We must be related. Yesterday my Janome 4900 memory craft started breaking the thread every time I tried to sew then it the needle wouldn't go alway down to the bobbin , it would hit the holder for the bobbin. I said same thing, oh no, what is this going to coast, how long without a machine? Guess what there was so much lint behind the bobbin holder, i have been cleaning it out. I stuck a pin down in the sides as far as I could move it around. terrible lint...Poor baby.