Check hours on a Bernina 430, 435, 440, 450

How to check your hours on a Bernina 400 series machine like the 430, 435, 440 and the 450.

[@dig4info]

Thank you very much. I never knew I could check the hours.

[@danielhughes4210]

Love this video! I purchased this machine today used for $800.00 has only 660hours of on time with 29hours stitch time.

[@sherbonney]

Thanks Bill! Never knew I could check this and it will help me check how long it takes to quilt a particular quilt.

[@LeonaFraser1]

thats a very good point

[@SheenaNeil]

I was gifted a 440 and the first thing I did was check the hours to see what service it might need. It has 40 hours total, and 1 hour of working. It is still brand new!!

[@marye813]

Thank you. This is very helpful to know when shopping for a used machine. Most owners don't know how to do this.

[@estrellaestrella4660]

Thank you Bill for your help.

[@pharbottle]

Thanks Joekind for answering my question! I can't wait to get started using this great machine

[@rashit64rus]

Many thanks! Very useful information. I checked the machine before you buy.

[@jenniferfarsh675]

Thank you for offering this service to the world for free. I am now following you on ebay.

[@JoeKind1958]

Jennifer Farsh Thanks for the kind comment!

[@emmaleeann76]

Thank you! Just bought a used machine. Very useful.

[@jimnlindy]

Thank you very much. Excellent instruction!

[@JH-xy6lh]

Thanks so much for a great, easy-to-understand explanation.

[@JoeKind1958]

Thanks for taking the time to comment. I just say it like it is and hope that I can help. Thanks!

[@deistudman2118]

Hi Bill great explanation as going to purchase a second hand one and did not know that very informative

[@JoeKind1958]

DEI STUDMAN If you are located in the US please keep me in mind if you are shopping around for a used Bernina. As you can see by my videos I have a lot of experience with these machines. I service what I sell. I sell on eBay under the user name bushvideo. My eBay store name is Bills Sewing Machine Garage. That will come up in a web search. Because of the high eBay fees I can offer better prices in a direct sale. That will cut out the "middle man". I can be emailed at [e-mail]. Thanks for watching!

[@JLee-fd7lx]

Thank you. That was very informative. I was able to do it. I just a 440QE.

[@JoeKind1958]

Juanita Butler I just happened to be on this site when your comment came in. Glad I could help! Thanks for watching !

[@LeonaFraser1]

cant believe how helpful you have been one of the best explained videos Ive watched Im about to buy a second hand machine today and was told it only has had 10 hours use on it so Im very pleased to be able to check that when I have a test drive today it will be a relief to know I haven't been lied to BEFORE I purchase the machine Im in Australia so Ill have to find a good Bernina Service man or woman lol I think - thanks again Im subscribing so I can ask any questions I might have as Im a Janome girl and this is my first Bernina but Ive heard nothing but great reviews from friends as well as strangers about this machine and all Berninas

[@JoeKind1958]

Leona Fraser You are more than welcome. Glad I could help 😁

[@TheNancy1953]

Why does my 440qe with embroidery module say security device not found but it is plugged in? Loved your video very easy to understand. Thank you

[@marilynmetz226]

Nevermind, I found it on your other video! Thanks!

[@JoeKind1958]

👍

[@Turtlesews]

Good info thank you

[@luciahsu9007]

thanks so much for such a clear and helpful video. I've just purchased a used 440QE AURORA. do you know when this machine was first introduced on market. I've noticed that it's no longer available. thanks for any help you can give. cheers, lucia

[@catch33223322]

Is there a way of knowing when the last maintenance was done on the machine?

[@veronicawilliams6809]

Very good Mr Kind. I would never remember those things. To many buttons. 🤔

[@bespoke-sew]

Это настолько мне во время и полезно. Спасибо.

[@karinbaler8918]

Thanks for information. How should I do with a Bernina B 330? I've got the Service program SP and then.....? Thanks in advance for eine further details.

[@deborahrogers30]

How do you change the stitches to get the quilting stitches

[@ike7539]

Is there a way to lower or reset those numbers like the way some shady car sales people play with the odometer?

[@lisal.stevens9180]

How do you find the stitch count?

[@unitedfireybride]

Does this machine count stitches? How do you check that?

[@lisal.stevens9180]

How do you turn off the thread sensor off?

[@marilynmetz226]

Is there way to do this on the 560? Thanks~

[@susanwilliams1511]

Joe, very helpful; thanks for posting. I just oiled and cleaned my aurora 440 but don't know how to reset the stitch counter. Can you help with that?

[@JoeKind1958]

Hi, You can not reset the stitch counter. Just like the amount of hours that is on a Bernina the stitch count is a permanently stored record of the total amount of stitches the machine has on it. It can not be reset. So what you do is to either write down the amount of hours or stitches the machine has on it when it was serviced so you know when it's time for another servicing. I would do a internal cleaning and oiling every 150 hours or so. Thanks for watching!

[@kaz1aus]

Joe, can you please tell me how to access the stitch count, not the hours. I assume it is a similar procedure to getting the hours. Thanks.

[@Kyle_TheQuiltingBees]

@@kaz1aus I would like to know this too. I have a 710, and the number of stitches sewn are in the regular menus. It's not hidden like it is on the 440. I'd love to know how many stitches I have on mine. I've done a lot of FSL embroidery, so I'm guessing it is in the millions..

[@andreyvanyukov7119]

What about swith off all and any information on display after 10 min turn on? Why it is happened?

[@chriseichner2905]

Can I get a total number of stitches using similar process ? Very well explained thank you

[@aurorestubbs3926]

Thank you for this great information. Do you know how many stitches does the Bernina Aurora 430 sew per minute? Also, too, how do I calculate the wear of the machine considering the time and the amount of stitches? I hope you can help. Thank you.

[@JoeKind1958]

All of the Bernina 400 series machines are listed as 900 stitches per minute. This figure is based on the straight stitch so the actual SPM can vary with all models depending on what stitch you are sewing out. I always go by the "Total hours of use" rather than the stitch count. Calculating the wear on a machine will greatly depend on if it was regularly oiled/serviced or not. A 500 hour machine that was serviced / oiled regularly will have almost no mechanical wear verses a 500 hour machine that was never serviced. I have serviced 1000 hour machines that look like new on the inside and others that look bad. Like a car, it's all in how it has been taken care of. If you are in the market for a nice used Bernina please check out my eBay listings, user name bushvideo, or my listings on BONANZA under BillsSewingMachines. Email me at joekind @comcast.net

[@aurorestubbs3926]

Again, thank you very much for being so kind to give all this information. I did not have the time, yet, to check the hours on my Bernina, but I will do so. I noticed, also, that you have a video on how to properly oil the bobbin assembly, which I am going to watch. I do not live close to a Bernina dealer, therefor the information you share is greatly appreciated. I like to be able to clean and oil the machine myself. Thank you. Kind regards

[@amandashelley5058]

Great information. Is there any way to change the stitch length permanently?

[@JoeKind1958]

As far as I know, you can't make a permanent change to a stitch. A few weeks back I went through this with someone who wanted to alter a stitch and save it in the machines memory. I found that you could alter a stitch, but it went back to normal after the machine was turned off then back on again. This is what Bernina calls " temporary altered stitch memory". I think you can do this with the 600 series and up machines.

[@lindabond578]

the pretension stud popped out of my 440qe machine. Nothing lookds broken. but it wont stay in place.

[@JoeKind1958]

Hi, I am not sure what part you are referring to. Here is my email address if you want to send me a photo. [e-mail]

[@lisayarost1457]

This is really a great video. I have a 440 that has a stitch balance that is 2 off across the board. Is there way to change the stitch balance in service mode so that I don't have to do this every time I start the machine? Thank you!

[@JoeKind1958]

Sounds like your mechanical stitch balance is not properly set. How to adjust this properly will be a bit hard in this limited space message block but I will try. Emailing me directly at [e-mail] would be good especially if I run out of room here. You set the mechanical stitch balance by sewing out the number 9 that can be found on the service screen by pressing the number 8 two times when in the service mode. When the mechanical balance is set correctly the number 9 should stitch out correctly with the stitching perfectly lined up. For the mechanical adjustment you need a T-10 torx driver. Below the hand wheel on the right end of the machine you will see a 1/4 inch hole in the plastic. Inside that hole is the adjuster. Only turn the adjuster very slightly one way or another at first to get the 9 to sew out perfectly. Once close to the perfect adjustment only the slightest turn is needed. I mean VERY slight!! In short that is how it's done. Out of room...

[@lisayarost1457]

+JoeKind1958 Thank you so much! With your help I was finally able to get the stitches balanced! You are awesome!

[@sandramcgown5706]

Lisa Yarost I

[@angelahenderson5597]

Hi can you do this on a Bernina 350 model?

[@like2makethings]

What is a good range of hours for this machine ?

[@JoeKind1958]

I would consider around 500 hours of total use to be about average. 200 hours or lower can be considered low hours on a machine like this that has been out since around 2006. 1000 hours is getting up there BUT that really is not a bad thing if the machine has been properly and regularly internally cleaned and serviced like it should. About every 100 to 150 hours of actual use it should be internally cleaned and oiled. When I get a used machine into service and sell on eBay, I can tell right away when I take off the outside plastic if a machine has been regularly maintained. I have sold Bernina is that have over 1000 hours on them and they look like brand-new on the inside. I have also gotten in machines with only 100 hours on them and they look horrible on the inside all packed with lint an dirty. Like anything mechanical, how long it will last depends on how well you take care of it . Happy sewing, Bill. eBay user name bushvideo

[@susanrichardson4112]

Hi thanks for putting up a video on this .very new to bernina .not sure if l get this first machine that has time in it .mine says 721 total stand by 674 .worked 46 what part do l keep track on for a turn up .looks like a lot of hours to me but then small amount of worked .like l said very first bernina my husband got it for me and its a second hand. Thanks for any explaining you can give me

[@JoeKind1958]

No need to be concerned about the standby hours. What's important is the amount of time your machine has actually been working/running. Sounds like yours only has 46 hours on it so it's low hour machine. I would get it cleaned/serviced about every 100 or so hours of actual use. Called "work hours". Sounds like you got a nice machine. Have fun with it!

[@craftfunforever8100]

+JoeKind1958 hi one more question can the machine be changed inside to say less than what it truly has. reason l ask is l got a husqvarna and was told brand new but come to find out it .it main board was replaced .so l just get a bit nervous that's all and thanks for your fast reply very thankful.l was told it was just serviced last week at a dealer that l know .so l hope l am good,again thank you

[@JoeKind1958]

+craft fun forever. What Bernina has been doing since the 200 came out in 2002. Is that the machines have a removable EPROM chip on the main print circuit board. That chip is where the information for the machine is kept. Such as the machines hours and identifying information like the machines serial number. That chip stays with its machine. So if the main board is replaced it does not come with a chip so it gets removed from the old board and is put in the replacement board. This way the correct information stays with the machine. There really is nothing to gain from putting a lower hour chip in a high hour machine because that low hour machine would now be showing high hours. So the hours can not be changed on that chip.

[@jeanielinguineisatthegirlcave]

Are those hours since last being serviced or since being manufactured?

[@JoeKind1958]

Since being manufactured.

[@inake1111]

Hallo Joe :-) My Aurora 440 was in storage for a year... I used it yesterday for the first time again and I forgot how to put the sewing light on! I cannot find a switch anywhere, can you help? The light by the pressure foot and the display light (settings) both are off. thank you in advance, greetings from south africa. Ina

[@andreyvanyukov7119]

Is it still actual your question?

[@robind8155]

It's so helpful. Could you tell me how to see stitch count for a 700 embroidery machine please? Thank you.

[@JoeKind1958]

Robin Deng I don't have a 700 series machine here to show you, but it is rather easy. You should have the diamond symbol with a arrow in it on the side area of the touch screen. Touch on that and it will bring up some icons. Touch the " i " icon. That is for information. You will find a screen there that shows you things like the firmware.version and the stitch count. Thanks for watching! Bill

[@robind8155]

JoeKind1958 thank you very much for your replying. The problem I have is I just brought a new 700, and when I open the box, no deal on the machine like normal machine does. And no setup pop up. The background color is already setup. It is not my first Bernina so I feel something not right. After I follow your guide I see the total stitch is 26938, and the total number of stitch since last maintenance is 13469. Oh my god, is this a used machine?

[@georgettecummings314]

I am looking for a large embroidery hoop for the 430 could you suggest where I could get one from

[@JoeKind1958]

I might have a extra one. I’ll check tomorrow. If you email me at [e-mail] I can email you a photo of a large hoop that I might have to sell. That is if I have a extra one and I think I do.

[@pharbottle]

Just Rec'd a 440 qe and am wondering the significance of checking "the hours" on the this machine.

[@JoeKind1958]

Hours on a sewing machine are like miles on a car. It's the only way to know how much the machine has been used. It's also good to keep track of the hours so you know when to take your machine in for a good cleaning/servicing. I would say to get it professionally serviced every 100 to 150 hours of total use. This is not the total power on time I am talking about. It's the actual hours of use number that is important. Proper cleaning and servicing is important if you want your Bernina to last you a long time and keep its value. Same as a car.

[@johnzimmers1524]

I purchased my machine brand new. After 3 years I had it serviced. I sewed a lot using my bsr however when it was serviced the number came up zero. Even after being serviced and 8 years later, it still registers zero. How can I believe the number of hours if I want to purchase a used machine?

[@JoeKind1958]

John Zimmers Good question. If it a 400 series machine that you have, are you sure you are entering the correct number code to bring up the BSR hours? I have never had a case where that happened to me. I have checked hour counters after doing several hours of test sewing before selling a machine and in every case over the past 18 years, the amount of time I put on the machine was added to the total. Since the hour counter does not show minutes, it seems it won’t add the next hour till that hour has been completed. Thanks for your comment and thanks for checking out my video! Bill

[@lucillejoseph1853]

I have the same with my machine.

[@valeriebrown7062]

how do you write letters and number on the 440 QE

[@JoeKind1958]

valerie brown Good question! Since the 400 series machines are dependent on the computer software to run them, you need to look at what that software can do. In the case of Berninas Free ArtLink v6 or v7 software, you can not work with fonts at all (though I should check to make sure). I do not believe that you have the ability to add any lettering or create a design just out of fonts with that software. And that is the fault of the software not the machine. At one time the older Bernina art link software was very functional where you could combine designs and work with fonts. In the latest free versions of the software Bernina has removed all of the functionality at once had. And that is a real shame!!!!! Bernina once sold ArtDesign and Editor Lite software and you had several fonts to choose from and could actually add a name or whatever to a design. That was affordable low-cost software but you no longer have that option because you have to spend a lot of money on their newest software. Now if you have a older computer that runs Windows XP you can still find Older more functional software like Editor light V4 or ArtDesign V1. Even the older versions of of ArtLink had the ability to allow you to work with fonts. Now all these functions have been removed. If you can find some Editor Plus V6 software on eBay that usually sells for a low price so it is a great lower cost option if you do not have a XP computer to use with your machine. I do have some Editor Lite and the ArtDesign software that I can sell, but again you will need a windows XP computer to run that.

[@andreyvanyukov7119]

D0 you still alivfe?

[@cvlc1963]

En español por favor

[@calisson47]

Are you currently selling any Berninas on eBay?

[@traceyphillips1221]

how do i check my 8 series hrs ?

[@JoeKind1958]

With most any Bernina model made , starting with the 630, 640 models, you get into the machines service screen by holding in the stitch reversing button and then turn on the machine. Keep the reversing button held in till the machine has completely booted up and you see the service screen. You will then see some icons on the screen that you can touch on and they will take you to different service modes. I think you will find it rather self explanatory as to what symbol to touch on to view the hour count. A clock symbol is usually used indicating that is where you go to check the hours. DO NOT touch on a setting that you do not understand what it is. Like something that would readjust thread tensions , stitch balance or calibration for the 3A buttonhole foot. My video on checking the hours on a 630 or 640 show how to get into the service s teen mode on those models. It works the same way on a 800 series machine and many other Bernina models. Thanks for watching!

[@traceyphillips1221]

JoeKind1958 perfect thanks so much Love your videos I’ve learnt so much from you as I have quite a few Bernina machines Thanks again

[@yakov1943]

Great instruction. Thanks a lot .