If you are hearing a clacking sound & it sounds kind of like plastic it is probably your bobbin bouncing up & down. Had that problem with my 7700- have discovered that the wrong size bobbin is in. There are L-style bobbins & Class 15/A style, & almost all the Janomes use a Class 15, it is wider than the L-Style. For more information & locating the bobbin to fit your machines I have included this link. http://www.superiorthreads.com/educa...phics/bobbins/
Hope this helps

I have Janome machines and that sound is usually means the needle needs to be replaced.

Thanks to all of you wonderful folks, the problem was the needle! I don't know if it was in there backwards or what, but once I took it out and re-installed it, all was well again.

The machine still needs to be serviced, but I'll wait until I get ready to go out of town in a month or so for that, since I don't have a spare machine...

Glad it was an easy fix.

My old pfaff usually needs a cleaning and oiling when it makes more noise than it should.

Check your built in walking foot lever. (If there is one) That was my problem. I hadn't pushed it in place and it was clacking. Good luck.

my bobbin was jumping up a bit as I sewed. two did that. I think it was me, hadn't put them in well because I had no problem when I changed them. later used those two up with no problem. sometimes it is a screw loose or thread not threaded correctly. go through all those and try again.