My machine won't stop sewing sometimes
 

I have a Janome that is about 4-5 years old. It's done this a little over the years, but lately is worse: sometimes when I take my foot off the foot pedal, it keeps going. Lately it's nearly every time. I've checked to be sure nothing is lodged in it. I've also tried unplugging the foot and using the start/stop button. It was working to do that until tonight. Tonight it not only kept sewing using the button, but after I hit stop or lifted my foot (depending on which method I was trying), it would go FASTER! I turned down the speed & it still sped up. I normally keep my machine off unless I am sewing, but last week I left it on b/c I had adjusted the setting and didn't want to have to reset it. My daughters found it sewing all by itself, so they asked if they could go ahead & turn it off, which of course I let them do.

I looked & the last post I could find on this topic was from 2010, so I thought I'd see if anyone lately has had this happen & if there is an answer for it. Thanks!

I asked DH if he had any experience of this type of thing and he started speaking about how the capacitor is sometimes aligned with the switch, and then went on to resistor pressure...........................

In other words, it needs to be looked at by a sewing machine technician! He thinks you'll probably need a new foot control. In the meantime, he advised keeping it unplugged from the socket when not in use, as the foot controller could overheat. Good luck. :)

Same thing happened to me. It may be that the foot pedal is filled with lint and thread and hair, causing it to stick. Yes, even though it's enclosed, it happens. You may need to take the foot pedal apart and clean it out. Mine had enough hair in it to make a Barbie wig!

I bought a Janome last year, and last week that started with me too. I leave my machine on sometimes (forget to turn off). I wonder if they have recalls like cars? LOL.

I had this happen to me. My foot pedal had gone bad and had to be replaced. I was lucky it was still under warrantee.

Same here with the foot pedal. It was vintage and Mr. Stitchnripper, who is not handy in general, took it apart and saw where a screw had come loose or something simple. He put it back together and all has been well. So my uneducated guess is that it is the foot pedal.

Mine had been doing that a couple of years ago. I have a Janome 6500. I took the foot pedal in to get checked. They took it apart and cleaned it. About a year ago it was doing it again. And occasionally it would act up and show the icon on the screen of the plug in part that goes into the machine. I took the foot pedal back, he looked at it and sold me a new one for $80. But now it is doing it again. Is this just related to Janome's or does it happen with other machines too?

The same happened to me a few years back. I phoned the technician, he says to check the fuses in the old main power box on the house as one must be burning out. Sure enough 2 days later one blew, and after replacing it I never had the problem again. But I do agree you must have your machine and pedal checked out - you don't want to start a fire.

Most homes don't have a heavy enough breaker box to handle all the electrics we use these days at the same time. DH replaced our breaker box last year when one breaker kept tripping, in my sewing room. A tripping breaker is a sign, get a heavier duty breaker box. Some homeowners insurance will say a fire caused by a too weak breaker is owner's negligence and that could cause you a lot of problems if that happens. You know if insurance can find a way out they will use it.

My does that too sometimes, but it is usually my dog using my foot pedal as a pillow =0)

I have a newer 14 month old- Janine 6600 that has been doing this on and off a few times. Guess I'll go clean the foot controller. Weird flaw for a newer machine. Guess it's a Janine thing.

I would agree with cleaning it first off. They get gummy, dog hair, dust, etc. in them. I am a transcriptionist and I also have to clean my wav pedal out from time to time, and you wouldn't believe what all gets in them. I also agree with keeping it unplugged when not in use. I do that anyway but especially with one that might have a problem. Sorry for your aggravation, I know how annoying it is when your machines don't work just right.

I had this and it was my for pedal, full of lint that caused it, however I switch off and unplug my machines when not using, my machines are computerised and don't want a power surge causing problems.

somethings wrong with your foot pedal

I agree, you need to take it in for a examination and cleaning.

My Viking Designer has been doing this for quite some time. After reading here, my husband took it (foot pedal) to the garage to open up and check inside. Hopefully this will correct the problem.

This made me laugh!

Thanks everyone! Will try cleaning first. That's free. LOL!

Sounds like it is time for a visit to the sewing machine doctor.

My Janome did the same thing... and I had to buy a new foot pedal! Bad product if so many people had the same problem! They should have done a recall instead of charging so many of us $80+ to replace a defective part. :(

Sounds more like a ghost is trying to use your machine!! LOL

My 40 yr old Pfaff does it too. I want to try it with another foot pedal before I send in the circuit board to be re-wound

I have a Janome that did that.I took it to the LQS they said I needed a new foot pedal for the machine. I think It was $100. About a month later it started doing it again. I went to a different LQS and they fixed it. Not sure what they did. There was a thread on here a while back back about Janomes doing this. Some said to take the foot pedal apart and clean the inside. Some also said it was nearly impossible to get it back together. I never tried that.

I would send an email to Janome, maybe others are having the same problem and they will know what is causing it or if there is a recall on it.

I have a Janome 6600 and am on my 3rd pedal. It is a known problem, however, I love the machine so much I put up with it!

I had that problem with my Eldredge Two Spool just yesterday. I had to tap it with my foot the make it stop sewing.
Then I realized the lever wasn't coming all the way back up when I took my foot off the pedal. But that machine is very old and has been sitting in shed of my young sewing machine guy no one knows how long. Even his father doesn't remember from whence it has come.

So I unplugged the machine, and pushed down on the lever multiple times. I could hear a sort of grind, as if there was rust or something in there. But as I worked it got better, and last night it worked just fine. I would take it apart, but there are no screws, so I'm afraid to try. I guess I'll take it back to my young sewing machine guy and have him look at it.

Had the same problem with janome platinum and new pedal solved it. Good luck.

My FW developed the same problem; it was the foot pedal.

Yup, had the same problem with my 6600... And good luck trying to get the foot pedal apart....impossible,,,,I had to replace the foot pedal....

I don't have that brand, so this question is academic......aren't the foot pedals covered by warrantee? It appears by reading all the responses about having to replace and pay for..and some more than once...I would be talking to mfgr about what, why, and refund of $$$.

My DH is an electrician and put in a new electrical line just for my sewing room. I don't trip breakers any more.

My commercial Juki used to take phantom stitches when my back was turned. No one would believe me. Finally my husband was there when it happened. We shipped the machine back to Vancouver and they replaced the electronics at their expense.

My Viking occasionly does this. When it does, it is because somehow I pushed the "fix" button.

I haven't had this problem (yet) but I've heard about it a lot; enough that I changed things around so now I turn my machine on and off with a power strip. All my sewing task lights and my machine are plugged into a power strip that I zip-tied to the leg of my sewing table, so now everything goes on and off with THAT switch. No way my machine can start up on its own with that setup! And with all the lights, it's easy to see if I've wandered off and left my machine on, even if I can't see the screen.

I've had my 6600 for 2 years; maybe I should be proactive and see how hard that pedal is to open up...

Since you mentioned that it did this WITHOUT the foot control, IT IS NOT THE FOOT PEDAL. For those of you replacing your foot pedal, next time, be sure to take your machine in and try another foot pedal, or borrow one from a quilt buddy to see if it is your pedal. Another thing to try is, check the hole that the pedal plugs into. A friend of mine had this problem and it was lint in the hole. She cleaned it, wiped the cord push in thingy...with alcohol. Pushed it in and she didn't have anymore problems. Saved $100 that day. Back to Chefmama,...Unplug your machine, not just turn it off, let it sit for a day. Then plug in your machine and turn it on. Sometimes, there needs to be a reset.....since this is not your foot pedal and does it without the pedal plugged in. Then, take to the shop if it is still doing the ghost running.... When you go to the shop, take your cord plug. Ask them to check your cord plug first before spending $100 on a new pedal. There is always an off chance your machine cord has a short.(you could plug everything in and then turn on your machine, jiggle the machine cord...a short might be indicated) If your machine has a hard cover, mark the inside of the cover with a washable marker or pencil. Also put your name on your pedal and cord plug. I have had my cover and pedals exchanged with other customer's machines before.

My husband has taken mine apart and cleaned it out several times. If it isn't under warranty, try that. If it is, then let them do it.

This seems to be a common Janome problem. My machines has done it right from the word go and I should have taken it back but did not only because after some observation I noticed when I have a computer on in the same room it does not like it or when I am sewing on a retreat and other machines are going at the same time. I also have a wireless intercom in my sewing room and that also interfers with it when on.

Solution for me is to not use the foot pedal - only when winding my bobbin and then remove the foot pedal from the machine and use my stop/start button.

Perhaps we should bombard Janome with an email at the sametime complaining about their foot pedals and ask why we are all having this problem. Some computer chip problem or????????? which is common to their machines.

Here is a contact http://janome.com/en/support/general-support/
and address I suggest all who have this problem to sent note to Company
Janome America Inc. Headquarters

Janome America, Inc.
10 Industrial Ave. Ste. 2
Mahwah, NJ 07430

I have just emailed Janome Australia so I will let you know if I get a reply and what is says.