Brother Innov-is 4000D

The bobbin case, yes replace the bobbin case! I have had mine for 2 years 4000D upgraded to 4500D and have to replace 2 bobbins, my dealer assures me if I use the 76/11 needles, this might stop the bobbin from being chewed up. I purchased mine used also and wouldn’t buy used again but would buy new. Thank goodness my dealer is very supportive and only charges me when I have it serviced 1x a year, if I haven any other issues (thread stuck between the tension rods ugh) chewed bobbin cases etc…. she doesn’t charge me for any labor. (SusanSewNVac) Anyway, I think its actually a user issue, I have a singer 350 I think Embroidery machine, used it for about a month, doesnt work worth a crap, packed it in a box where it sits!! It was on display so of coarse nothing I can do about it. Would do Brother all day long over singer!

I purchased the Brother Innovis 4000D with the 4500 upgrade used with 2mil stitches. I have 8 mil stitches on the machine. I WOULD NOT recommend this machine to anyone! Of course it is easy to use when it works. I have also gone through broken bobbin cases and constant thread breaks. I had it serviced one month ago and now the top thread tension is so messed up it only stitches the bobbin thread. I have to bring it back it. This is such an unreliable machine! I never know what issue I’m going to have next. I use Isacord thread and Floriani stabilizers…all suggested by the dealer. It also takes a significant amount of time to load designs from a thumb drive to the screen. What ever you do, do not buy this machine!

Update on the 4000D. After finding out from my dealer with any brother machine including the Innov-is 4000D is highly recommended to be using Brother Pace setter thread. after I had my first upper thread error message that would not cancel on the screen. My driving motor was damaged and my dealer said it could have been from the type of thread I was using? He highly suggested Pace setter thread is made for the tension of Brother machines. To avoid costly repair to use this brand thread. 2nd best is using Sulky brand thread. Stay away from Coats & Clark because it gets all twisty especially the their bobbin thread. Also make you are cleaning out the feed dogs on every project and also my dealer recommended taking some canned electronic air cleaner to blow any dust in the threader to get any caught or breakage thread out and dust. This avoid high cost of repairs. Also recommended to take your machine in to dealer 1x a year for cleaning and tuning the timing. These new computerized machines take much high maintenance than a mechanical machine. These little tips do work! Had to share with some other previous reviews that they are having so much trouble with repairs and one thing that can cause stitching and repair problems is not using the correct threads made for this machine. I have found even though Pace setter don’t carry such a variety of colors of embroidery threads my machine embroidery looks so much more even and no breakage, upper thread problems during my projects. Some of you that have trouble with stitching try these few things and take it to a dealer to get a tune up and cleaning. Complicated machines need authorized people to fix it. Make sure you are buying a machine from and authorized dealer by brother. I have been following this tip from my dealer and I have had no trouble since with upper thread errors on my machine.

I had a 4,000d machine for nearly 6 years and foolishly sold it to be a Husqvarna Ruby machine, oh to get the Brother back, I will have to sell the Ruby at a loss if I want another Brother.
The 4,000d stitched anything and was never picky on threads and utterly reliable.

i love this machine, started with 4×4 field machine, then bought 8000 and upgraded to 8500, the only things that get me is the bobbin case are costly and i have gone through several, i use the pink one as i do a lot of embroidery and use bobbin nylon thread, my one complaint is the cost of a tune up is more than on my BMW. BUT LOVE MY MACHINE! WOULD NOT TRADE MY 4000D.

I bought the 4000D for my very first sewing embroidery and quilting machine used and I am second owner of this machine. One thing I found after a machine becomes Retired by Brother it gets difficult even the authorized dealers to get the upgrades you need. Like for instance I started with 1.00 I was able to upgrade from Brothers website so I could get to 2.03. In order for me to upgrade to 3.0 I have to buy the premium package upgrade CD. It was hard to find but I did find it through an on-line sewing website that still had some left and it included my upgrade to 3.2 instead of 3.0 so I would not have to download from brother website the upgrade to get me from 3.0 to 3.2. The next step is is I have to upgrade to 4.0 and have to find the premium package CD which is also for the Duetta 45000 new upgrade. It’s stupid that you can get it through your dealer but you can’t get it through an on-line retailer. This last upgrade 4.0 and then you are to go to Brother’s website and do another upgrade for 4.0 and it is suppose to upgrade you to 4.12 and the features are to be really nice! I found my machine has some nice features with stitch length nicer quilting foot with the 3.2 upgrade and the machine has some nicer editing in the window features and one thing that is really nice you can attach your USB mouse to the USB port and navigate the screen with a computer mouse and not have to use the pointer stylus or your fingers. The drop and drag editing for embroidery is nice feature with the 3.2 upgrade. I highly recommend you do this because you can’t miss any of them to get to the highest upgrade that the machine is allowed. You have to keep up with the upgrades as the machine ages or you will be Out of Luck and won’t be able to upgrade if they still have upgrades available on their website for a retired model. This my first machine and I could not afford it brand new and very happy with this machine embroiders so nice. The screen navigation is so easy to use. I did not think I would love the Disney designs but everyone loves them and family and friends will ask you to make them something using the Disney designs. The reason I chose a Brother machine over Janome memory craft 11000 is that they don’t have as many embroidery pattern extensions and I like the embroidery arm in front not in back of the machine. The Janome I thought was lacking on Software updates. Brother at least has upgrades available. Brother’s website is lacking is tutorials and on-line classes so you can self teach your self if you are too far from your local dealer to drive there for classes if they offer them. Janome do have on-line free classes through their website which is a cool feature. Still happy with my 2nd hand machine and I purchased my 2nd hand machine from an authorized dealer and he gave me 2 years free of service. I found out buying a second hand machine you must get one through a listed authorized dealers or you will have trouble finding a dealer that wills support your repairs. Many I asked and some will not even service your machine if you did not buy it from them. The don’t want to be liable if there continues to be problems with it. You can get them allot cheaper on-line but if you have to ship it back to the dealer or bought it from an owner on e-bay you can be stuck with some expensive repairs and nobody will fix it for you and end up being out lots of money. I do love the easy USB transfers of using a standard
Sandisk brand 1MB jump drive with the Brother where as Janome you have to use only their expensive USB Jump drive memory card to transfer by USB. I’m glad I chose Brother over the Janome Memory Craft 11000 for a used Innov-is 4000D. It’s definitely good for a beginner and of course the best part the self threader and automatic thread cutter when it is embroidering and changing position and colors. It is a heavy machine but I would not to be lugging it around without having a luggage case on wheels made by brother. What’s also nice is that with your package you get all the hoop sizes which most machines are lucky to give you the 5×7 and then you have to purchase the larger size for additional cost.
Innov-is 4000D was really expensive when it was new and the price for brothers are much higher cost than the Janome machine but then the Brother has so much more to offer in features standard. Make sure the upgrades get done. Can’t upgrade from 1.0 or 1.02 to 4.0 without the 2.3 and 3.0 upgrades.

I bought my Brother Duetta 4500D in 2007 and have had nothing but issues with it so far. The most stitches i can sew at one time without taking to the shop is 80000. I have to have a new board, several new bobbins 8 to be exact and am having to buy more on a more frequent basis now! Brother customer assistance and the place i bought it from (chattanooga sewing machine, do not buy from them they could have sent it back and chose to lie about it), were absolutely no help. all the problems i was told was operator error. Brother will not take the machine back so i am going to every place i can with my issue and every sewing forum i can find to let people know do not buy this machine your chances of getting a good one is 50/50.

I started with a Brother super galaxy over 20 yrs ago. Later went onto the 2000, then the 3000 and now have the 4000D. loved everyone of them. Honestly can’t think of anything I don’t like about it. Don’t do a lot of embroidery but have embroidered a design and name on so many towels for kids and this machine does them beautifully. Do a lot of dressmaking and this machine is fantastic for buttonholes, zips and straight sewing.

We have not had the machine long, have had a few teething problems along the way, I have to say that all have been caused either by me ‘going it alone’ or the use of cheap thread! The dealer (caffle.com) we bought it from have been really great & informative throughout. The engineering in the machine is fantastic (I’m an aircraft engineer) We are also getting free lessons from our dealer & these really help to get the best out of the machine.

I bought the Innovis 4000 in 2005. Have had nothing but trouble. Would like other users to contact me if they have had bad service from Amalgamated. They just give me the run around and have had my machine at their office for the past 4 years. Cannnot believe that I am the only person with a dud machine. 0711126202

I absolutely love my 4000D. How could you go past the easy to manage screen. So big and shows you every step of the way as to what you are going to sew next in your pattern, which expecially beats all other machines. I’ve only had one problem with the bobbin case and that’s because I turned the wheel backwards and burred the top of the case which kept catching the thread. Always turn the wheel forward.

I have had nothing but trouble with mine. Continually stuffing up breaking cottons and tangling bobbins etc. A piece of crap if you ask me. I should have stuck with Janome

This is my second emb machine. I love it except for the cost of replacement bobbin cases. my machine has over 8 million stitches on it. I just wonder how many people out their have put iin new bobbin cases. this machine is almost 6 years old and has had 6 bobbin cases including the ones that came with it I love the machine and use it exclusively for embroidery. It is very user friendly and I don’t think I would ever go to a different brand.

I purchased a high end Fauf embroidery/sewing machine years ago with all the symbols. While it was a good machine it was not user friendly. I found and purchased the Brother 4000D a couple of years ago. It is not only user friendly but comes with Disney designs and the wonderful automatic threading to boot. The Brother 4000D is a great machine. I have been happy I purchased the machine even though it was expensive:-)

I started with P-E 100 and bounced all the way to ULT2001 which I have had since 2001, Have an Innovis 4000D upgrade to 4500 too. Most of the problems I have had were fixable by cleaning and paying attention to what I was doing. I sold them at Quality Sew and Vac on the west coast along with Janome-Pfaff-Viking-Elna and bought the Brother every time. All this time I have had a companion, dedicated quilt machine, that I love also. The Viking. My 2 loves.

Have just purchased the machine after a dealer steered me towards the Innovis 900 which I purchased first. The 900 did not meet my requirements(damn that dealer).

I have been taking lessons on the 4000 and everything is so logical and the on screen tutorials are so great. I had no use for the Disney designs. I am using Embird software which works a treat with the machine .

I couldn’t be happier with my choice–Brother Innovis 4000 rocks.

Love the user friendly Brother 4000 D machine. I purchased the machine 4 years ago when they first became available on the market. I give Brother a thumbs up on this wonderful machine. I suggest a larger capacity for bobbin thread so it wouldn’t have to be changed so often.

This is the 5th time in the shop for my 2 year old Innovis 4000D. Always thread in the take up lever, which they say is causing it to just seize up!! UGGGGHHHH!! I have to say I love it when it’s working, but, every time I sew a new project, it costs me more money. Yes, I pull the thread from the bottom of the machine. So Sick of this!!

I purchased the 4000D approximately 4 years ago after having purchased the Viking Designer SE. I have also recently purchased the Janome 11000 which I am now still learning to use. I have to admit that I think the Brother Innovis 4000D would be the best choice for a new shopper. It is superior in so many ways. One thing of note is the automatic needle threader which the SE does not have. Also it’s ability to remember a pattern when you turn the machine off as well as it’s higher speed. In addition the Disney designs make it more appealing and that is probably another reason I enjoy using it.

I am a die hard brother fan, not just with my sewing machine but printers, etc…. I received my first embroidery machine about 10 years ago as a gift from my sister and her family, did not get to use it until about 3 years ago and fell in love with it. Never had a problem one with it. I then upgraded to a 2500D which was for sure a lemon… they replaced it and let me upgrade to a 4500D (at an additional cost to me) That one has been fantastic for me but has been in the shop a few times but I have over 21 million stiches on it, I also have a 4000D and both have been in the shop recently, my 4500D I just got back and tried to do a project with it today, but it doesn’t work… so back to the shop it goes… I love how ABC 123 easy they are to use…

I love my machine 4000D I had some small problem but they were corrected. The only thing I find is there no place that offer classes or any continue trainning like
the other machine company. I live in New York Long
Island area. They show you how to use it and than you
on your own.

I had a Janome 11k which I traded in for the 4000D. Big mistake! I should have known this but chose to ignore it because I had a brother years back which although was basic, was inferior to the comparable janome even then. I am going back to Janome and have lost a lot of money but know it will be worth it. There are too many bells and whistles, the worst being having to use two separate bobbin cases. The screen is not so clear as the janome either. However if you haven’t been able to make a comparison of the stitch sew out and buy the machine for all the capabilities it has (no guarantee that they will work properly) I would think long and hard which is more important to you.

I got the 4000d embroidery machine brand new when it came out 4 years ago. It was the biggest mistake I have ever made. It has had 3 embroidery arms replaced. A new mother board , and constant problems with the tention, and it freezes up a lot. It was very expensive and it is at brother right now waiting to be repaired. This is the third time I have had to send it to Brother to be repaired. I would never buy another brother again. Its a very infurrier product.

I had a 3000D and have just upgraded. I am told that the stitch cutting is correct at a setting of 25mm and not 10mm as my old one. It is giving me problems with pickup at the back.
Has anyone else had this problem?

My 4000D is the best purchase I ever made. Possibly the second love of my life! Have had it for 3 years now. It was easy to learn to use it ~ with the on screen help. I enjoy being able to create so many things. The PES software has widened the capabilities and am now able to create some of my own designs. So many people have asked for special items. There are so many freebie patterns on the internet.

It did cost a lot, but has been well worth it.

I’ve owned and used this machine since it came out and I still love it. I have upgraded to version 4 with the endless hoop recently, and plant otry that feature in the next couple of weeks.

I previously owned the 2003D which was also a great machine, but the ability to use thumb drive, truly automatic threading and cutting jump threads got me. I love my Innovis 4000D

Things I like: I didn’t have to buy an embroidery reader/writer box because I can connect by USB or memory stick. The manual is nice. The automatic threader and thread trimmer is great. Large and colored LCD touch-screen is fantastic - it allows on-screen editing of monograms, decorative stitches and designs plus it displays lots of helpful information. The sewing/embroidering speed is amazing and let’s me finish my embroidery projects much faster. Extra large embroidery field with included set of hoops that range to very small to very large. Large selection of included stitches and embroidery designs. Oh and of course, the Disney designs and the right to use them.

What I don’t like: It’s so expensive! I can’t take it easily to class because it’s too heavy, but this is really not the machine’s fault at all. I think the weight helps to keep the machine stable at high speed.

It was a tough choice for me choosing between Husqvarna Viking Designer SE or the Brother Innov-is 4000D. Both are high-end machines with all the bells and whistles you could possible want. In the end I chose the 4000D because the Brother dealership here was more responsive to my endless questions and babbling. Hey, these machines costs 1,000s that I don’t have lying around so you bet I’ll have questions! To tell you the truth, both machines are awesome, but of course mine is better ;) The Disney designs are great for me because I have a lot of little ones to give them out to and they love them. It’s funny their parents always say I should get in the business of selling Disney garments to which I always reply with a LOL. I always gotta explain how I would get in so much trouble if I did so. I briefly explain the copyright and licensing issue and they just look at me funny o_O

I shopped around extensively before deciding to buy a Brother. I like the feel of their machines more so than other brands like Husqvarna and Singer. Also after doing more research, I was happy to find out that most of the free embroidery designs available on the Internet are in PES format. This embroidery file format is what Brother machines use natively so that was a big plus. After all the shopping around and researching I made up mind and made the purchase and I’ve been happy ever since :-)