Boy oh boy...do I need help and advice. In August I purchased a Janome 3160 QDC. It is a wonderful machine with such features as needle threader and cutting thread feature which really sold me on the machine. I have had so much trouble with the bobbin casing and was wondering if anyone else has had trouble. I have had it changed once and now it is acting up again. It seems the bobbin giggles all around and is quite noisy...I just stopped right in my tracks and will again have to take it in again to be looked at. Wondering...with all those features...did I not spend enough money and am looking for it to perform like a very expensive machine...anybody having problems??

are you positive you have the correct bobbin? are you positive you have it loaded the right direction in the machine, if the thread isn't comming off in the right place/direction, the machine aint gonna be happy

the place you bought the machine should give you correct bobbins. if you still have trouble, i'd ask for another machine in it's place.
i buy all my clear bobbins where i bought my machine.

Thanks for the quick replies. I have already had to replace the bobbin casing, due to the fact that it was not threaded properly thru the uplift lever, my fault which I am so super aware of each time I sew. I don't know what the heck is going on now.

I had a similar problem with my Janome 6500 and it turned out I had somehow gotten a Brother bobbin mixed in with my Janome bobbins. There is just enough difference to create terrible problems! Just a thought.

scowlkat....thanks so much I am off to Joann's tomorrow to
see if they sell them for the Janome

no, you need to go to the dealer, or buy them on line..they are totally different, than clear class 15 bobbins sold at JA's. they may look the same, but they are not. you will wear the bobbin racer out.uneven wear.

there is guy i bought mine from, on ebay. if you want the name of the place, let me know...

I had a bobbin do that...discovered it wobbled in the casing too much. Someone on the board said that if you wind those plastic bobbins at high speed, they heat up and change in size. She had a technician tell her that. Since then, I've slowly loaded the bobbin and I haven't had the problem again!

You need a plastic, class 15 bobbin. Many of the other bobbins are too small, short or shaped differently and will cause the shake in the bobbin case.

I had exactly the same problem with my Janome 6500. It jumped and rattled so badly that I ended up putting the needle right through the case and had to replace it. My dealer was no help and kept claiming it was operator error (which it wasn't!!!). Finally after joining the Jamone 6500/6600 forum, I found out that there is a small oiling spot under the removable bobbin case. It's a small hole filled with a wick (looke like felt and it's not lint) that sometimes dries out and needs a drop of oil once in awhile when it gets noisy. Oil it when the bobbin starts to rattle and no more trouble! Nowhere in the manuel does it mention this spot and my dealer seemed to know nothing about it. My friend had a Janome Gem with the same noisy bobbin case. Same oil wick spot on her machine and a drop of oil solved her problem too. It could be a mis-shapen bobbin but I bet it's the dried out oil wick. Good luck with this.

Janome bobbins for Janome machines....buy from the dealer where you bought the machine....others may look okay, but as previously mentioned, there IS a difference.

I have a Janome and was having the same problem just today! I called the shop I bought the machine in and the owner told me that occasionally putting a drop of oil in the outside rim of the bobbin casing (the inset one, not the drop in black bobbin casing) helps. I only use Janome bobbins but sometimes using Coats & Clarks thread also makes it a little noisy and causes missed stitches.

I have the same problem with my Janome QC.Took it to a dealer and he found a small nick in the case,filed it and it worked fine for a month and then it started again with the top thread getting caught by the jiggly bobbin.I took it apart and cleaned it and started sewing slower and it has not happened in a couple weeks.I am so frustrated.I will go buy some more bobbins and try that.

Janomes tend to be finiky machines, but I wouldn't trade my 6600 for all the tea in China. You need Janome bobbins for these machines. I too, have accidently put a Brother bobbin in and the 6600 was not happy. A reputable Janome dealer should have told you this and offer you a bulk buy on the proper bobbins...mine did for me.

my friend wore out her bobbin racer/holder by using NON janome bobbins..in her New Home Janome.
And yes, i am sure that others have had no problem using bobbins from joanns..but why risk it.

spend a little money, and get the prewound package of 12 for around 9 bucks from the dealer..use them up, and then you will have the bobbins to fill yourself.
and you will love treating yourself to the prewounds!

i have been using generic class 15 bobbins - including prewounds - from a few different online sources for years. i have experienced absolutely no difference in performance between those and the ones that were included with my machines when i bought them.

the generics prewounds cost approximately the same as empty Janome brand. they have "MILES" more thread on them, too. to add to my savings, i buy only those that are reusable. i now have enough bobbins to last about 3 lifetimes. :lol:

for those in the market i recommend these prewounds:

http://www.terradonembroidery.com/clear_quilt_15.htm

Do you have a Janome?

Ebay has a nice selection of Janome bobbins, I get them 100 at a time for under 20 bucks.

oops! i should have made that clear.

yes. i'm fortunate enough to own two high-end Janome machines. they're a couple of snobs in some ways. for example, they don't "like" generic feet. they will tolerate them, but work best with the genuine Janome brand.

nevertheless, they work and play nicely with the generic bobbins. :-)

I also had problems with the bobbins. My Janome can only use Janome bobbins. Other bobbins may look identical but they aren't.

Yes I have a Janome 360 QDC and I love it. When I bought the machine I went to the display my dealer had and got extra items such as a walking foot and also a pkg. of bobbins. I don't know if they were Janome, but what else would he sell,
Perhaps that IS my problem.,.Lets hope Iam off to a dealer close to home today. Since I just got it in August, I am still under warranty.

Yes, I do have a Janome. I am just hoping it is the bobbin. I certainly could not afford to buy a bobbin case so often. I am a little disappointed though.

Thanks I just ordered some.I really did not know there was any difference between one bobbin to another.

i know the bobbins look alike..but if you close your eyes and feel them, you will feel a difference..
my janomes will only work properly with the janome bobbins..
i gave all my other ones away at quilt group, because,like patriceJ, some can use them..

They do all look the same but I tried using some of my Singer bobbins in my Janome and the noise was terrible so I switched and it stopped. There has to be some small difference that we just don't see.

This is a great deal, especially when working with lots of different colors of fabric.

The owner's manual on my new Janome Horizon advises not to use the pre-wound bobbins.

Yea, I do work with lots of colors especially when FMQ. For piecing though I always use light gray.

I would never use pre-wound bobbins as someone suggested because they only come in white and black thread. Plus paying 9 bucks for 12 bobbins is ridiculous when you can get Janome bobbins on ebay.

Also does anyone use those little teflon washers in their bobbin cases? It makes mine go smoother whether I am FMQ or not. I leave it in all the time.

I wonder why that is? strange. t
hey are sold and ok to use in my 6600 and my platinum. never had an issue with the prewounds.

i have never used the washers either, i assumed they were for side loaders..