Basic maintenance for Janome 6600
 

I recently purchased a used 6600 and absolutely love it! I've been through the operators manual, paying attention to the maintenance section. I have taken apart the bobbin area, cleaning it well a couple times. The manual says nothing about oiling anything, but I don't want to mess up this machine by neglecting something I need to be doing. If I need to be oiling it, what kind of oil do I use? Is there anything else that I am missing?

most computerized machine come oiled, anything like that is handled by dealers for high end machines

I have a Janome 6500 and it has an oil wick under the bobbin case in a small hole. Nowhere in the manual does it say to oil it in this spot but my bobbin case was rattling, growling and jumping out of place. It jumped out of place so badly that I eventually put my machine needle right through the case and my dealer kept telling me that it was operator error!!!! I finally found out about this spot after reading the Janome 6500/6600 on-line forum. After oiling it in that little hole, my machine went back to sounding and stitching normally. Now I just add a drop of oil there any time my machine starts to sound noisy.

Shelbie is correct about the wick under the bobbin case. My dealer told me to try one drop and if it absorbs quickly, try a second drop. If it doesn't soak completely in, use a piece of cloth to get the excess out. The other locations that need to be oiled are internal and are taken care of during your yearly maintenance. I have done this myself on the 6500 but don't think it would be a good idea on the 6600 unless you have okayed it with your dealer. (Most dealers won't tell you anything about doing the oiling yourself.)

You need to remove the bobbin case and clean out the lint from underneath it. (use a soft brush or pipecleaner). Then you can put One drop of sewing machine oil on the "wick". It looks like a small round spot of lint under the bobbin case. (do not pull it out) .When you replace the bobbin holder make sure that the red marks line up with each other. None of the other parts need any oil. It is suggested that you put this drop of oil on the wick when it appears to be dry. Also clean out this area quite often - e.g after 6-8 hours of sewing, and before starting a new project.
I hope this helps.

what kind of oil? Brand? and thanks for the help!

When I purchased my Janome, the dealer told me NOT to oil my machine. He said for the newer computerized ones, it was not necessary and that it could actually gunk it up. However, because I live 2 hours from him, he did show me where I could oil if it really needed it. I have had the machine about 4 years and have never oiled it, I clean it often (especially the bobbin area), change my needle with almost every new project. Still have not had to have it serviced. I did have to replace the bobbin holder after a thread nest caught the spring and broke it. Otherwise, I have not even had it serviced. Still runs smooth as long as I follow my manual and not what I want to do.
That said, if your machine has been stored in a dry place, it could be more dry than usual. I would contact a dealer or go on Janomes website. Contact a professional who deals with it daily. Too expensive a machine to be messing it up.

I use Kenmore sewing machine oil. If you just bought your machine you probably don't need to oil it unless it's starts getting noisy.

I have had my Janome 6600 for 7 years and it has been serviced once(only because I thought it died...needed two new fuses). The guy who did the maintenance on it said "Not to oil it, he had only put 1 drop on the wick. He also said, as long as we continue to clean out the bobbin area(even beneath the racer), that that was the only maintenance we should have to do, as they will check the oil needs when doing the service job. But like I said, 7 years later and 1 drop of oil. What a great machine!!!!

when i bought my janome 11000se my dealer said to put 1 drop of sewing machine oil under bobbin case once a month and that would help when he does maintance which i`ve never yet had to do. its 2 yrs old
Gale

Thanks so much everyone! This machine is part of my "therapy program"....LOL. As long as I can sew and quilt, I am happy. Take away my machine and somebody is gonna get hurt!

oiling machine
 

The last time I took my machine in for a yearly tune up, I caught heck from the dealer, because I had not been putting oil on the little white wick in the bobbin case. She told me to not let it dry out, because that hurts the machine. I was told that if it is very white, it needs oil, just one drop. If it looks a bit off white, then it is not in need of oil. I didn't know that before. The book doesn't say to oil it. So she let up on scolding me and just reminded me once again to watch for the need to do the oiling. I hope that helps everyone. I find that my 6600p runs a bit more quietly, when it is oiled from time to time.

My 6600 started clanking and squeaking which prompted me to come crying to the QB. I was told in no uncertain terms, especially by one who PM'd me, lol, that my machine needed to be oiled and pronto! Went to WalMart, the closest place to me and bought Singer sewing machine oil. I ended up having to put 3 drops of oil in there. It was dry as a bone. Since then, it's purring right along. It's time for the yearly maintenance, but I have soooo many projects going and just don't have time to get it done right now.

I oil my 6600 on that little wick whenever I clean out the lint. I just bought some generic machine oil at Joanns. It was a couple dollars and I've had it for a few years and it's still pretty full.

Ditto this.

I do take my machine apart from the bottom every 8 to 12 months and clean out the lint and oil and grease the spots that need it. Your sewing machine dealer is going to tell you not to do that but my husband is electronics maintenance man and I routinely pop open $100K instruments in the lab and repair them. So, I risk it. It did make me nervous initially but with the cost of a service call and two trips to the shop (one to drop off and one to pick up) I figured it takes me 4 years to break even. At this point if I kill it I am actually money ahead.

I have a Janome 4800, and put a drop of oil under the bobbin case on the wick every time I clean it. My machine is about 10 years old and still acts like a new machine. I bought my oil at the LQS where I bought the machine. I think the bottle is going to last 2-3 lifetimes. It was very inexpensive.
Sue

Is your machine the 6600? Would you mind telling me how you take it apart from the bottom ? Thank you!