Oh, woe, I am so bummed!
 

Soooo, I took my Quantum L-500 back to my repair guy, again. This time, he first said he didn't think he could fix it this time. Then he said he would check to see if he could get the part from Singer, since he isn't an authorized Singer repair shop. The closest one of those is over 100 miles from me. This is fairly major, the whole hook assembly has to be replaced, at $120.00 for the part. But, I need my machine, I have work stacked up. And he will fix it quickly once he gets the part. I feel Singer made some mistake in building the thing, have broken needles forever. It is a little over two years old. If money were no object(which of course it is), what machine would you buy to do fancy stitches, piece and quilt, and generally sew every day?

I have a Janome and love it. WOuld buy it again. So sorry to hear about your machine. Hope it gets fixed soon. Beth

So sorry to hear of your problems. Have you contacted Singer regarding the problem and frequent trips to the repair shop? I think you should. What harm would it do? All they can do is ignore you or say too bad, but there is nothing they can do. I think it's appalling that you are having trouble with a machine that is just over 2 years old. You shouldn't have any repairs on an almost new machine!!!
Sue

I love the Janome 6600... lots and lots swear by Janome.

I'm sorry you are having such a headache. I ordered this machine from HSN a while back and after running it through the paces, decided to send it back. Too rough-shod for me. Now I have a Baby Lock and LOVE that machine. Mine is the Espire which is now marketed as the Symphonie. I paid a little over 2k for mine a few years ago. There is nothing I don't love about the machine - although I do wish she had a built-in walking foot.

Have you looked online for the part? The repairman told me the same thing, he didn't know if he could get the part because he wasn't Singer authorized. I found the part online for 1/2 the price he quoted from the parts book. Took it to him and got the machine fixed. I don't use him anymore. He didn't have the sense to look online himself, never thought of it. Kept asking me how did I buy it without being authorized. Clueless is annoying when it comes to getting the job done.

I would be bummed too. IMHO, if it is fixable, it's probably worth it.

I'm wondering if you might not want to have a basic backup machine to use for just piecing and save your fancy machine for the special things it does. I don't have a fancy machine yet, although I'm considering which one I want to get. Haven't decided which features I will be most likely to use as I've never had one that did more than straight, zigzag and a few decorative stitches that I never used.

I have an Elna 7200 (pretty much Elna's version of the Janome 6600) and I love this machine! It's a workhorse that has given me four years (so far!) of quilting pleasure. I especially love the extra deep harp area - fabulous for when I'm quilting a larger quilt. The stitches are beautiful and it's a very easy machine to learn and use. :)

Love my Janome 6600. Having said that, I highly recommend watching the videos
posted here. A real eye opener.

http://www.quiltingboard.com/links-r...d-t215131.html

I'm really getting the hang of the Janome 8900, and I'm loving this machine. I guess starting out with a big quilt as my first project has made me love it more than if I'd started with something small, because my favorite thing about this machine is this huge quilt has yet to bind up on me going under the harp.

Janome, I think I love you. :thumbup:

My Pfaffs which I have traded up 3 times have always been reliable and work horses. Sorry to hear about your sewing machine woes. Metal vintage machines are ever lasting for straight stitching...but you will get SO many diverse opinions. Happy sewing. Best,

I bought a Juki 2010Q last year and LOVE the thing! Quilting is just wonderful now... It's all mechanical-- no computer. Easy peasey and so strong and reliable! Beautiful stitches, too.

Why not look at everything thedealeryou have gone to has in. Does he have any of his display models then you have a backup which can be easily repaired. Could you hire a machine from this dealer?

Any of the Bernina machines would be a good choice. I have a model 640 and have just added the embroidery module to it. They also have ones with larger throat for fmq. But I don't know anything about them as I am a professional longarm quilter.

Thanks everyone, for your advice and sympathy. I do indeed have a back up machine, my old ever dependable Super Elegance Singer. It is like going from Electric to treadle:) I am so spoiled, with my great light, needle always up, great sewing desk and chair. Now I am sewing in the living room with the table opened into the archway. I just wanted to whine, and get opinions on machines. My DH thinks I should just shut up and go buy a good machine. My biggest mistake was trying to save some bucks, bought my Quantum on QVC, not thinking about service. Won't do that again. I knew there would be lots of opinions, that's what I wanted. If I buy another, I will definitely buy where I can try them out and they can offer service. Which to be honest will still be miles from home. My repair guy doesn't seem to sell new anythings. Happy quilting!

Maybe get a more basic machine for piecing ect. and save this machine for other projects that require more fancy stitching. I piece on a straight stitch machine and just use my other machines for other things. Saves a lot of wear and tear on them!

Singer made a good product for years. Unfortunately that time has passed. I grew up using Singers and when I was married in 1969 my husband bought a Singer sewing machine for his gift to me. Had nothing but problems with it. Every time I used it it would have to go back to the service guy and finally he got tired of fixing it and completely disassembled and reassembled it. He found it had been put together wrong at the factory and did work better for a time but still too many problems. I got so frustrated with it at one point that I took it out to the field behind the house and blasted it with my husbands shot gun. Most satisfaction I ever got from it! Have never and will never own another one which was manufactured after the 1960's. I now own my Mother's vintage Singer 301 and have never had one problem with it. My Viking Designer SE was the replacement for the wedding present and has never given me a problem either. I have owned Janome also and would recommend them also.

Fancy stitches, built like a tank = Singer 401A, a vintage machine.

Maintenance? A little oil and grease every now and then.

I love, love, love my Husqvarna 875Q.

It "replaced" my 1965 Elna Supermatic which is now my workhorse backup machine. :)

As previsously suggested -- would only look at machines which you could have serviced locally -- since it's so far to the next available techical support. Also would look for one with an extended warranty -- just like for a car! It can make a big difference -- mine covers all parts and labor, and the cost for the 3-year policy is about the cost for one complete service, recommended once a year. If there is any problem, I can haul it in without considering costs.

I'd get a mid-arm Bernina :) More metal than a lot of other brands, which translates to less worry about parts breaking or wearing out. They are expensive, though!

We just bought a Brother, Laura Ashley special edition, Innov-is, NX-2000 & it's an incredible machine!! Comes with 17 feet..walking foot & FM foot included, the extension table is included, the circle tool & more. It has 460 programmed stitches & 30 more on a disc which I hope to try soon. It cuts the threads, has an excellent needle threader even I can work, & lots of space in the throat to do bigger quilts! It said it was made for quilters & I believe it! I've had mine since Christmas & sew every day. I love it!! Brother really outdid themselves on this one!!

I have a Janome and would buy another if something happened to my first.......I have had real good luck with it ......take it in once a year for servicing..

Just picturing someone out in the field with a bad machine and shotgun made me laugh out loud!
I'm a Janome girl, too, except for my Featherweight. Had a pretty good Brother years ago too, and that one someone described sounds really great.

Sorry to hear about your machine, I use a cheap brother sewing and quilting machine from wal mart. I have had it almost a year now and not a speck of trouble. It cost me about $200. and I love it.

I too have a Janome 6600 - love it. Have never had 1 problem with her and she is used a lot! Piecing, Quilting, mending, jeans, sheer and I love love love the Janome machine needles - the right needle for the right job.

But I agree with others who have suggested getting in touch with Singer. By no means should you have had that trouble. Perhaps Singer would like to know how much we discuss machines on this very large web site. Keep us informed on your interaction with Singer. Machines are bought and sold every day.

Good luck -

It has always been my contention that I only require a machine that sews forward, reverse, and zigzags. I currently have an older New Home that I purchased at my aunt's estate yard sale for $50. It has other fancy stitches, and sometimes I play with them, but have never use them for anything other than play. I prefer handquilitng, hand applique and hand embroidery. If it was good enough for my grandmother, it is good enough for me. I have no need o mass produce quilts or anything else. I have a 301A, and 66 Treadle as backup. As the treadle has been around since the early 1900's, I fully expect it to be here sewing quilts long after I am gone.

I am a Bernina fan. I find it very hard to use anything else. I have the 380 and it does everything I need. My only regret are that extra feet are so expensive. Just a question here, I started on a Husqevarna Viking. It couldn't have more than 6 hours of sewing on it. Very unhappy sewing. We just aren't compatible...at all, and have mutually agree to find other partners. Anyone out there with a Viking crush?

I have Bernina Machines. They are pretty pricey, but in the long run well worth every penny. I take them every two years for their "well baby check up" and that's it. I have a 153 QE, 440 QEE, and a 530 QE as well as a serger. I do FMQ on the 440 and the 530. The 440 is what I use on my large Bernina quilt frame. Probably will never own anything else.

I guess I lucked out with mine cause I've had mine for over two years now and love it. Have never had a problem with it. Perhaps like cars are sometimes you may have gotten a lemon with your sewing machine. I love my Quantum L-500.

I have the Elna 740 and love it, it has the built in walking foot and is the same machine as the Janome 7700. It has a good warranty and sews beautifuly. If you can afford a new Janone or Elna, I would recommend either one of these. The newer versions of these models are great but you can buy the older models for less and they do almost the same thing. Just upgraded the speed and a few small things which aren't worth the extra money for me. If you have a local dealer that sells Janome it would be in your best interest to buy from them, they are there to help ypou and are usually very helpful. I know ours is. Hope you get your problems sloved one way or another. I wish you were close I lone you a machine. I have many to choose from.

I would google it, and get with Singer. Sometimes, if a lot of a manufacturer's vehicles have the same issue, they will decide to cover it. Of course, you have to *really* get after them . .

maybe there are others having troubles like yours . . . A two year old machine is still brand new, imo.

so sorry you are hassling with that! yuk

My computerized Kenmore made by Janome. Best darn machine ever! Sounds to me like your timing was off and never properly fixed. That is the only reason I can see that your needles would be breaking all the time. Then too, you could possibly have a bent shaft if the first time you broke a needle it was a very hard hit.

Sorry about your machine troubles. I have 2 Janomes and love them both. I have had no trouble with either one. One I've had for over 10 yrs. and she works like a charm every time. There are many Janomes at varying prices, and I feel there is one to meet each budget. Most have some type of decorative stitches. Good luck.

Love all 4 of my Vikings.

A Janome. If I was buying a back up machne and didn't want to spend much I'd buy a Brother.

I have a Babylock that eats everything I feed it! Also have a Pfaff that has served me well for many years!

I have a Janome 6600 and absolutely love it. I highly recommend it.

Sorry about your problem. I have an (old to others) machine bought in 1997 new. It is a Janome MC9000 and I have sure put it to the test, never has needed repairs. I only had cleaned, etc. about three times and it runs like a gem. I also have a Baby Lock that weighs less to take to classes,etc. and it works fine. It has about 24 decorative stitches and stitches great.