My Janome is back in the shop -- just like back in November, same problem: the bobbin jumps so hard that I can't sew a straight line. I adjust tension, change threads top and bottom, switch bobbins, use full bobbin -- nothing matters. This usually begins to happen after I've been pretty busy. I don't think I abuse the machine. I just run fabric through it. So I take it to the shop. They "tune it up" and charge me anywhere from $75 - 100. This is at least twice each of the past three years. Yes, I know -- I could have bought most of a new machine by this time.
So my question -- how much maintenance of a professional nature should a SM need? I've toyed with a course in fixing my own machines, but after looking into it, it's more of a commitment than I want to make. And, of course, it's sorta expensive.
Please weigh in on what you think. Is my machine the problem? Am I doing something wrong? Is this normal???????
And, tune in to my next post which will be asking a very important question of Janome 6600 owners.
Sunny asked > how much maintenance of a professional nature should a SM need? >
Sunny, I would guess that both of the Bernina 155s here are about 4 years old. Neither of them ever gets any professional maintenance. One did toss a tiny spring out into my quilting one time and I did take it in to have the spring replaced. The charge was about $25. I don't sew over pins (on purpose) and I don't sew with cheap thread or dull needles. Not going for a Goody Two-shoes trophy about it - it's just easier and quicker to be nice to the Berninas. Like Leslie, I sew 2 or 16 hours all the time and I am also a maniac about keeping the SMs lovingly clean and oiled. Unless you're constantly sewing in the back of a dump truck on a bumpy dirt road, I don't see why your SM should be such a constant pain in the neck. That said, it seems like you're our quilter who recently inherited a fine Pfaff. Why aren't you enjoying it? Polly
Most of today's machine places will recommend a "Professional service" about once a year or so. Because of the electronics they are not as easy for us to self-service parts of the machine. I am a bad girl and don't do my service once a year, I go 18-24 months most of the time, and get told about it too.
Sorry you are hav> My Janome is back in the shop -- just like back in November, same
Polly, I love piecing on the Pfaff. But I can't for the life of me free motion quilt or embroider with it. I have tried everything in the book -- literally. The action is just not smooth and flowing like on my Janome. I do all my piecing on the Pfaff now. (almost) but for any kind of quilting other than straight (or nearly straight) lines, I do it on the Janome. Also thread work. I have talked to several friends with Pfaffs (and one never gonna be my friend >G
Is your machine under warranty, Sunny? I wonder if you could 'demand' that the entire hook area be replaced, given the 'repair' seems to never end?
I have no experience with Janome machines, but I do have a few Vikings and a boatload of older mechanical Singers, Kenmores, etc. (about 100 in all...)
Professional maintenance depends on what/how the machine is used and it doesn't sound like you're doing anything other than using it for what a sewing machine is supposed to do :)
Here's my experience, mainly with Husqvarna Viking machines, which impressed me a great deal after I got my first one, a 10+ yr-old Viking 1+ bought used about 5 yrs ago. I've never had a problem with it. It's been in the shop only for maintenance/cleaning, something I like to have done to it at least every two years.
Last summer, when a used Viking Rose came up for sale locally at a steal of a price, I bought it. The owner (who had bought it new) had _never_ had it in to the shop for a repair or a maintenance -- and boy I was impressed by how perfectly it sewed and embroidered. But I brought it right to the shop for a maintenance check and cleaning anyway.
I sew a LOT - every day, and a lot of different stuff. I quilt, repair clothes, sew clothes, make curtins, pillows, etc. I sew heavy stuff and light stuff.
So...I just bought a new D1 USB (can you tell I'm a big Viking fan by now) and am so pleased with it. It will go in for a check up regularly as well, as I'm a firm believer in regular maintenance/cleaning in order to keep machines running at optimum performance.
In addition to thse I also have about 100 vintage mechanical machines and I do all the repairs and mantenance on my mechanical machines myself (I took a SM repair class), but I wouldn't attempt on a computerized machine especially one that is under warranty.
Regarding the repair class, I feel it was worth every penny. It has paid for itself many, many times over in both the machines I've repaird for others, and the old machines I've rescued, repaird and sold. In fact, those sales financed the purchase of the Rose, my Viking 936 serger, and is also now paying for my new D1. For me, it's a hobbie that pays for itself (and there are not many of those).
Re Pfaff > Then something is wrong, Sunny. I don't think it's operator error and I don't think it's Pfaff. I just betcha that there's a little bit of something with your 7570 that can be corrected. One of my Berninas had a sort of burr on the throatplate that DH filed smooth for me. Maybe it's something as simple as that. You can Not drop them on their heads and you can Not submerge them in 18 to 30 feet of hurricane sludge. Other than that, your Pfaff is a grand SM and should be your dearest friend. Take that fine SM and a placemat size sample to your Pfaff dealer and show them what you want to do. In the alternative, I could ship you my Pfaff dealer but she's quite a bit stronger than I and it won't be easy. Polly
I apologize if this sounds dumb or if it is something you have already done, but it is VERY important to use the correct bobbin. I had many bobbins when I bought my Janome. My Janome dealer stressed that I use the Janome bobbin or risk malfunctions. I looked at my bobbins and thought, "well, they look similiar." Much to my chagrin, they are not. The ones you have to use in the Janome are perfectly flat. They can't be the singer generic or the ones that work in the Sears brand. Any generic won't work. I went through all my bobbins and laid them flat on my cabinet. If I could rock them the least bit they went in a box. The only ones I had left were the Janome's. I have on a few occassions come up with a slightly curved bobbin ( I can barely tell), but I thought I had them all put away, and my bobbin would bob, bob, bob in the case, causing all kinds of jamming of the thread. So, I bit the bullet and bought about 20 of the Janome bobbins and no more problems with that baby.
I do find that the cutter sometimes gets fuzz or thread in it and can cause some back log of thread which messes up the sewing. However, I know what to look for and remove the plate and take a makeup brush (never used for that purpose) and brush out all the lint, etc. and it goes back to working fine.
I do hope that helps and you keep your Janome. I love its big neck and all the sewing options.
I admit to being a wicked abuser of machines, but my Pfaff is about 10 years old and has never been "tuned" or repaired in any way. (I keep it free of visible lint, and if there's any invisible, which is probably the case, it doesn't seem to upset the machine.) The Husqvarna/Viking I had before that went in once in about 20 years. The 60-year-old Singer, which has been mine for about 35 years, had its drive belt replaced once. So no, it's not normal. Maybe you got one of those "made on a Monday" machines. Roberta in D
"Sunny" schrieb im Newsbeitrag news: snipped-for-privacy@l28g2000prd.googlegroups.com...
So sorry you are having issues. I can't help you with what is wrong. I hope you get it fiugred out.
As for how often I take mine in for maintence - most times it is around every 15-16 months. My mother does her newer computerized machine every couple of years. She also has an older non computerized one that she can get at everything herself, so that one only goes in when it is 'sick'.
Roberta, I am concerned about the bobbin as well. But I always buy Janome bobbins, at least that's what the shop hands me when I go in for Janome bobbins. And they're marked on the little bag -- in perfect handwriting.
I can't tell the difference, but all I have to go on is the shop's word that I have the right bobbin. And I do lint clean and oil my little machine religiously.I'm careful about pins -- don't run over them. I'm a careful (in some ways) user. I just want my machine to work.
Sorry about having to answer the below comment from my other email, but my OUtlook Express is down. I thought I should answer that the answer below is from me, not some kook, well, on second thought......hehehe
But, it is true. Any bobbin other than Janome's bob around in the case and will cause skipping of the bobbin thread and jamming up of the thread.
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