Thanks for all the comments. Yes, I clean and oil scrupulously also. But I have been quilting for the Operation Hurricane Sandy, and have done at least 20 quilts in the last few weeks. I do the Q-tip thing around the undercarriage and around the bobbin case, my bottom is not sealed either, but I cannot lift my machine to do maintainence under there; have to have someone lift it for me. The machine is fine, the fuse blew is all that happened. I chose my Viking because I love my service lady and my Viking Dealer. True, she only works on Vikings, but she has been servicing machines, both sewing and long arms for years.