So sorry to hear about your troubles. I haven't checked this thread for a while. Your machine sounds like mine before the LQS decided to replace it. The new one has worked for a while but now the top thread gets stuck when I try to bring up the bobbin thread. The store's floor model did the same thing during a demo class and another gal said her machine is doing that too. Until this problem this machine was quilting fine. I'd say Janome has some major issues to work out with this machine.