Bernina 830 / 880 Bobbin Error and Bobbin Sensor Cleaning

[@larrydavis1088]

This has helped my wife tremendously. Saved her taking it 1/2 hour away to dealer. When you took the sensor out it helped to see what it was that we were looking for to clean. Once we cleaned the sensor, no bobbin error came on that kept on coming on every few stitches before. You guys are great!

[@ruthr5997]

I have been having bobbin error problems for over a year, ever since I had a huge bird's nest during an embroidery. I have had my 830 serviced by a Bernina-certified technician three times since then and he can find no problems other than he says I have to use Aurifil thread instead of Mettler and Gutterman. I used to be able to use these threads. I now have this problem during embroidery using the correct embroidery thread in the bobbin. My bobbins are not very used and the silver looks like new. We (my husband and I are both engineers) had decided that it must be the sensor and searched for a video. There was no lint in the machine, however the upper left sensor looked cloudy, so we cleaned it as you suggested and so far it seems to be working. THANK-YOU so MUCH!!!

[@laurafisher1894]

Gosh, you guys are saving my life with my "new: 820 that I bought on Ebay without any instruction on how to use this machine, it has been kicking my butt for a month but you guys are just helping me tremendously, THANK YOU!!!!

[@theresalepicier157]

Thank you so much for all your videos. I would be going to the shop every five minutes. This machine is great but it sure is finicky and sometimes hard to deal with. I have an 880+ I love love love it. I don’t love love all the maintenance for it but appreciate you.

[@MrChrisbtreat]

@@theresalepicier157 you are very welcome. Glad these help you!

[@runningsewandsew]

Thank you, just searched 880 trouble shooting and found this. Brilliant

[@chineeboy18]

Wouldn't pressurized air push more lint and dirt further into the machine as compared to s vacuum??

[@caroldaugherty868]

Thank you; the bobbin mirrors was my problem and I appreciate your video.

[@catherinecostello7035]

Beyond frustrated! Recently traded in a Viking Designer Diamond Deluxe for a Bernina 880 Sterling. This is a high quality machine...but not a "user-friendly" one! Watching your videos and reading the comments has helped somewhat because I have encountered all of the issues you have addressed! My dealer is a 2 hour drive from where I live.

[@Coasterdude02149]

Although I rarely get this message, I now know how to troubleshoot it. Thank you!! These videos should be included with the sale of any 8 series...I think it would have saved A LOT of the negativity this incredible machine is capable of. Never had any issues with my 830LE but this is just a bit more TLC I can give it...and like my dealer has said, it's not a machine for everybody.

[@PerkyPensioner]

Thank you for that information. I have 2 questions. Where is the sensor? How do you get the sensor out to clean it?

[@chantalida53]

Hello, thank you for the demo, very interesting, but I would not use air pressure because all the dust goes inside the machine, I have always been told to use vacum cleaner.

[@rebeshirley4276]

Why would Bernina 830 LE when the machine is turned on, the bobbin door pops open and it spins and spins and stops. The door will not close even if the bobbin is taken out and replaced. I cannot sew with it at all. Thank you for any help or suggestions.

[@krismurphy1671]

This has helped me tremendously! Thank you!!! Another bobbin question: Why does the bobbin spin WILDLY when I open the bobbin door? Is there an easy fix? Thanks again!

[@pammcdannold9786]

I have the 880 and when I change the bobbin, the needle breaks. I replace the needle and it sews fine and there is no error message. I have to take the needle out before I change the bobbin or it breaks every time. I do clean it each time.

[@julesp213]

Been told many times not use canned air ?

[@ruthjansen6243]

I have an error on my Bernina 830 with 2 gears and an "X". I took in for a service and coming back it have the same problem. Send it back for a "come back" and it was fine in the Bernina shop. When I tried working at home it started all over again. I have used different makes of thread, different colors thread, new needles, oiling the machine, etc. What can I do to fix this problem?

[@spanish9883]

I also get that same error message a lot.

[@rsseah]

Wondering about my bobbin and the hook. When I open my bobbin cover, the hook around the bobbin case spins and makes a loud sound. And when I load the bobbin and close it, likewise makes a loud sound. It sews fine and does not show an error. It is clean as well. Could it be a bobbin sensor problem, as in needs replacing? Any other thoughts?

[@AdrianeRimolo]

Great. I have a Bernina series 5 (560) and I tried cleaning it but it does not solve. Could you please show how would you do in these mre simple models? Thanks

[@elenam4694]

You guys are the best. Thank you!

[@carolallgeyer9182]

I just bought an 880. I got a thread nest. Now when I open the bobbin door the bobbin won’t pop out. It’s hard to turn the knob to see the bobbin. I finally got the bobbin to come to the front. I rethreaded it but it won’t reengage when I shut the door. What can I do

[@stitchbymachine]

I've always been NOT to use the canned air on my machine. Is that correct?

[@berninaboys100]

It's best to use a vacuum rather than air

[@ginac.6421]

I’ve cleaned out the bobbin area and the sensors meticulously, but I still get the bobbin error when I press the presser foot and my machine won’t sew. Also, whenever I open the bobbin door, it spins around a lot more than it normally does. Any suggestions? I’m so frustrated! My machine was completely fine last week.

[@wilmawagner9631]

Did you show how to remove the sensor?

[@NewEarthBlog]

Bernina Boys, our dealer repairman showed us a little latch to open in the 700 bobbin area. When open you can remove the whole bobbin case and clean out a LOT more pieces of thread. He said there is one on the 880+, but we don't see it. Is it possible to remove the bobbin case?

[@berninaboys100]

Unfortunately no there isn’t. The 700 series has a different hook system. There is no way for you to take the hook out of the 8 series machines.

[@NewEarthBlog]

Thank you, @@berninaboys100, and thanks for all your videos!

[@hosseinhayati9820]

Thank you for sharing :) WHY did you blow innvard? Now you have send all the dirt insiden the machine! If you could blow fron below and upward the machine would be cleaner since moste of the dirt blows out from the top.

[@houseofcamille1332]

Love your informative videos. Could you shed any light on an 830 screen that will not backlight? Screen works, you just cant see it.

[@ginasanders4106]

my bobbin is not rotating forward so I can change it. It is moving around in the holder but thats all. Turning the machine off and back on still doesnt open it.

[@judycooley1566]

is there a way to remove my bobbin when it is stuck in the machine??? Thanks

[@theresadupey7072]

I continue to get the upper thread error. I have cleaned the machine entirely, re threaded countless times, yes the thread is in the take up bar. I get this message in both the sewing and embroidery portion of the machine. Help!! Where to next? In the manual is suggests disengaging the needle bar. I don't know how to do this. Will you please show me how or give me a solution? Love your videos.

[@berninaboys100]

Theresa DuPey the upper sensor is most likely damaged. You will need to bring it into your dealer. In the meantime you can disable the upper sensor in settings.

[@robertholcomb6480]

Thank you, you saved me from an expensive service call.

[@alister7514]

I have error sensor hilo superior in Bernini 780

[@mariagardner84]

Great information! I have the 880 and am having a lot of headaches with it. The latest one is a message for the bobbin: "Could not lock. Check hook system and continue." And then the bobbin won't work, or just keeps rotating inside the machine. Been repaired twice to have the sensors changed, it just happened again for the third time. Any ideas?

[@MrChrisbtreat]

Maria Gardner Sounds like the sensor area is dirty, there is a sensor that watches the door as you open it and they get lint in them and sometimes (if a tech does not remove or install the door properly) they get damaged. This will cause this error and the bobbin not to lock.

[@carolyndeverin2705]

Wonderful tutorials

[@pktset]

BB- I have a different error on my 880. It has two gears going around and then a big red "X" shows up. What does that mean? I love your videos...not much on the troubleshooting for the 880. This machine has been to Illinois twice and then it went back to the tech four months later. I just got it back and now it is doing this. Not very happy right now.

[@pktset]

Thank you! I took off the front and it was not in the take-up lever. Also, I didn't know about the 18" tail on the bobbin.

[@andreakrier5683]

Unfortunately, my dealer that I bought my machine, closed, so my new shops won't replace them. Claiming they had never heard of this. Where are you guys located?

[@berninaboys100]

Have them contact BERNINA. I assure you it's a real thing. We are located in Utah.

[@kenrismacleod7054]

Thanks for the video but you don’t show how to get the sensor out so I’m a bit stuck.

[@berninaboys100]

Kenris MacLeod the sensor doesn’t come out. You have to clean it with a q-tip.

[@kenrismacleod7054]

Ah. Ok. On the video it looked like he’d taken it out of the machine. Thanks for your help.

[@NewEarthBlog]

That's what we thought, too, Kenris.

[@MrsSTILLM]

He does not show how to take the bobbin sensor out of the machine. What he is showing in his hand and pointing out where the sensor eyes are, is the sensor unit itself, as if someone had purchased a replacement part. As best as I can tell, unless you are a Bernina tech you cannot remove the unit yourself. That has to be done by a tech. However, in the video, he does show how to clean the sensor while the unit is in the machine. I have tried several times to clean the bobbin sensor in my 880+ and have had some success, but it is really hard to see down inside the machine. Out of desperation I turned off the bobbin sensor. But then I have to be vigilant about the bobbin running out of thread.

[@andreakrier5683]

Guys, love your videos. Is there a product that I could paint in the silver rectangles? I do a lot of embroidery and I go thru so many bobbins, I ve purchased over 40 bobbins due to knicking, scratching Etc..........you called them silver mirrors?????????

[@berninaboys100]

We haven't found anything that works yet. BERNINA is replacing them for free because of the issue, even though they have greatly improved their bobbins over the past few years.

[@lorrainebrettle8642]

Hi, I've got loads of bobbins that have worn out because the silver dots have deteriorated . It's that right Bernina will replace them? How do I go about that? I've got the 830 and have had loads of problems with it. Without you boys I don't know what I would have done. Thank you for your wonderful videos. I live in the uk. Xx

[@berninaboys100]

Andrea Krier your dealer will warranty them for free

[@lorrainebrettle8642]

Thank you for your swift reply. I will endever to get them replaced. Xx

[@rosehinman3289]

My dealer said they would only replace them during the first year. How do I contact the corporate office to ask them? I handle them with great care not to touch the silver mirrors. How do they wear out?

[@lindaarvidson7036]

My bobbin won’t open when I open the door to it

[@AnnieofBlueGables]

Didn’t you just blow all the lint inside? I’ve been told never to use high pressure air!

[@tammyc.8751]

Yea!!!! I have discovered that if I accidently spill a drop of sewing machine oil on those bobbins the paint will rub off. Don't handle a bobbin with hand lotion on my hands. Lastly, don't spray anything like air freshener with a bobbin lying out.

[@debrabowman8750]

I have done all of this and still it won't sew. I have the 'no bobbin' error message. Oh well, I guess back to the shop she goes.

[@joanglasser5129]

automatic needle threader just fell out

[@NewEarthBlog]

LOL! After all the problems we had with 700 and 880+, until watching a lot of videos, I couldn't help laughing. But we do LOVE the auto threader on the 880+!

[@arnemeyer1474]

oh lord ... what a f... mashin. MY Mom hand it down to me. The 830 was always a over over techt mashin.. 4500 E around and always mimimi... The display is toucht now 4mm away from the signe. :( and after 1year of being in sorrow I wanted to start using it.. arggggg .. building a nest in the 1 time .. the bobbin arm now didn´t move on purpose.ö.hhhh what a shame. Did anyone notest that the bobbin is spuhled into the wrong direction.. look in the using video on the display ... it shows that the thread of the bobbin comes from the top ..not from the left side of the bobbin. misteriös.. becaus you do spuhl it alwas in the way it is wrong... anyone a ideer?=

[@kathleenletko6835]

Bernini 830

[@lolalathon7227]

bobbin in 1260

[@anneguevara7512]

Gee, sure is nice to see your hand instead of how to remove the sensor to clean the eyes. I'm not sure I'm qualified to remove the sensor since you don't actually show where it is or how to remove it. Sorry, not a helpful video at all.