Hi, Elenu, just found your question about oiling the Janome. (Blush) my dealer does it for me. Ruthie, can you help? I'm going to try to paste Elenu's question inside here.>>

Hi Elenu
Some machines require more maintenance than others. ALL require preventative maintenance to stay in tip top shape. Newer machines have mostly sealed bearings so they do not need oiling like the old machines used to but they still have moving parts that need attention. The shaft that brings the needle up and down and the hook on the bobbin case will need cleaning and oiling occasionally... just take care if it has a felt pad on the shaft so as not to damage it. The Baby Lock BMP and EMPs and the Brother PR600s tell you they need oil on the bobbin case hook every time you turn them on (they don't...unless you embroider all day long lol)
Here is where they had a series on machine maintenance recently: http://articles.designsbysick.com...
Keep in mind excessive oil and the spray adhesives some use with stabilizers actually add to the gunk problems. I used to use a soft baby toothbrush and canned air (like you buy to clean a computer keyboard) with my Janome machine.
Get a really good quality machine oil (NOT WD-40 or just any sort of oil!) and be sure it is in an oiler with a tiny needle like tip. I would never use an oil that is in a spray can on a machine with plastic parts. Clean the machine well before you oil it and keep in mind less oil is better than too much oil. Have your dealer show you how to do basic preventative maintenance. It is not that hard and will save you a load of money in the long run. Try looking at the Janome factory forum for advise too:
http://janome.com/fusetalk/forum/

I was told not to oil my machine as it doesn't need it. I also use a pipe cleaner and run it down through the thread guide after every finished design

1 comment

by elenu 05 May 2008

I'm not surprised about that Raels011. Oil and embroidery thread don't go together too well. Next time I am near the supplier of the machine I'll drop in and ask them. The pipe cleaner tip sounds like a good one. Thank you.

Elenu, so sorry sweetie, I must have missed your original post, so thanks marji. I have the 350e, think you might have the 300e, but they are basically the same. My dealer, in fact 2 dealers have told me that this machine does not need oiling. But one said that I could wipe a very small amount of oil around the inside of the bobbin case after I'd cleaned it. Now I agree with Marji, that it doesn't sound like an oiling problem if it started suddenly after a *stuff-up* (that's a technical term, haha!!!). My thoughts - 1) When you cleaned out the bobbin area, did you use the small brush? And it's not a bad idea to also use a tissue to wipe around the inside of the bobbin holder - but be sure that NO tissue is left in there. 2) Check that the needle is still aligned with the hole in the needle plate. 3) Replace the needle, you just might have a dud. 4) Check that the bobbin holder can rotate freely, also that the bobbin edges are smooth and not causing the bobbin to drag. If all this doesn't work elenu, let me know and I'll try and think of more solutions. I've had a couple of *stuff-ups*, and these solutions have always got me going again. Hugs and a flower for you and please let me know how it goes sweetie.

1 comment

by ruthie 04 May 2008

Thanks for bringing this to my attention marji, you're a sweetie, hugs and a flower for you.

Hey, it worked!! Elenu asked: "I hope you pick this up Marji, I want to 'pick your brain' already. I cannot find any reference to oiling the machine (if, indeed, you have to) My machine was soooo quiet until that dratted anemone :-) so I wondered about the oil!!" Can you gals who actually take care of your own machines & don't bug your dealer every week help Elenu? I wonder if you might have a stray thread caught in your bobbin case or something after that anemone? Doesn't seem like lack of oiling should come on that fast and cause it to be so 'suddenly' noisy. I learned I have to keep that bobbin case free of any dust buildup (and cat hair, hee hee hee). Let's see what Ruthie, Raels & other Janome owners have to say. Thanks a lot, Cuties!! Marji

1 comment

by elenu 04 May 2008

Marji, Thank you for going to all this trouble. I have cleaned out all the bobbin area (that is what it says to do in the manual) I even took off the side panel (where you change the bulb) and everything was OK there so, I thought maybe the shaft that is continually up & down, might need the slightest smear of oil - altho' I think this might put oil on the thread.