Yup! Janome's have a wick! Is that what you have?? I did the very same thing...pulled it out but got it back in easily. Good luck!

I've found with my new machine I have to clean it out after so much sewing. It starts to make noise and the stiches get weird. Usually I clean out the lint, blow it out with canned air and re-thread, good as new.

I did get the wick back in and it seems to be running OK now, but I still have that thumping sound so I'm going to change the needle as so many other members suggested.

I have the Singer Futura Embroider sewing machine I bought new about 2 years ago. So, it isn't one of the older machines and, yes, it is a wick and is very oily. I did get it back in and it seems to be working but I still have that thumping. I'll change the needle to see if that helps.

Sounds like the oiling wick in my Janome 6600. You don't remove it, just put a drop of sewing machine oil on it when it needs it.

I want to thank each and everyone one of you wonderful members!! I have the Singer Futura Emborider sewing machine and after all the suggestions and tips, I found that it is indeed a wick and it is very oily! Funny finding that in a sewing machine. I did get the wick back in that tiny hole as so many members suggested I try to do. It seems to be sewing OK, but I still have that thumping sound so I will try the other tips on changing the needle. After that I just might take it in for a professional cleaning and ajusting.
Thanks again so much guys! I knew I could get my answers from you. You all are the greatest!

what is an oil wick? what machine do you have?

oops see you said what you have, but I don't get a wick thing

An oil wick it what was used in old oil lamps, the wick is the fabric like thing sticking out of the top of the lamp that you would lite with a match. Kinda like a candle but in a glass lamp that held oil to light it. I have the Singer Futura emborider sewing machine it's only about 2 or 3 years old. I have never heard of a wick in a sewing machine.

I don't get why there would be an oil wick in a machine. Even the old machines had to get drops of oil, mine says it never has to be oiled.

The Singer Futura is what I have too. You would think Singer would give you a warning about those little wicks. I did get it back in but still have that sound. I hope it isn't the timing but if it is I hope my area repair shop is 75.00 that doesn't sound to bad considering.

I wish you luck. If you keep having the noise be careful. I had to replace my bobbin housing

I HAVE A JANOME IN TEXAS AND WAS NOT AWARE OF THE WICK. I WAS TOLD THE MACHINE NEVER NEEDS OIL. HARD TO BELIEVE. I'M GOING TO CHECK IT OUT WHEN I GET BACK ON OCTOBER. MY ELNA HAS A THUMPING NOISE---GUESS I BETTER CHANGE THE NEEDLE

You might want to check the threading directons. I missed one little "eye" on a different machine that I was quilting with and the thread kept breaking. It is amazing how that one little thing can make the thread break.

If you take out the bobbin, then take out the bobbin case, the wick is in the little hole right in the center of where the bobbin case sits.

for years they have put oil wicks in sewing machines, it lets the oil drip slowly to the parts needing it. a sewing machine is like any other tool, it needs oil of some type some place from time to time.why do you think you are suppost to take it in once a year to be checked? they should take it apart and service it where you can not get to it. if the machine is all plastic it gets no oil. if it has metal gears it gets grease, you can even use vaseline on metal gears. however, the old singers FW's must have only "motor grease" in the motor. that is why old machines have felt drip pads under the heads to catch the oil run off and save you fabric from oil stains.

Found it. Thanks for the info.

It's an oil wick, sister, and you need to get her serviced by a tech. :)

I did the same thing with my Singer but thankfully I hadn't pulled it all the way out when I realized it was a wick; I was lucky enough to get it stuffed back in. Sound like you'll need to have a tech do it; good luck. One thing I didn't see mentioned is whether you checked to see if you needle was inserted correctly. This reminds me of a time when I was a young girl and we couldn't get my mom's White to stitch correctly. Loaded that baby up, sewing table and all into the trunk of my parents' '64 Merc and took it to the shop. Boy did we feel stupid when all it was was the needle in backwards.

I did get the wick back in and it seems to be sewing fine, except for that thumping. A few members suggestions changing the needle or to check if it had slipped down. Changing the needle is what I will be doing today befores sewing.
Thanks so much for your suggestion!