I bought my two Featherweights and my 301A from Craigs list. Hubby and I met two of the sellers and tried out the machines with an adapter in his truck... great condition with accessories and worked like a charm.
We went to the other sellers office and tried the machine out too...same outcome.
My daughter bought my 99K for me sight unseen.... Very lucky...after a new belt she sewed her heart out.

I have a Janome 6500 that I love but have never used the needle threader..too much work for me:)

Sell it on Craigs List. I've sold everything on it and can't recommend it enough. Even sold our acreage!! No kidding.

I have a Babylock and for awhile I couldn't work the needle threader. Lo and behold, I discovered the needle had to be in a certain position, the wheel has a tiny mark on it which should be at the top. Works every time now. Mostly I use cotton essentials from Connecting Threads but once in awhile, I use a 30 yearl old cone which works too.

There is a "Sew Its For Sale yahoo group that you can join/register with and you could list it there. I was "looking for a machine" once and listed by "in search of" (not model specific, was just looking for a heavy duty machine and I received no less than 50 replies, the first one just mins after. Its not just machines, its patterns, books, fabrics, things related to sewing but a lot of machines.

Marysewfun

You can also go online and usually find the "model specific" operation manual and it should describe use of the needle threader - I did that for my Brother machine, found how to properly use it and no problems since then. It was just a small segment I missed in reading the book.

Marysewfun

I needed to get my needle threader thing replaced on my machine. The little hook on it broke off. I think the part was around $15.00 - which was in addition to the $100 clean, oil, and adjust fee.

I also have the 350E and love it. I also have a Janome 8900. Bought it to replace my old Bernina when it began to need yearly repairs. I am so glad I bought it.

Never, in 50 years of sewing have I had a needle threader. These old eyes now have a problem and I use a peice of white paper behind needle so I can see where to thread. Works like a charm. Most of my machines are too old for needle threader anyway.

I have the 6600 Janome & have the same problem with the threader. I've been thinking about ordering the topstitch needles from Superior threads to see if this will take care of the problem. Does anyone out there use these & do you think it would solve the problem? IMHO if that was the only complaint I had w/ the machine I'd keep it!!! But I'm prejudiced.:)

I actually hate the needle threader. It takes me longer to use it then to thread the old fashijg way. Actually the threader on by singer broke off- HURRAH!!!!! i