OT, sort of - stitching problem with Bernina 440QEE

Glad they could deal with it, and get you up and running. Have fun! John

And I've now seen and replied to your message there! :) I hope you can get as much out of that group as I have. For one thing, when my BSR started going a bit whacky, they had the answer -- and my tech was able to fix it in less than a day. :)

What thread are you using? Your symptoms sound like my former ones.

My Bernina hates Valdani thread, and is not particularly fond of Gutermann, but purrs right along on Mettler.

I've heard, but not tried, that Coats and Clark does well on Berninas too.

Martha

My repairman at the Sewing Center is not fond of Coats and Clark. He said that lots of the machines he works on have problems with it.

Anyhow, the snagging problem was fixed by the repair of the bobbin case. Now I have a new problem. When I press the button to lower the feed dogs, it goes all the way in and pops right back out. It won't stay depressed and the feed dogs won't stay down. They want me to bring the machine back again on Tuesday when the service guy is there.

Now that the bobbin case is fixed, I've been able to use Bottom Line, Masterpiece, and Coats and Clark with no problems.

Meanwhile, I AM able to do the straight line quilting that I need to do with the walking foot.

CaroleD - Retired and loving it in the foothills of NW GA >^..^< My quilts, crafts, pets, and more -

I saw your reply, Sandy. Thanks. I might end up posting later. As you might have read, while my normal stitching is going fine now, I can't get the feed dogs to lower to try free motion. The button presses in easily but won't stay. It springs right back out. The feed dogs won't stay down. I called the Sewing Center but nobody is there today who knows enough to look at it, so I'm supposed to bring it back on Tuesday when the repair guy is there. None of the ladies in the shop had ever heard of this problem.

Carole, it's making me a little nervous that you're having your second problem with the machine. I think I'd be asking for a replacement. It's wonderful that they can fix it (so far), but I'd be worried about what else might go wrong.

Carole, I'm so sorry you're getting such a dismal introduction to Berninas! :( I've never heard of this problem, either, and I'm beginning to think that perhaps the machine should be replaced with one that works as it's supposed to.

It's making me nervous, too. I'm beginning to wonder if the box were dropped during shipping. I'll see what happens on Tuesday. There's not anything I can do about it this weekend.

Carole, While I know nothing of Bernina, I have had problems with the on Pfilomina Pfaff feed dog, similar to what you've described. The problem was all my fault; Pfilomina was not at fault! It was caused by not securing the needle plate properly; it needs to be totally flush with the SM surface; being a tiny bit 'off' is not a good thing. You may want to double check the needle plate. HTH. PAT

It looks fine to me, Pat, and it's something I haven't moved at all since I brought the new machine home on Thursday, since I've had no need to. The feed dogs go up and down normally when I'm sewing, so they are moving freely. They just won't respond with the "feed dog down" button. That button should go in and stay depressed, but it just won't stay.

if this is a new machine and having more than one problem, i'd ask at what point in time i'd be getting another machine as this one is obviously having some real issues. taking it back and forth for fixing is a big inconvenience to you and you're not getting all the sewing done as you'd anticipated when you bought a new machine. if its a lemon for cry'n outloud they oughta just give you a new one that works properly. j.

"Sandy" wrote... Carole, I'm so sorry you're getting such a dismal introduction to Berninas! :( I've never heard of this problem, either, and I'm beginning to think that perhaps the machine should be replaced with one that works as it's supposed to.

"CaroleD" wrote:

Do you need to do something before you push the button? Like have it in straight stitch or have the presser foot up or down or the free motion foot installed or press a button for free motion or an override or something like that? Just grabbing at straws...

Leslie & The Furbabies in MO.

Leslie, I got out the manual and checked all that about possible things I should do beforehand and could find nothing. Then I called the Sewing Center and asked, and they said you should just push it gently and it would catch into a depressed position. Well, sorry, but that's JUST NOT HAPPENING! I've even treated it like a real computer, unplugging it for a while and then plugging it back in, since that sometimes solves computer problems. It didn't work with the machine!

Gently?? Oh no! :O You must push that button in very *firmly* -- you may hear a bit of a clunk and things settle into place. Make sure you push that button in *all* the way; then you'll notice that it pops back out, but only partially, and the feed dogs will remain down. Repeat the process to get them back to normal.

Once I tried the tip of pushing the button in with the machine turned off, it worked. Now it works whether the machine is off or on. I am definitely pushing it in harder than I was at first, though, so that's a good tip!

I've been happily stippling away on my quilt with nary a problem. What fun!!!

This machine is wonderful now that it is playing nicely with me!

Carole, the 'drop the feed dogs' button on my 440QE is very stiff; just nothing like press 'any key' on a computer keyboard. Another stiff is the needle plate and you need to remove it often to keep that area fuzz free. So glad you're overcoming new SM anxiety. Polly

Yep, I was just reading the manual about cleaning under the needle plate. Fortunately, I'm very much in the habit of doing that with my Elna, so that's not a new concept for me.

I've had no trouble with the drop feed button today. I've switched back and forth today from BSR stitching and regular stitching and haven't had a hitch. I've gotten a LOT of quilting done. I finally got tired of sitting at the machine though, so now I'm making a meatloaf and some chicken to freeze into individual servings for my some of my meals for the next week or so. I hate to cook, so I'd rather do it all at once like this!

Yay! :D I'm glad it's finally working as it should for you! :)