It's been just over a year that I've owned my Janome 6600, so it seemed the right thing to do to take it in for a check-up.
It had developed a strange kind of thunk sound and advice on this board is for yearly servicing.

WELL. Apparently I took in the cleanest machine the service man has ever seen. He asked if I'd actually used it more than a few times! Okay, so I'm compulsive about de-linting. He said my Janome has an extra large lint reservoir, so I can relax a little. Also - the bearings in the machine are graphite and the oil will leech away from them if the machine is not used regularly. He said use it lots because that keeps the oil flowing through those parts. Geez, okay!

And the thunk? The pointy tip had broken off the needle. Guess I'll start changing needles more often. :oops:

LOL Thanks to advice from this board I always start a new project with a new needle, unless the previous one was just small.

And you MUST obey orders and sew more! :-)

Happy to hear the thunk was not a needed repair!!! 8) 8) 8)
Soooo you need to sew more...which means more fabric...sounds like a reason to go shopping to me!!!! :D :D :D
I wonder if using our machines frequently applies to all of the new machines that are self lubricating??? Love this repairman!!! Can't ignore his advice to spend more time sewing more for the sake of our machines good health :shock: :wink: :D :D :D

Sounds like good advice to me...LOL

Sew more.....great advice!!!!

I've been told to change your needle every about 8 hours of sewing time...of course, I was told this in the LQS who sells needles. But...It does work much better when I change them frequently :D

Hope you are doing it. Love to see those quilts.

LOL You had better get busy!!!

You no longer have to ever feel guilty for the time you spend quilting, it is all for the good of your machine!!

Sounds like a plan -- for the good health of your machine -- start sewing!!! :D :D

Sounds like great advice to me. More sewing , hardly a hardship.

Glad your machine wasn't sick!! Yep, remember to change your needle often. What I try to remember to do is change it every Monday morning -- hardly a day goes by that I'm not sewing something on it. And if I'm making a big project, more often...

I buy my needles in bulk from Jhittlesewing.com -- they are very reasonably priced that way and I always have plenty :D

great news about the machine, I am bad at changing my needles, I usually only do it when they break or are too dull to go threw the fabric, I am not sure how high m y needle bill would be if I changed it as often as they want me to. Would sure add up.

Well, that's good to know it wasn't something SERIOUS. Now you gotta do what he says and sew more :wink: HAVE FUN

I switched to Organ Titanium needles. They are cheaper than the other brands of quality needles. I have found the titanium needles stay sharp much longer then the regular needles. I buy the ten needles to a pack, ten packs at a time here:
http://www.bobbincentral.com/Organ_Needles_s/139.htm

These are the same needles he gave me - said they are the best choice for my machine. I'm now well-stocked and ready to follow orders.

Best of all - my DH was with me and witnessed this whole exchange so he knows. Woohee :D :D

Boy, I wish someone would tell me to sew more. :lol: :lol: :lol:

I'm glad you posted this. I've got that model of machine also and nobody at the dealer ever mentioned what you wrote! Very handy to know. I'm sure it'll be very painful, but I'll have to remember to sew more now!

How wonderful to get that message! I know I need to change my needles more often, but....
Now I need to sew more too, so I can change the needles more often without feeling guilty! :?

Littlehud, you need to sew more.

Ohhhh.......Thank you. I knew someone would come through for me. :D :D :D

b.zang, I have a Janome6600, and I did NOT know that...soooooo...
seeewwwwww....LOL...glad you told us! :wink:

My tech told me that he can tell I don't blow into my machine (which you should never do).

I'm a fanatic about keeping it clean too. :lol:

I say more, cook less!!!!

get it in writing to show your dh. and then 'sew more'. :D

Souond like great advice to me!! :D Sew more!!

Wow! We have the same machine. I don't use mine often enough, I don't think. I guess that would apply to my embroidery machine too, huh? I use that one even less. I need to get busy. Have to finish the quilting on my quilt first. So much to do, so little time :roll:

Take heart, Janome owners......he also told me that he almost never sees them in for repairs. Well built and long-lasting machines they be.

I had the same thing happen to me a few weeks ago, but I KNEW the needle piece was there. I took it in, and was so concerned that I wouldn't have my machine for 4 to 6 weeks, like they told me their back log is. I thought I'd have to buy a second machine (which I'd love to do anyway, but w/ $$$ being tight right now, that won't happen). Well, thankfully, the woman just kind of shook it (gently, very gently, but I never would have done that!!!!!), and the needle piece came right out, and the thunking was gone!! And the cost: $000000

That's my kind of repair! Woo hoo!!!

I was having a lot of health issues and didn't even touch my machine from last October to May of this year. Once the dr. found the problem and put me on the right meds, my energy and outlook did a 180 degree turn around. My husband told me it was good to see me back at my sewing machine! Love that man!

Hmmmm? Wonder if that goes for the Janome MC4000. too. Sew more??? :lol:

oh no, really!!??? I do it all the time. What goes wrong when you do that??

:cry: The moisture from your breath gets in there, & that's not good, it Bad! Do I need to Sew More, I've a Janome 3022? I hope that is a YES! :lol:

I think we all need to sew more, whether we sew on a janome or not.

With every bobbin change I give my machine a de-linting and lite oiling.
I live in the desert where it is very dry.
I change my needle with every new prpject or every 8 hours of sewing time. I also hear at my annaul check-up that I take excellent care of my machine. Also never pull your tread out from your machine backwards. Always clip and pull through your needle in the direction it feeds when sewing. A little waste is better than tension problems later.
Connie

'Sew more', huh? Sounds like a plan to me! We're all looking forward to seeing pics...!

Yes, the Janomes are awesome machines. I have a New Home Memory Craft 6000 (they were called that before taking on the Janome name) that I used for over 20 years, and it began acting up and not doing what I needed it to do, but I sewed many a garment ( and lots of prom dresses) with it, as well as quilting. I would have traded it in on another Janome, but the only dealership is over an hour away, so I purchased Pfaff Expressions. I do like it, but I think if I could get the Mc 6000 to a licensed dealer, I'd have it gone over and probable use it again...or give it to my daughter, if she is interested.

AAACKK!! Didn't know that! Thanks for sharing.

Lord knows I have enough hot air coming out of my mouth - better stop sending all that humidity into my machine.