The Janome Skyline S5 is one desirable sewing machine that is capable of taking your sewing to the next possible level. It features a spacious working area for when you want to quilt or when you want to make home decorative projects. It is a computerized sewing machine so you can expect the same amount of convenience and easy-to-use functionality that you would normally expect from all other computerized sewing machines. This does not however exempt the Janome Skyline S5 from problems. In fact we’ll be taking a closer look at most of those problems here.
Table of Contents
1. Some Fabrics Are Sucked In By The Feed Dog
This can lead to the fabrics you’ll be working with to tear or break because the feed dog of the Janome Skyline S5 cannot hold the fabric in place correctly. The feed dog is responsible for moving the article of clothing whilst you’re sewing so as to not make you stitch in one place at multiple times. However because the feed dog has sharp teeth or ridges to help grip onto the fabric, sometimes the type of fabric might get stuck on the feed dog to the point where it is scratched and torn; rubbing against the sewing machine’s needle plate.
Solution
- Be sure to adjust the feed dog’s height to the recommended or specified height in relation to the type of fabric you will be using. Also be sure to check that the presser foot is down. You can find the recommended adjustments on the Janome Skyline S5’s instruction manual.
- This problem is largely due to the Janome Skyline S5’s feed dog teeth. If you’re noticing any excessive sharpness or breakage, be sure to replace the feed dog immediately as it may cause a lot of damage to your clothing.
- Be sure not to use stretchy or flexible fabrics like lycra and spandex as they are more likely to encounter this very problem on the Janome Skyline S5.
- Additional fabrics you should not use on the Janome Skyline S5 include upholstery, leather, suede, fur, reptile skin, canvas, twill, plastic, rubber and extra layered fabrics that are very thick in size. These kinds of fabrics can also lead to the above problem when sewing on the Janome Skyline S5.
2. Needs Regular Maintenance
Any sewing machine that can do half the things the Janome Skyline S5 can do would need tender loving care. The Janome Skyline S5’s problem however is that it needs quite a lot of it. This is due to the computerized parts of the sewing machine that are prone to damage or breakage due to continued or excessive usage on the Janome Skyline S5’s part.
Solution
- Fortunately you can easily find parts for the Janome Skyline S5 (if it just so happens to have serious damage) sewing machine online. Although this adds additional cost to the already expensive sewing machine, you can rest easy knowing that when you take the sewing machine in for servicing or maintenance. You will not be charged for the parts you already have.
- If a part of the sewing machine is not behaving as it should be then it definitely needs some servicing, which you should do for the Janome Skyline S5 once every two weeks to avoid unnecessary problems.
3. Needle Threader Sometimes Malfunctions
The Janome Skyline S5 comes equipped with an automatic needle threader and it is one of the best time saving features available on the sewing machine, until it starts malfunctioning or doesn’t thread the needle as it should. This doesn’t always mean the needle threader is broken or damaged however, sometimes the solution to this problem is simply turning the handwheel to make sure that the needle is in position with the automatic needle threader.
Solution
- As mentioned above, be sure to raise the Janome Skyline S5’s needle by turning the handwheel. For the needle threader to work correctly, the needle needs to be positioned in the right way as well.
- A loose screw on the needle threader may be causing the mechanism that moves the needle threader to not work as intended. Check to see that there are no loose screws on the sewing machine (at large.) If there are any loose screws or parts on the sewing machine, make sure to securely tighten them up.
4. Makes Occasional Grinding Noises
This is a problem on the Janome Skyline S5 arising from the other problem above regarding the maintenance or servicing of the sewing machine. However it can also be caused by a variety of other issues such as dirt and debris accumulation in the bobbin area of the Janome Skyline S5 or needle area. The noise is produced when the sewing machine’s load exceeds the recommended load or capacity of the sewing machine, which will be the sewing machine’s motor having trouble running the motor.
Solution
- To stop the grinding noise; be sure to use a fine lint brush to clean the bobbin and/or needle area. Making sure to even take out the bobbin for an effective and thorough cleaning.
- You would also need to re-thread the entire sewing machine by first completely removing all the sewing machine’s threading and then placing the thread again in a way that doesn’t hinder the correct flowing of the thread.
- Dust (with a feather duster or dry cloth) the entire body of the Janome Skyline S5 daily to avoid the accumulation of dirt that will eventually cause the sewing machine to malfunction.
- Be sure to change your needle when this noise starts. In general, your sewing machine’s needle should be changed after every single 8 hours of continuous sewing.
Conclusion
The Janome Skyline S5 is one of the best beginner friendly computerized sewing machines on the market. It is one of those popular sewing machines that can be very hard to find because most of it is already sold out, sitting in the comfort of a lucky sewer’s home. Although it has quite a couple of problems, this doesn’t stop the Janome Skyline S5 from being a great sewing machine.
