Bernette 410 -- stitch length problems

I have a Bernette (sp?) 410 sewing machine that we bought about 20 years ago reconditioned.

I'm fairly happy with it (especially when I look at what new machines cost), except for one problem: it's not very good at pulling the cloth through at a consistent rate.

The stitch length will vary by a factor of 2 or 3 on a simple, flat seam. If I go over a fold, it will sometimes stop moving the cloth at all, and merrily put all the stitches in one spot.

This is true with light cloth (e.g., voile), medium weight cloth (broadcloth, quilting-weight cotton, etc.), and heavy (14 oz denim.) I've played with the foot pressure, but it doesn't help.

I find that if I want the cloth to go through consistently, I have to grab both ends and pull on the cloth the way I want it to go.

I took it in to be serviced at my local fabric shop, and it didn't help at all. Nothing was improved, but it did drip oil on the cloth for a while.

Every time I ask at the shop, they say it's because the machine doesn't have the horsepower (but it puts stitches through 4--6 layers of heavy denim without a problem!)

They insist my only solution is to buy a fancy new Bernina or Husq, for something like $1000 . But when I look at these machines, they have lots of features I don't need. And they don't look exactly robust. (They don't even have a proper reverse stitch setting, like my mother's old straight-stitch home Singer.)

Any suggestions from folks who *don't* have a financial interest in selling me the most expensive machine on the market?

-- AMM

[line eater fodder]
Reply to
AMM
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Ouch! Interesting problem AMM. I have two things, no three things to suggest to you.

1) Take out the bobbin, bobbin case, and needle plate etc. and check you haven't got a build up of lint under the feed dogs that's preventing them moving properly. Have a good old clean out in there.I know you've just had it serviced - but it's worth checking! If the shop didn't do that - go and complain! 2) Re-post your query over on alt.sewing - a much busier group by far, although a lot of folks read both. 3) If you are in America, Contact Ron Anderson A1 Sewing Machine PO Box 60 Sand Lake, NY 12153 518-674-8491
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He's a long term member of alt.sewing, and can give you excellent advice etc. without selling you a machine you don't want.

HTH

Sarah

Reply to
Sarah Dale

Sarah Dale wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@saturn.our.house:

You might also want to check and make sure that the feed dogs aren't dropped for some reason. Some sewing machines have that capability and if they're not up and moving, neither is the fabric.

Whatever the problem is, I'd bet it is with that part of the machine, not the "horsepower".

Reply to
FragileWarrior

This is a bottom of the line machine to start with. If it was reconditioned 20 years ago (!), I can't imagine it has much life left in it.

Reply to
Phaedrine

Phaedrine wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@news-50.dca.giganews.com:

Tell that to my Featherweight workhorse.

Reply to
FragileWarrior

Yeah, but a Featherweight was never the cheap bottom of the line machine. It was well engineered, made by Singer when Singer still made good machines (the Bernette range are low budget, bought in badged machines, not made by Bernia), and expensive in its day. I love mine to death, but its limited stitch range (forward and back only!) make it less than ideal for an every day machine in this day and age. Hand finishing is fun, but not always a viable option, and the FW doesn't cope so well with knits as a machine with zigzag.

Hm... Thinks: need to do a FW project! :)

Reply to
Kate Dicey

Reply to
sewingbythecea

We have our house on the market to sell right now Kate. My normal sewing area is all broke down and my stuff is sort of all over

2 houses at this point. The other day I needed to sew so I got the FW and the FW table out. It was my g'ma's and then mom's machine and now mine so it is pretty special. It is such a treat to sew on. Find something to piece!

Bernette mach>

Reply to
Taria

Please excuse my ignorance. Just what is a hump-jumper? I've fought with my share of thick seams, but I've never known that there might be something that would alleviate the problem. My pitiful Singer 5050 pales in comparison to the fabulous machines many of you command. I really hate to admit it - I have pulled the fabric through when fighting with a thick seam. Is there relief in my future?

Betty in Georgia

Reply to
Betty Vereen Hill

Betty,

A hump jumper (actually sold as a pair, one a little thicker than the other) is, IMO, a necessity! The jean-a-ma-jig, which is thicker still, is the perfect aid for hemming jeans.

There's a good explanation of how hump jumpers work at the first link; the jean-a-ma-jig's basically the same principle.

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Doreen in Alabama

Reply to
Doreen

In article , FragileWarrior >> machines cost), except for one problem: it's not very good at

Perhaps I missed something. Your remark has what to do with the OP's Bernette?

Reply to
Phaedrine

I was just thinking that... James needs to get on with a zigzag project, but I have one that is mostly straight seams and clean finishing with the serger, so the FW may get an airing! :)

It's such a shame, as it does the Bernina good name no favours. They could easily buy in some good budget machines. I'm quite surprised that a Bernette lasted 20 years!

Reply to
Kate Dicey

Thanks so much, Doreen. You've come to my rescue again. I appreciate your advice more than I can say.

Betty in Georgia

Reply to
nabokovsmuse

Well, even a cheap machine won't wear out very fast sitting in the closet. I've used this machine more in the past 12 months than in the previous 17 years that we owned it, and I only sew a few hours a week at most now.

I did remove the plate and cleaned out all the lint in and around the feed dogs. (There was a lot!) I hasn't help noticably.

How can you tell when the teeth on the feed dogs are worn? Is it possible to buy replacements?

As far as foot pressure goes, there's a dial to control it, not a nut like my mother's old Singer had (and no, I'm not talking about the thread tensioner!) But it doesn't seem to make much difference. That's even when I bang on the shaft that the pressure foot is connected to, to make sure it hasn't hung up again (now *that* problem is definitely a sign of poor construction!)

As far as getting a better machine: I'm open to suggestions, but not willing to spend USD 900+.

I really don't want all those fancy features, just:

a. Zig-zag; maybe a hem stitch

b. A reverse stitch lever that *stays* in reverse until I reset it.

c. Reliable.

d. Maybe a selection of top plates, some with smaller slots. (I have the problem now that lightweight fabric sometimes gets pushed down into the slot.)

Unfortunately, the machines w/o the fancy features look like cheap junk, and the expensive machines have features I don't want (and still don't have good reverse stitch) and don't look all that robust, either.

-- AMM

Reply to
AMM

It is possible the feed dogs, with all that lint, that should have been cleaned out by the repair shop has forced the feed dogs to a position lower than optimum. The should rise above the needle plate 1 mm when the needle is in the highest position. If they are not coming up far enough this would be your problem. Again something a reputable repair shop would have corrected. Not likely you could wear out feed dogs. If anyone could it would be Kate and I doubt she has ever had a feed dog replaced unless it broke into pieces. And you T&S lovers I am not talking about the rubber ones.

Reply to
Ron Anderson

No, Ron, I have never yet worn out the feed dogs on a machine! I have had a problem with similar symptoms a time or two:

First was with Auntie Mo Next Door's original brown 1950's Singer machine. She'd never even considered the presser foot screw, but a few moments of cleaning the fluff out, oiling, and screwing that knob down cured that one!

Second was with one of my Elna Lotus machines: caused by thread wrapped round the bobbin case and feed dogs! Kid's enthusiasm caused that, a clean out and oiling cured it.

I thought I'd really screwed up with the last one - my Lily! Nope - feed dogs were down and I'd forgotten... User error!

So do check, clean, and oil those feed dog bits, and make sure the feed dogs are not down.

Reply to
Kate Dicey

Has it been serviced and oiled? Sewing machine oil tends to get gummy after a year or two according to my Bernina technician. Not sure that would help the feed dog problem, however.

[...]

You can get a really good used all/mostly mechanical, used free-arm Bernina for under $900... maybe a 930 or one of the other older '30s. But the computerized ones, starting with the 1530 IIRC, will run you more. I just saw a used 1630 on the Yahoo BerninaThirtySomethings forum for $1000.... a great deal on a 9 mm machine if you don't mind using a trackball to move the cursor. If you look at 930s, be sure to get one with the needle stop (up or down) since the earlier 930s do not have that, and all the accessory feet. The feet can still be bought new btw but they are expensive so that is why it is wise to be sure you get all the standard feet (15 or so came standard with the 930 & 931).

I mention the 930 since it is considered one of the most reliable Berninas ever. It will not stay in reverse on its own however; you have to hold the lever. I suspect you'd need a newer machine for that but I could be wrong. Real hemstitching is no easy task. Actually, the very first dedicated hemstitching machine was the very first Bernina. My 931 does a fabulous emulation of hemstitching with wing needles. I also have a single hole plate for my 931 but I honestly can't recall ever having to use it--- though I'm sure I must have at least once or twice in 20+ years. These machines do not typically jam on sheer fabrics if you use correct size needles and have the machine serviced annually.

No doubt there are other solid used machines for that price range.... Elna perhaps. I just happen to know a lot about Berninas.

Reply to
Phaedrine

I'll never get rid of my 930. It is a dream of a machine. It makes the nicest zz sitiches.

830's are great mach> [...]
Reply to
Taria

As you've just had this machine serviced, I'd take it and the lint to see the service technician, and ask just what did they do when servicing the machine if they didn't bother to get all the lint out for you! And ask for a full or partial refund.

Anyhow, glad my suggestion helped. Your machine should run better without the lint in it!

Sarah

Reply to
Sarah Dale

A hump jumper is a plastic doo-dad that you put before or after (or before and after) a sudden thick spot in a seam. It levels the presser foot and allows the work to move much better.

Since I lose plastic doodads with great frequency (and sewing with a kitten helping doesn't increase the odds that plastic doodads remain on the sewing table), I tried Louise Cutting's method: find a piece of the garment similar in weight to the thick spot, and use that as a hump jumper. Works well for me.

Kay

Reply to
Kay Lancaster

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