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Knowledge Base

White Gear & Mechanical Assembly Issues

October 03, 2026

The white gear drives the needle bar and scissors timing. Issues with it typically result from misalignment, loose hardware, or hardware that has vibrated loose during use.

Issue Reference Table

Symptom Likely Cause Fix / Action
White gear stuck / won't rotate Mechanical obstruction; debris; hardware shifted POWER OFF. Rotate gear by hand to locate obstruction. Clear debris or realign.
Screw / bolt fell off side of machine Nut inside machine became loose from vibration Retrieve nut, re-attach bolt. See procedure below.
White plastic covers rattling 4 cover nuts have loosened Tighten the 4 nuts securing the white plastic covers.
Machine making grinding noise Gear misaligned; debris; needs oil Oil thoroughly. Inspect gear for debris. If grinding continues, send in.
Machine won't reassemble after disassembly Parts out of order; no reference photos taken Use Vimeo repair videos as reference. Fully disassembled machines: send in ($50 surcharge).

Bolt Retrieval & Re-Attachment

If a bolt or screw falls off the side of the machine, the nut has likely vibrated loose inside the body. Do not attempt to force the bolt back in — follow this procedure carefully.

White gear and top nut location — arrow indicates the notch used for T-nut and bolt access
White gear and top nut location — arrow indicates the notch used for T-nut and bolt access
Bolt Fell Off — Repair Steps
  1. Turn OFF and UNPLUG the machine.
  2. Take reference photos from multiple angles before opening anything.
  3. Remove white plastic covers — 4 nuts hold each cover to the machine body.
  4. Open the Vimeo showcase and find the 'AK-I Change Out T-Nut / White Gear Adjustment' video.
  5. Follow the video ONLY to loosen the gear. Do NOT remove the T-nut or loosen the drive shaft bolts.
  6. Once the gear is slightly loosened, locate the free nut inside the machine body.
  7. Thread the nut onto the bolt from outside and tighten securely.
  8. Return the gear to its original position using your reference photos.
  9. Replace white plastic covers and tighten the 4 nuts.
  10. Manually cycle the machine by hand to verify free movement before powering on.
Warning: Do NOT fully remove the T-nut or loosen the drive shaft bolts. Only loosen the gear enough to gain access to the interior nut. If any parts are accidentally removed, contact support before continuing.

Lower Bar Nut or Spacers Missing

If a nut on the pile height bar has vibrated off and the part is loose, check whether the small spacers behind it are also missing. The spacers keep the lower bar from rubbing against the gear cover as it rotates, so the machine needs them to run properly.

Getting replacements:

  • We sell the nut and spacers for a few dollars, plus shipping. Email support and we'll send you an invoice.
  • You can also pick them up at a local hardware store. Regular washers work as spacers, but you'll need 4–6 of them.
  • To match the nut, remove the matching nut at the top of the bar and take it with you. The store can use a thread gauge to find the right size and thread count.

After reassembly, turn the machine by hand to check that it moves freely before you power it on. If it jams, stop and contact support. Don't force it. We can repair it if you send it in.

Switching the DUO Between Cut and Loop Pile

The DUO ships ready to tuft in cut pile. Get comfortable with the machine before making any adjustments.

  • The scissor closer is the piece at the front of the machine. Move it toward the needle (away from the handle) for loop pile.
  • Move it toward the back of the machine (toward the handle) for cut pile.
  • Before you turn the machine on, turn it by hand to check that it moves smoothly.

Clicking, jamming, or scissors coming off the track after a change? This is usually the scissor opener. Make sure it sits parallel to the channel that holds the scissors and isn't hitting anything. If you still can't get it running smoothly, contact us with a short video.


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