Please Help!! Needle stuck in Janome New Home L372

[mop6686]

I bought a Janome New Home L372 online and it arrived in the mail today, but when I tried to use it the needle got stuck in the hook race under the needle plate (where the bobbin case is).

When I first took it out of the box the bobbin winder spindle was bent, so I straightened that out before I used it. Because it was bought online, the refund time period is 7 days and I didn't have any thread I decided to plug it in and try the foot pedal to see if it was working straight away (is using the machine without thread a big no-no??) The needle went up and down a couple of times then stalled inside the machine. I can't raise it using the balance wheel and when I try to lower it further the needle bends to the left without going lower.

I have no idea what it could be! I have a little experience with sewing machines, so I don't think it's completely broken. Dials and knobs may have shifted in the post and I pulled a hand full of dust and lint out from behind the hook race (though it still isn't working). There's some dust in the machine behind the thread guide that I can't get it out, but it doesn't seem to be restricting any movement of parts.

Does anyone have any ideas? Please help!!! Thanks!!

[paroper]

This doesn't sound like a good thing.  I think it is time to take it in and ask a Janome tech what he thinks.  You may have a bent needle bar or at the very least a timing problem.  The thing is that bad timing can bend the needle bar.  There is no time to waste as 7 days is not that long to decide...so get that baby by a tech. 

You might try to open the bobbin area (sounds like you already have) and see if you can see anything that is locking the needle...but this doesn't sound good at all.

[SpottedFrog]

It's a dud, send it back ASAP. You should be able to sew with no thread on any machine just fine. You should not ever have to repair-berfore-you-can-use-it a brand-new-to-you machine if it was purchased from anyone trying to be a professional sales person or shop. Craig's list, hand me downs & charity shops are the exception to that rule, but in those places the severe discount balances out the cost of repairs & tune ups.