Does anyone have a "squeaky" Janome?
 

My Janome (Memory Craft 5700) has the most irritating squeak, that is almost constant when I'm doing fancy stitches, the ones that cause the tension arm to move. It gives me a headache and ruins my sewing experience.

We already checked the belts and they are like new. Hubby took them off and to the sewing machine store and the tech agreed they were fine.

We thought maybe it was the plastic cog that turns back and forth on the tension arm since the noise seems to originate from the top middle of the machine, he put more of the friction grease on there (the same as was on it orignally) and that did not fix it.

Does anyone have other ideas?

It is a 10 year old machine but was new in a sealed box when I bought it, and I've only been sewing sporadically for about 2 years, so I don't think any major part could be worn out yet.

I've searched online and youtube for info about the machine, and this issue, but it's slim pickings.

I've searched the Janome web site also, again, slim pickings. I wish I could at least find a breakdown of the interior of the machine.

Yep, my year old Janome has a squeak. Took it to the dealer for annual cleaning and mentioned it. They cleaned it and checked it out and it is still squeaking. Have an appointment to take in again next week. Hope we can fix our machines:)

Mine doesn't squeak but it does hum. After a while, it gets too annoying so I turn off the machine!

Does it get worse the longer you use it?

I returned my first 7700 because it had an annoying squeak. No questioned asked, I got a new one in the box. I was told that Janome guarantees satisfaction. There are times when I think my new machine squeaks in the same way. I could almost become obsessed with it, so I turn up the music and pretend I don't hear it. I can't pinpoint the origin of the noise.

Yes, I do not like it. I have no dealer, bought mine on ebay. The local store charges $160 for a tune-up. I think my DH can do better than that if we can just figure it out.

My Babylock Espire had a squeaky, humming noise towards the end of last year, finally took it to be serviced in June and mentioned it to them, and it did need oil! Glad I stopped using it for six months or else he said I would of needed a new part. So maybe yours need oil?

I think I would have to put earplugs in to continue sewing. Then I can't listen to Pandora!

My 9000 had a bad squeak. I had to take it back twice. They used a heavy duty lubricant and it stopped. But, I was warned it could be a sign of my needle bar going. So far, so good and the squeak is gone. But, yes, it was very irritating.

Do you know where they lubed it? Where is the needle bar? This squeak will drive me nuts, it's loud, and I'm worried if something could break. I'm hoping not to have to take it to a tech, can't really afford it. Funny, my hubby is an automotive tech, works on extremely complicated machines worth thousands -- he should be able to help. He probably can if he takes the time to do it. My machine will not run unless there is thread in it, and he doesn't sew. That is part of the issue. I have to be there to rethread it and "sew-check" it.