. Raise presser foot so that threading locates all tension slots a's you pull thread TAUT from spool to each tension slot and left to right through silver, metal take-up lever, and down to tension bracket, pass needle, then pull 6" thread towards you and thread from FRONT to BACK of needle. Place bobbin into case and "thread" it. Set presser foot on DOWN position. Turn handwh towards you, dipping needle into needle plate. Make loop with bobbin thread, pull towards you. Place a good 7" underneath presser foot (both threads). Let machine RUN on 24" scrap to distrubute oil/lube. That's it! Jimmy

Most machines are very, very similar, therefore, no matter what brand you own, there's basically the same steps to follow: 1. Place good quality thread on spool pin, back right-hand side of machine and raise presser foot UP. 2.Pull thread taut from spool.Make sure silver take-up lever raised to highest position. 3. Guide thread under first tension disc. 4. Hold thread taut, guiding thread into next tension disc. When you get to the take-up leaver (silver lever on right side of machine that has a hole at the top--hold thread taut guiding it from right to left through hole, bring thread down left side of it, and put thread into tension bracket, hold thread taut! Put thread in back of needle into another small bracket and pull thread towards you. Time to thread needle: put thread front to back into eye of needle. Put thread under presser foot and pull under the center of it a good 6".Lower presser foot on scrap of fabric to test. Turn hand wheel toward you to lower needle into fabric scrap. Use foot (or knee depending on machine) to start machine. Do not pull or push fabric but gently guide it. Jimmy Place fabric scrap under needle. Low

Put spool of good quality thread on the spool pin. Thread comes off spool counterclockwise. Raise your presser foot before you do the next steps: Presser foot lifted up now? Great! Pull thread tail from spool toward you and hold thread taut as you put it into first tension disk. Have that thread nice and taut? We shouldn't have any loops hanging down over the machine--okay, Keep threading all of the tension disks. You should be able to actually "feel" the thread fall into slots somewhat. Now when you get to that long silver thing with the hole in the top this is called your thread take-up lever. It should be all the way UP. Turn hand wheel- ( large round knob at end of right-hand side of machine) towards you if need be to raise it. Pull that thread taut from RIGHT to LEFT through the hole in the take-up lever. Take deep breadth here... You're almost done! Pull thread down left side of lever til you get to next disk. Put thread in small bracket located behind needle. Bring thread forward --get yourself 6" of thread-- then put it from front to the back of the eye of the needle. Are you okay? Hope I was able to help. Jimmy

Hello

The bobbin case is not properly installed.

Remove the bobbin case and make sure the thread from the bobbin is feeding from the spool in a clock wise direction and through the guide on the side of the bobbin case.

Raise the needle to it's highest position and this will move the shuttle to it's proper position.

Lift the lever on the back of the bobbin case, with the arm on the case pointing toward the ceiling and slip into the shuttle.

Bend your head down and you will see the shuttle has a slot for the arm to fit into.

Once you get the feel for this you will not have to bend down for a bird's eye view!

Always thread a sewing machine with the presser foot up. Make sure the threading sequence is correct and the thread has not slipped out of the take up lever.

Hold onto the top thead end and lower then raise the needle to pull up the bobbin thread. Pull both threads under the presser foot and to the back of the machine.

You should now be able to sew without any issues.

You can get a manual from Brother (free download). Refer to the maintenance section for cleaning and removal of the shuttle parts for lubrication, if required for the model you are using.

Make sure you have your spool of thread pushed all the way back on the spool pin with the proper size thread cap. Make sure your foot is in the up position, as this opens the tension discs. There is a small metal circle on top. Pull the thread behind it and under it and directly down. Come back up the other side and around the take-up lever. If you cannot see the take-up lever, move your handwheel until it is all the way up. After you have threaded it around the take-up lever, it comes back down this same side. On either side of your needle bar are two small metal clips. It doesn't matter which side you put the thread into. To put it into the clip, hold the thread taunt and pull it from the outside in against the clip. Now put your foot in the down position. When you pull the thread, it should be tight. Push your needle threader all of the way down. It has a tiny (extremely tiny) hook that will come through the eye of the needle. Wrap the thread around the metal bar/hook on it and gently bring it in front of the needle but under the metal guides that are in front of the needle eye. This next part takes some coordination, gently realease the thread as you simultaneously release the threader. It should pull a loop of thread through the back of the needle.
Also, when you wind a bobbin, you must thread it through the top of the metal disc on top and not underneath it. This provides the correct amount of tension for bobbin winding.
If you are not sure if you have threaded correctly, with the foot in the up position, pull on your thread. It will pull freely off the bobbin. With the foot down you should have a lot of resistance. Good luck to you!