by Sewmum1 ( edited 02 Jun 2016 ) 02 Jun 2016

Janome 500e owners. Is is time to oil your Embroidery Machine?

If you own a Janome 500e and use it everyday you should do this one a month according to the manual. I have only been using mine a couple of times a week.

I have done around 450,000 stitches on my 3 month old Janome 500e. I keep a notebook to keep track of my projects, stitch numbers and their times for when I want to make them again.

To my surprise it was mostly free of lint but all the felt pads were so dry they needed between 10 and 20 drops of oil each! I am so ashamed of myself. I will be keeping a closer eye on it from now on. You can see the difference in the before and after pics below.

If you haven't oiled yours please give your machine some loving and it will love you back and cost less in maintenance in the long run. It was easy to do and the manual shows each step as you go.
NOTE: Some machines are only to be oiled by a technician. Check your own machine manual first

Here is what I use:

*Machine manual, mine has really good step by step instructions Pages 60-64 for Janome 500e

*a pipe cleaner to get in all the awkward places to clean lint

*a torch or headlamp to see what you are doing

*fine pointy tweezers to pop the screw covers off

*magnetized Phillips head screwdriver (stops the screws being dropped in the machine)

*good quality sewing machine oil in a syringe with a printer ink needle (they are blunt and you can control how much oil and get into tight spaces)

Happy sewing and remember to love your machine!

3 images:[1]
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Comments (4)

by sandralane 11 Jun 2016

I am concerned whether to oil or not ? i clean the bobbin case area regularly, but when i purchased my machine late last year, my dealer said does not need oiling. The manual does say only a few drops of cleaner not oil. Yes the machine does automatically tell you when to clean the bobbin case area it puts up a message. No problems with the needle threader as yet. Sandra..

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by Sewmum1 11 Jun 2016

Sandra it is up to you, I read in my manual to oil and my dealer said in order to reduce service costs over the long term the 500e needs oiling every now and then. They also thought about showing everyone how to during one of our janome club days as many of the ladies are not confident with doing it themselves. I prefer to take care the oiling my machines myself than pay a technician to do it for me. He can then focus on more important things when it is serviced. If it is not something you want to do yourself just leave it for your tech to do when you have your machine serviced.

by sandralane 13 Jun 2016

Thank you for the information. Sandra.

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by raels011 09 Jun 2016

the 500E tells you when to clean bobbin case and when to oil machine. I am still having trouble with the needle threader, is anyone else having trouble with this

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by Sewmum1 09 Jun 2016

My machine didn't notify me to clean or oil it but it needed it desperately. Is that in the settings somewhere to set up? I can't seem to find it.

My needle threader has been working ok although it was stiff at first when new. Is the hook that catches the thread on yours bent perhaps? I have been told you are not supposed to use the threader with the certain needles as the hook is too big and might damage it.

by babash 09 Jun 2016

My machine has told me once to clean the bobbin case. As for the threading I find it works fine only now and then it just will not thread and I think it might be the brand of thread. But 99% of the time it is fine.

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by awesome1 02 Jun 2016

Please check your manual or service person before putting oil in your embroidery machine. Mine are by Brother--the manual & repairman say NO OIL because the parts are silicone, which would be damaged by oil. Once I was looking over the repairman's shoulder (auth. Bro dealer) and he was wiping a bit of oil in the bobbin race. I said, " You are not supposed to use oil!" He replied, "Only a touch here--I"M THE EXPERT!" That put me in my place.LOL

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by Sewmum1 02 Jun 2016

Thanks for the reminder, I forget some machines are only for technicians to oil. I do have a brother machine that needs oiling too but always good advice to check your own machines manual first. I will modify the post to reflect this.

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by stock 02 Jun 2016

what part of the machine are you showing, I oil the wheels and cogs that I can see but, have not been where you are....wendy

2 comments

by Sewmum1 edited 02 Jun 2016

The photos show the carriage arm, but all the felt pads in the machine including the wick at the back were all very very dry. Page 63 and 64 on the manual.

by stock 04 Jun 2016

I'll have a go thanks, mine is a brother and the only thing in the book is cleaning the bobbin case...wendy

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