Bernina bobbin trouble

To:
Subject: Bernina bobbin trouble


I have a Bernina 830 which is giving me a lot of trouble winding the bobbin.
The local repair guy said it was unfixable (the next nearest recommended
shop is 50 miles away, and I will take it there if you guys don't have any
tricks for working around the problem).


The thread is tightening at the pre-tension (this is the manual's name for
the little thing on the left top of the machine) when I wind a bobbin. It
tightens regardless of whether the thread is drawn around the pre-tension in
a figure 8 (as the instructions direct) or just looped around it
counter-clockwise. The thread works its way up to the top, gets between the
"lid" of the pre-tension and the bottom part of it that moves and drags
there. To solve this, I've been holding my fabric pusher (pointy thing like
a screwdriver, except it has no threads) vertical on top of the machine near
the pre-tension and drawing the thread around it instead of the pre-tension.
It doesn't wind too evenly, but at least I'm not having to hand wind it.


TIA for any advice. Lobo
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Delete the obvious to reply to me personally.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Lobo wrote:
To:
Subject: Bernina bobbin trouble


I have a Bernina 830 which is giving me a lot of trouble winding the bobbin.
The local repair guy said it was unfixable (the next nearest recommended
shop is 50 miles away, and I will take it there if you guys don't have any
tricks for working around the problem).


The thread is tightening at the pre-tension (this is the manual's name for
the little thing on the left top of the machine) when I wind a bobbin. It
tightens regardless of whether the thread is drawn around the pre-tension in
a figure 8 (as the instructions direct) or just looped around it
counter-clockwise. The thread works its way up to the top, gets between the
"lid" of the pre-tension and the bottom part of it that moves and drags
there. To solve this, I've been holding my fabric pusher (pointy thing like
a screwdriver, except it has no threads) vertical on top of the machine near
the pre-tension and drawing the thread around it instead of the pre-tension.
It doesn't wind too evenly, but at least I'm not having to hand wind it.


TIA for any advice. Lobo
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Delete the obvious to reply to me personally.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


I don't have this particular machine, but I wonder if the
pre-tension just needs a thorough cleaning. Perhaps with
unwaxed dental floss to clean it all the way down as far
as thread will reach. Or it might be possible to remove
it, take it apart and clean it that way.

Too many servicepeople these days only replace parts.
They only do that on current machines, too, and don't want
to do anything with the older ones. If they have an
interest in a shop, they would much rather sell you a new
machine than fix your old one. Which they may not know
how to do anyway.

There are notable and wonderful exceptions. Great
servicepeople who can fix darn near anything, and who
encourage the maintenance and use of older machines, which
they often find a joy to work on. They receive the
honorific "OSMG" - which stands for Old Sewing Machine Guy
or Gal, and the "old" refers to the machines, not the
person.

--

Joanne @ stitches @ singerlady.reno.nv.us
http://members.tripod.com/~bernardschopen/
Life is about the journey, not about the destination.

Too many servicepeople these days only replace parts.
They only do that on current machines, too, and don't want
to do anything with the older ones. If they have an
interest in a shop, they would much rather sell you a new
machine than fix your old one. Which they may not know
how to do anyway.


yes I agree with that. when we lived in Kodiak Alaska, I was using my mom's
old Singer, forget the model number, but she had bought it back in the early
'60's. It wasn't working too well. We took a plane up to Anchorage, I
brought my sewing machine with me. I explained that the bobbin thread was
kinda on the loose side, and no mater how I tightened the tension on both
the top thread, and the bobbin thread, I couldn't get it to work right.
Well the sales lady told me that they couldn't fix it. So I looked at what
they had, and purchased a newer singer, end of the year clearance for around
$300, half off the regular price.
well after getting home, I got to thinking, if the machine couldn't get
fixed, then it wouldn't hurt it if I started fiddling around with it just to
see what was involved underneath. I found a small screw that was loose,
tightened it up, put everything back on, started her up, and she was sewing
again. well that machine is still being used, not by myself, but in use.
the newer singer had to go to a service man a couple times, and then sold it
to a friend for a real cheap price. So now I try to look at my machines and
see if there is something that I can try before sending it out.

Maine-iac Rose

Maine-iac Rose wrote:

Too many servicepeople these days only replace parts.
They only do that on current machines, too, and don't want
to do anything with the older ones. If they have an
interest in a shop, they would much rather sell you a new
machine than fix your old one. Which they may not know
how to do anyway.



yes I agree with that. when we lived in Kodiak Alaska, I was using my mom's
old Singer, forget the model number, but she had bought it back in the early
'60's. It wasn't working too well. We took a plane up to Anchorage, I
brought my sewing machine with me. I explained that the bobbin thread was
kinda on the loose side, and no mater how I tightened the tension on both
the top thread, and the bobbin thread, I couldn't get it to work right.
Well the sales lady told me that they couldn't fix it. So I looked at what
they had, and purchased a newer singer, end of the year clearance for around
$300, half off the regular price.
well after getting home, I got to thinking, if the machine couldn't get
fixed, then it wouldn't hurt it if I started fiddling around with it just to
see what was involved underneath. I found a small screw that was loose,
tightened it up, put everything back on, started her up, and she was sewing
again. well that machine is still being used, not by myself, but in use.
the newer singer had to go to a service man a couple times, and then sold it
to a friend for a real cheap price. So now I try to look at my machines and
see if there is something that I can try before sending it out.

Maine-iac Rose



Yes, the old "loose screw." At least two of them, since
the so-called expert couldn't spot it. But she did what
she set out to do, which was to sell you another machine.

What frosts my wheaties is hearing about people spending
up to $100 for a routine cleaning and oiling on a
new-to-them machine, only to find thread and lint in the
bobbin case and elsewhere in the machine. That is why
when people post that they've just bought a Featherweight
or other older machine, and they're taking it in for
servicing, I have to sit on my hands to keep from shouting
at them to save their money and learn to clean and oil
their own machine.

As for "timing" -- I'll leave that one for someone else.
--

Joanne @ stitches @ singerlady.reno.nv.us
http://members.tripod.com/~bernardschopen/
Life is about the journey, not about the destination.

Hi Pogo, I did exactly that. When I got my FW I read the book, took him
all apart and cleaned and oiled everything. Runs like a new machine. Not
terribly difficult either. Nana

nana2b wrote:

Hi Pogo, I did exactly that. When I got my FW I read the book, took him
all apart and cleaned and oiled everything. Runs like a new machine. Not
terribly difficult either. Nana




Not only that, but it's fun, isn't it? Then there's the
feeling of accomplishment. I like the sense of
competence. As in "this is my machine and I can maintain
it."
--

Joanne @ stitches @ singerlady.reno.nv.us
http://members.tripod.com/~bernardschopen/
Life is about the journey, not about the destination.

yes I had a screw loose back then, was furious to bring 1 machine up, and to
come back with 2 machines. the only good thing was the new machine was the
free arm where I could work on pant hems, and sleeve cuffs allot easier than
the way I was doing them.
Now I'm trying to get at least one of my 2 treadles to work. I got 1 all
set up, and ready to go, but for some reason, it just doesn't want to sew.
I think that I need to oil it a little more, seeing that it was in storage
this summer waiting for us to get our new home. the other which was my
great aunt's machine, I think I'll have better luck with that one. but I
need to wait for a while on treadleing. I had a collapsed lung on the 4th,
a 4 day stay in the hospital also. I'm trying not to jump around, sit down
real hard, or laugh real hard also, don't want to go back into the hospital
for the same thing. also quit smoking because of that. But I have been
busy working on a quilt, just have 2 more borders to get on, then get the
quilting done, and hang it up. I'm looking for other projects to work on,
think I'll hand knit some baby hats to donate to the hospital here, that
will keep my hands going, and not think about that old habit that I had
which more than likely put me in the hospital for a few days.

Maine-iac Rose

"nana2b" wrote in message
...
Hi Pogo, I did exactly that. When I got my FW I read the book, took him
all apart and cleaned and oiled everything. Runs like a new machine. Not
terribly difficult either. Nana

You are so right! "Jack" wasn't too dirty but lots of old grease on the
bottom gears, cleaned it off and regreased.

--
Sugar & Spice Quilts by Linda E
http://community.webshots.com/user/frame242

Lobo, I am wondering if you are like I am and need adult supervision to do
something more mechanical than assembling a coffee pot. If that's the case,
consider calling the guy 50 miles away and tell him what you have told us. A
phone call might save you some time and $s. He may say that he thinks he can
help. He may give you the run-around. But you would at least get a feel for
if he knows his stuff or just wants to sell you a new SM or replace parts on
the SMs he does understand.
I just strongly doubt that a "real" Bernina person could not fix
something that simple. It would only be fair to say that my Bernina guy is
wonderful. Admittedly, a bit self-impressed and opinionated, but he is my
Bernie's best friend. Polly Esther (who also has a screw loose)

Maine-iac Rose wrote:

yes I had a screw loose back then, was furious to bring 1 machine up, and to
come back with 2 machines. the only good thing was the new machine was the
free arm where I could work on pant hems, and sleeve cuffs allot easier than
the way I was doing them.
Now I'm trying to get at least one of my 2 treadles to work. I got 1 all
set up, and ready to go, but for some reason, it just doesn't want to sew.
I think that I need to oil it a little more, seeing that it was in storage
this summer waiting for us to get our new home. the other which was my
great aunt's machine, I think I'll have better luck with that one. but I
need to wait for a while on treadleing. I had a collapsed lung on the 4th,
a 4 day stay in the hospital also. I'm trying not to jump around, sit down
real hard, or laugh real hard also, don't want to go back into the hospital
for the same thing. also quit smoking because of that. But I have been
busy working on a quilt, just have 2 more borders to get on, then get the
quilting done, and hang it up. I'm looking for other projects to work on,
think I'll hand knit some baby hats to donate to the hospital here, that
will keep my hands going, and not think about that old habit that I had
which more than likely put me in the hospital for a few days.

Maine-iac Rose

"nana2b" wrote in message
...

Hi Pogo, I did exactly that. When I got my FW I read the book, took him
all apart and cleaned and oiled everything. Runs like a new machine. Not
terribly difficult either. Nana


Congratulations on being a former smoker. I haven't quite
made it yet.

Your treadle machine won't sew? Probably it's something
simple, like the needle is in backwards - or the bobbin
thread is going the wrong direction. Unless nothing
happens when you step on the treadle, in which case it's
something else - either the pitman or the belt.

Keep that lung inflated - remember to breathe.
--

Joanne @ stitches @ singerlady.reno.nv.us
http://members.tripod.com/~bernardschopen/
Life is about the journey, not about the destination.