to fix or not to fix?
 

I have a Memory craft New Home 8000

This machine was given to me a few years ago, the machine sews well and did great FMQ.

The things that are wrong with it, the light on the display is out, won't work so the only way I can see what stitches that it is set on is to use a flashlight. Which isn't to bad. There is no embroidery unite so can't do any machine embroidery with it. some of the fancy stitches won't sew out.

after almost finishing a queen size quilt, piecing it and doing the FMQ with this machine, on the last boarder the machine just turned off. no power to it at all. Before this happened I did notice that the machine would slow down, I would turn it off for a little while turn it back on and it would be fine and then start going slow again. when this happened I just wanted to get this quilt done so kept FMQ at a slow speed. this is when it just up and died. anyone know if there is a rest set switch on a sewing machine?

Also my question knowing all that is wrong and how old it is would you take it in to be checked out to see what is wrong with it? Do they charge to just look at a machine? I know that the light repair cost a lot if they can find the parts.

I do have two other machine so it is not like I would be without a machine. Just wondering if I should have it fixed or not....Thank you

That is a hard question. DSM are just like cars. I would think that a dealer can at least give you some sort of an estimate. I have a Bernina 1530 I bought new. It has a light switch which doesn't work well but then I don't turn the light off with the sewing machine on so I have never had it fixed. Good Luck.....

The 8000 doesn't HAVE and embroidery unit. It's built in. I have the 9000 which is the model right after it. The embroidery section is on the main menu and you attach the hoop directly to the machine. You will likely find that it will be at least a $200 repair, maybe more if there are circuit boards needing replacing. They'r e great machines but you'll have to decide how much $ to put into it.

Most dealers would likely give you a free estimate, however I'm sure they're going to try to persuade you to buy a new machine. I still have my 9000 and don't plan on parting with it until it poops out. It rather sounds like yours may be too far gone to be worth the costs. You could search ebay(closed auctions) to see what used 8000 machines have sold for and sort of get an idea what the "worth " of the machine is and go from there? If a used 8000 is going for much less than it would cost to repair...you kind of have your answer.

A replacement backlight is available on eBay for about $75. I remember when those machines came out they were hugely expensive, now just a few hundred will buy one. If you don't use the embroidery part, or the decorative stitches and you have other machines, it doesn't seem worth it to fix it. If you do use the decorative stitches or you want to expand into embroidery (maybe to make labels for your quilts) it wouldn't hurt to get an estimate.

Another thought is the slowing down & quitting could just be the foot pedal/cable & I believe replacements aren't terribly expensive.

Mdegenhart miggt be right, have you checked the foot pedal? It could even be a build up of lint inside the pedal, and if you open it carefully you can clean it and see if that works, or can you try a pedal from another machine? The light on your display, has that ever worked for you? There is a little round dial that adjusts the brightness and this can get turned down so much there is no display.

Call around and find out if you can get a repair estimate before you make your decision. I have moved since but used to have a sewing and vac repair near my home that would give free estimates. The guy was "connected" aka knew many different machine dealers that he could get used parts from old machines that were trade ins. He just enjoyed the challenge of finding the parts and "saving" a machine.

Wow..candace I never knew that the embroidery unite was built in, still I don't have the hoop for it, also that was a good idea to go on ebay and see what other 8000 sold for , will check that out too and notmorecraft and ndigenhart I never thought to check the foot pedal or cord, do you think that if one or the other was bad it would make the machine just go dead and while I was fmq? I will check that out for sure...auntv I'll call and check to see how much it would cost to have the machine checked out..
Ladies thank you so much for all of your advice..

as I said I have a husqvarna #1+ and a singer XL1000.which was given to me also, both machine do embroidery so I was never interested in trying to embroidery with the memory craft 8000..I sure will try some of the things you have suggested and see where it take me...Thanks a lot.. your guys are great..

I would bring it to a repair shop and let them look at it and tell me what's wrong and how much it would cost to fix it.

Most dealers will offer a free estimate or take the cost of the estimate off the repair charge.
I would give it a try...

I have 3 of the SingerXL1000's, LOVE that machine. I keep one at home, one travels with me to craft shows, and the third is the oldest and has the most miles and a couple of issues. The third is going to be used as a donor machine and will be parted out as needed to make the other 2 work.

Thanks everyone... I did call two dealers and the one said if I bought the machine there he would look at it for free..HUMMMM...that would be 69.99 it's an older machine and had it given to me so that was out,...next I called another dealer and he said he would look at it and if I have it fixed there he would take off the amount that he charged me to look at it..that also was 69.99 so I still don't know what to do...just so glad that I have back up machines..

candace I looked on ebay sand found a memory craft 8000 for 499.99 so that was good to know how much it is worth but no one bid on it yet but it had 4 days to so I will be watching it.. Thanks everyone for your reply...still don't know what I am going to do, I will have to think on it...

I have a Janome 9000. It's a wonderful machine but it's starting to blow a fuse every 6 months or so. To replace the fuse all of the embroidery mechanisms have to be removed and it costs me about $100 every time I need it replaced. I've had it done twice now but probably won't have it done again. Good Luck!

You need to search under CLOSED auctions. People can list things for whatever they want. Shoot, I can list mine for a million, it doesn't mean I'll get it:> On ebay, there's an Advanced button-very small by the search feature. Use that and look in the closed auction area. That way, you''ll see what people have paid, not what people are listing it for.

Quiltlady, you have gotten some good advice here. It seems like you really know what you are doing, in that you are researching all your options with this machine. I would think, after you check out the foot pedal for problems, you could do the cyber search thing that so many of the ladies here know how to do, and do the repairs yourself; at least up to the point that you can still use your machine for FMQ, since it seems to be your favorite. And look at what you'll be gaining--you can say you charged yourself $70 to DIY. In this case, your time wouldn't count. The ladies are always saying "don't cut yourself short on your time", but I myself think of my time as "free".....Haha.

The same thing happened to my Brother machine. It was the motherboard and it was going to cost $500. I have other machines so I got rid of it

And, oh yeah, I forgot something--have you checked with DH? Is he handy? Mine isn't so much, but I can put a heavy foot on one of my sons and get a lot of stuff like this done--for free--if you don't count the extra cooking that I have to do because I feel guilty for not paying him in cold hard cash.

The problem might be with the motor.

I have a Janome Memory Craft 4000 that has given me years of service (knock on wood), and I love it. Depending on your budget, it might be a good idea to call a dealer and get a guess-timate of the costs just for looking at t he machine. Perhaps he might be able to give you some tips with just a phone call. If you really like the machine, I think it's worth getting it looked at to see if it is a large or small problem.

When my Juki started slowing down after a few minutes of sewing, it turned out to be the motor.....about a $350 fix.

It will be the motherboard which arent made anymore.

Janome's are notorious for foot pedal issues. I love my Janome machines but it is not uncommon to have to replace the foot.One of mine will keep sewing when I'm finished,its the foot,I give it a kick and it stops. I woud go on Yahoo and look for a Janome 8000 group and ask your question,those "experts" will have invaluable advice on this. I belong to a few Janome Yahoo groups but none for the 8000. I remember one lady on the Janome 6500/6600 Group that said it was the electric outlet she had it plugged into. It was on the same circuit as her iron and created some issue. Try to Google the question or find a Yahoo Group. May,Michigan

As has been mentioned light that fasten to the machine are easy to find but the other problem might be the brushes in the motor. If so it may be an easy fix.
Lynda

Eliminate as many of the possibilities as you can before making a decision. I agree with the foot pedal/power cord suggestion. My friend had an issue with her Janome and the foot pedal - her husband took the pedal apart and found it clogged with dust and hair. Works fine now. I had a similar issue with one of my Brothers dying, swapped out the power cord with another Brother I own, works fine now. Find a friend with a Janome, or take your machine down to the dealer and ask to test a new power cord and foot pedal so you can eliminate these as problems.