CLIENT PROJECT SERIES #2: Slow & Steady! Waking Up a Vintage Bernina Requires Extra Care & Patience

[@shaygetz52]

Just picked up one of these for $9 at a local Goodwill. Everything looks good inside, looking forward to bringing it back to life.

[@jtarte]

I have seen many of your videos and I always want to see how the mechanics of the sewing machine work and all the stitches they can do, maybe one day you can make a video about it.

[@VintageSewingMachineGarage]

Great suggestion!

[@pathwalker1762]

Just picked up a non-running 530-2 foot pedal version, not the knee lift version. I've worked on 730 and 830 before, although the motor and capacitors on this (1963) version are different. It came with it's original purchase information, and I couldn't just leave it behind, so starting it as a 'slow and steady' project, several parts are frozen. will watch this whole series and hope to use your helpful advise to get it working sweetly again.

[@VintageSewingMachineGarage]

Good luck with your project. Yes, I can relate to how hard it is to walk away and not try to 'rescue' these abandoned machines given how wonderful their engineering and quality were.

[@MayGamgee]

Hi! I know this is an older video (and a great and thorough explanation, by the way!) but I'm still hopeful I might get a response. I've bought a wonderful Bernina Record 530-1 and it is working like a charm, except for one thing. The bobbin thread keeps bunching up and it gets stuck after only a few stitches. I suspect the upper thread tension might be the problem, as it's very loose. I've tried turning the knob, I've even screwed it off to clean it and check the spring which seems to be fine, but it didn't do anything... Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

[@alizaattaly1963]

2 problems- the ornamental stitch selector (9 in machine book) and the needle displacement lever(13 in machine book) are not moving at all. how can I make them move? the machine woorks really good.

[@VintageSewingMachineGarage]

Lots of slow, patient, heat, lubricant oils, sewing machine oil.

[@alizaattaly1963]

@@VintageSewingMachineGarage thank you!

[@Potatocustom]

I know this is an old video, but wanted to ask what Is the best oil to use on a bernina 730? I just picked up a one owner 730 that now needs to be woken up and put back into action

[@VintageSewingMachineGarage]

Any sewing machine oil labeled as such should work fine. Now, if you have a machine that is stiff or stuck, you can refer to a number of videos I have where I discuss the use of "Penetrants" and/or heat.

[@chrissya13]

Hello, I recently got this same model from thrift store for 20$ and it's in excellent condition. Only issue is the needle position lever is stuck, aside from oiling it, what else could be done to fix it.

[@nabeelah123]

I have the exact same issue! Did you manage to fix it?

[@Potatocustom]

ok I have to ask where can I get a oil bottle with a long needle applicator like the one you use in this video? and link by chance?

[@janholman6192]

I got mine on Amazon!

[@ryanjones7767]

0:58 Why no oil on plastic gears? Grease instead?

[@ryanjones7767]

Nevermind! 4:39 answered it!

[@cocasio7190]

Thanks!

[@ronalddevine9587]

It's a shame that you can't find a small machine shop (if any still exist) to replicate those nylon gears out of hardened steel. Likewise for Singer models with plastic gears. I should think a better option for the designers would have been plastic cams, leaving the gears steel. Oh well, hindsight is 20/20!

[@VelvetCrone]

This old lady is not sure about that. I presume that Bernina had good reasons to go to nylon when they did, and that it wasn't cost. Back When I co-owned a machine shop (previous marriage in the 80s-90s) that did (only) prototype speciality motion picture camera and aerial camera-mount work, we went to a lot of trouble and expense to get aircraft quality lock-nuts that had nylon inserts because of superior performance, and we often used nylon gears in place of carbon or case hardened steel, for the same reason . They were quieter and didn't seize up at super high speeds (more forgiving). Both of which really matter on cameras. A colleague worked in Beryllium for this reason, but we weren't willing to ignore the risks, (he ended up dying from brain cancer, but his cameras were and still are renowned as the best in the business). I think I might prefer to find a shop that could replicate the nylon gears with an updated material like whatever the newest upgrade for Delrin is, if there is one. Or maybe just someone who is 3D printing Delrin at higher tolerances on a better printer than I have here. My 730 gears are in good shape so this is just an academic question for me, but I have the feeling there is a good reason those gears are nylon, and I bet it might be because they improved performance.