20 Most Recent Janome Mini Compact Questions & Answers

This was really helpful for me fixing my daughter a John Lewis (janome) mini sewing machine, and now can get the bobbin thread up again, however, when you sew, the thread is not staying in stitches, just coming off the material completely. I tried forcing the gears on one more time but then it didn't pick up the bobbin thread again so went back to the other gear position. Any ideas of what to try and get it stitching again? Thanks

Oil the machine first. Then, determine whether or not you need any parts at all.

take it in for a service and check the operation of the foot control

What do you mean you are unable to pull the bobbin thread through, elaboration would help solve the problem...
I suspect I'm having the same problem with you if it's anything to do with the top thread looping around in the bobbin holder.

Damn machine!

:)

http://www.threadsmagazine.com/item/4731/preventive-sewing-machine-maintenance/page/all Can't tell what machine you have, as the question states two models from two makers. You might want to join the yahoo group "wefixit", dedicated to getting old machines working again: https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/wefixit/info

Have you checked the website for this machine? They should be able to direct you to a replacement plate. I hope that this helps.

finger guards are readily available from sewing suppliers

Hi
Ask Jan on the Janome website.
http://www.janome.com/index.cfm/LearningCenter/AskJan
Or try on the forums there.
http://www.janome.com/fusetalk/forum/
I would imagine that Janome universal needles would be fine for this machine.
Thicker needles are required for sewing thicker fabrics.

First, in order to get the bobbin thread up, you have to turn the wheel backward, not forward. If you try this, and it is not the problem, keep going.

Next you need to check the needle. There is a screw on the right side of the needle carriage right underneath the underside of the top...unscrew this and the needle should come right out. The flat side of the needle shank should go towards the back of the machine. If it isn't, switch it so that it is and try again.

If this doesn't solve your problem, what has happened is that the gears in the machine have gotten out of alignment. There is an easy fix:

Take off the plate that covers the bobbin chase...there are two screws one on each side. Remove these...you need a stub screwdriver, because regular ones will not fit under there.

Remove the bobbin carriage and the bobbin, making careful note of how they fit back in. Take a picture before disassembling it so you have a reference.

The part that carries the thread around the bobbin is still in the machine. Turn the wheel and you will see it rotate. What has happened is that the needle is not going down in the machine at the right point because someone kept sewing after it jammed and one gear kept going while the other one didn't and now it is out of alignment. These machines have plastic gears and the can slip past each other if you aren't careful not to stop immediately when they jam.

To fix it, you are going to have to do some trial and error. Grab the rotating part of the bobbin chase and hold it firmly. Rotate the wheel forward until you hear it click once. Then rotate the wheel backward again and see if it grabs the top thread. If it doesn't, repeat holding the bobbin chase and turning the wheel forward until it does.

Once you have the gears basically aligned, you will need to reassemble everything. Put the face plate back on and put at least one of the screws in all the way. The face plate holds the bobbin chase in correctly and if you don't fasten it it will not work correctly.

Now try sewing. If it starts to jam, stop immediately, cut the threads and look at the back. If it's a loopy mess, you are going to have to dissamble as before and again grasp the bobbin chase and turn the wheel forward one more click, then reassemble and try again. Eventually, you will find exactly the right alignment and the machine will sew perfectly.

I just had to make this fix on my own machine...I didn't want to take it in for repair because the bench fee alone would cost as much as the machine did!

There are some great video's on YouTube for help with threading the machine...look for StampTV and you should find them. Good luck!

taking the machine back to hancock fabrics is a good ideaand let them show you how to do the bobbin

HI

http://www.sewingmanuals.com/Sewing_Machine_Manuals/New_Home.htm


http://www.sewingmachinesplus.com/janome-manuals.php


thank you

I couldn't find that model, but here is a good place to start b/c it has a free owner's manual you can download: http://www.managemylife.com/mmh/owner_manuals/search?query=Singer+324+sewing+machineUsually you can get parts at searspartsdirect.comHope this helps.

Hi. Check to make sure the needle is in correctly. There is a flat side on the needle shank and that has to be facing a particular way. For most modern machines, the flat side of the needle faces to the rear, away from you, but it's always a good idea to check the manual to make sure on your machine. If the needle is bent, that can cause the same thing, but it's almost always that the needle is in wrong.
Happy Sewing!
Robbie