When you thread the machine, there is an order in which you thread the the needles.
On most sergers, the order is:
1. thru the upper looper (the needle on the right bottom
2. thru the lower looper (the needle on the left bottom)
3. upper needle
This often is what the problem is when you have issues after replacing a needle.
The other possiblity (which would explain if your thread is breaking) is that the replaced needle was put in backwards. The front of the needle has a long groove that leads down to the eye.
Hope any of that helps.