Bobbin Not Winding / Bobbin Winder Not Spinning

How to Fix It

1. Push the bobbin winder pin to the right.

   Locate the bobbin winder pin on the top right of the Janome machine. Slide or push the pin fully to the right until it stops or clicks into the winding position. In this position, pressing the pedal should drive the bobbin to spin. If partially pushed, the drive does not engage.

2. Thread through the pre-tension disc.

   Janome bobbin winding requires the thread to pass through a small pre-tension disc (a slit-style guide near the spool pin area at the top of the machine). Consult your Janome manual's bobbin winding diagram — the thread goes from the spool through the pre-tension disc, then wraps through the small hole in the side of the bobbin.

3. Snap the bobbin fully onto the pin.

   Place the bobbin on the winder pin and push it down until it clicks. If the bobbin is not seated firmly, it spins on the pin without any thread winding tension. On some Janome models, the bobbin must also be pushed to the right after clicking onto the pin.

4. Check the bobbin winder rubber ring.

   On the edge of the bobbin winder spindle, look for the small rubber O-ring or ring that contacts the hand wheel to provide drive friction. If this ring is hardened, cracked, or missing, the bobbin spindle will not receive enough drive to spin. Replacement rubber rings are sold at sewing stores.

5. Wind a few turns by hand first.

   Thread the thread through the small hole in the bobbin's side, hold the thread end, and manually wind 5–6 turns clockwise on the bobbin before pressing the pedal. This gives the bobbin enough initial thread grip to self-feed under power. Release the thread end after the first few powered rotations.