Sewing Machine Repair with a Bernina 830 

karodora hi karodora! Great story! Mine’s for sale. Like new condition!

What a lovely story. Thanks for sharing. ☺️

​@@allennelson8834 Did you sell it ?

Alison crazy cat lady I'm happy to have helped. I think the 830 is best machine Bernina ever made. Love mine!

Tinker Bell hi tinker bell! I'm glad you found my video helpful! Thanks for you note!!!

ianharrd thanks mate!

cherry miner hi Cherry. Glad you liked my video. Check out all the tips on "Anatomy of a stitch"

rhcplvr1953 hi rhcplvr1953, glad you like my videos! Please feel free to share them. I think everyone could gain by sharing what we can! Allen

Gilda garbutt wyer I'm glad you like my videos! Please share them! I put them out to help take the mystery out of sewing machines! Allen

Ian Thomson hi Ian. I think it is the best machine Bernina's made. The problem most have is they are stiff from old hard oil and grease. Free them up, keep them lube, they'll last and perform!

ABBE Repair thanks Abbe ....but I will look at the new machines as well, Im in Australia. .. Bernina 380 looks good but i am unsure about the computer(not using just the lasting quality, w expensive repair) the reason I mention this and looking carefully, is that i have purchased a Juki f600 its good but I'm having to return because it is giving me electric shocks.... like a buzzy pin effect on my fingers..... no one seems to know what is causing this. Yours felicity 😊 💓 🐈

Ian Thomson I have a singer 99k. It just does a straight stitch. It's from 1950. I love it. Computers in sewing machines don't last longer then the ones on your desk. I'm plan on my great grandchildren using my 99k!

Hee hee yes i agree!

I only buy good bobbins, and I never overload them!

stvynix they were very well made!

stvynix I will only use Bernina bobbins specifically made for these machines! I have over 40 types of bobbins in stock. All of them are for specific machines

I paid $25 for it at a thrift store, had a cabinet. I took it to a shop and paid them $160 to look it over.... well worth it!

I think too many great old all metal machines are discarded and replaced with "stylish", "eye catching" pieces of plastic. Nowhere near as rugged! Plastic breaks all by itself! Doesn't need much help just a few years can do it... Allen

+Glenda Hess Happy Holidays! I am glad you found my videos helpful! Please feel free to share them. Tension problems can be the result of many issues. The two most common are lack of oil, the hook should get a half drop of oil every 4 - 6 hours of sewing time and broken needles. Every time a needle breaks you damage whatever the needle hits. This needle damage needs to be machined or polished out. Thanks again for watching. I hope you find this response to be helpful. Allen

Dragon Hi Dragon and thanks for your question. You are asking if I can put everything I know into a video or a series of videos and give it away. I can't afford the time or the money to do that. There are so many components in your machine that all have to run together and an infinite number of variables involved in doing a proper "tune up" that I don't think I could. Turning electricity into controlled motion "safely" takes basic knowledge most lack. The best I can share, and gladly, is that the right amount of oil and grease act like the "elixir of gods" for sewing machines. Every bearing and linkage pivot needs lubrication. The hook needs oil often because every stitch thread comes in contact with it and a minute amount of oil gets transferred to the thread and lint. I show this on the video. Thanks again. I hope this answers some of your questions. Allen

Thank you Allen. I wasn't really asking you to share your trade secrets and a lifetime's knowledge and skill on RU-vid, I just thought that it would be really helpful to be able to see someone of your calibre and enthusiasm carry out the routine maintenance which is specified in the 'Cleaning and oiling' section on pages 60 - 61 of My Bernina Guide handbook. Kind regards, and thank you for your videos.

Roxanne Imhoff thanks for your question. There are two main reasons the needle goes up and down when the clutch is disengaged. Old oil and grease act as an adhesive instead of a lubricant and/or the belt's too tight. Thanks again. Great question!

Gilda garbutt wyer Hi Gilda. Does the light work? If it doesn't and it's not burned out, it is probably the cord set. If the light works and the motor doesn't it could be the circuit board in the foot control or a bad cord or loose wires somewhere or stuck motor brushes or something else. It's hard to troubleshoot over the Internet. I recommend bringing it to a competent Bernina service center. It probably needs more then most people can safely do! Good luck. Allen

Pat Fuller hi Pat. Thanks for your question. If the knee lift linkage for the presser foot is missing the only source I know to replace it is buy picking up a parts machine and using its parts to install it in yours. As to your clutch issues, the hand wheel should move independently when the clutch is loosened. The main two reasons it won’t is lack of proper lubricant between the hand wheel and the upper horizontal shaft and/or the belt is too tight. Hope this helps! Allen

R Jackson R Jackson. Thanks for the comment. Old oil and grease act as a glue! It gets very stiff! This old oil and grease needs to be dissolved and or scraped away. Linkages may have to be disassembled. When lubricants get this stiff it must be removed but very carefully and very gently! Damage to any part may be unrepairable! I have a video coming soon on lubrication. It shows old grease and oil and offers methods to help. Thanks again Happy Holidays Allen

zipcrazed I've been fixing sewing machines for 20 years and still use gauges when I check and set timing. Have you tried putting in a new needle? It's the cheapest tune up you can do and is often the problem!

MlR congrats, great old machine. Great question! I’d definitely transport it with the needle in the fabric and the thread take-up lever in it’s lowest position. For protection. Can’t easily get a take-up lever and needles can be bent. Many happy hours!

@@abberepair8288 Thanks Allen, great advice! I imagine some of the original parts for these machines are getting hard to find, so hoping it travels well!

Jodi P hi Jodi. Thanks for your question. The only reason a breaker would trip is there is too much amperage drawn through it!!! If your machine is running well I.e. lubed and moving freely, it should only use about 1 amp. If the oil and grease is old and stiff or thread is wrapped somewhere it could draw much more. Damaged wiring could be another very dangerous reason. YOU SHOULD SEEK PROFESSIONAL HELP FOR THIS. Danger of fire and/or electric shock is very possible. It might not be what you want to hear but a pro should check it out. Allen

Nancy Eubank hi Nancy. You bring up a couple of good points, GREAT POINTS! One point is thread weight or diameter affecting tension. Yes! You can change the upper tension setting to make up for larger or smaller diameter thread and change the setting of that screw on the bobbin case we've all been told never to touch... Nothing about an 830 is beefy enough to do a " heavy thread job". In my mind it is an excellent machine for 50-60 weight thread with a 12 - 14 needle. It isn't an industrial machine and forcing it because you can will probably damage it, maybe beyond repair.

Nancy Eubank hi Nancy. This is my second attempt to answer this. My iPad ate my first try! You asked several GREAT questions. First, I love my 830 and and find it does a fabulous job with 50 - 60 weight thread and size 12 - 14. Size 14 in sharps or ballpoints are my standby. Size 09 - 11 are too small for "standard" thread to move freely through the hole in the needle. They need a smaller thread. About 4" of thread move down through then back up through the hole in the needle every stitch. Match needle size to thread diameter. Now, the 830 is not an industrial machine. If you put in a large needle and use heavy thread and crank up the tensions to sew heavy material, you still won't get a great stitch because things like the take-up spring are sized for a lighter duty use. Things like needle bars could bend. Sorry but I don't recommend an 830 be used "heavy applications"

I have exactly that problem, I paid 3 times to fix it,! but then in a months is doing again!!!

Alice Hutchings Thanks for your query. To avoid skipping stitches with a standard 50-60 thread, I start with a size 90/14 needle. For heavy fabric like denim, canvas I use a sharp most other I use a ball point. With the zig-zag foot check straight to wide zig-zag, if your machine does great but doesn't when you change feet, your needle is probably hitting the foot. Wrong foot? New needle? Bent or damaged needle can also cause this. Flat of the needle should be away from you. Hope this helps

motobuilt73 hi motobuilt73. What a great question! I don't know why Bernina put that hole there! Some machines seem to do some stitches better when you use it. I'm surmising here but the engineer may have been thinking that routing the thread that way could make it feed smoother... I find it does change the lower tension if you use it or not. Thanks again. Allen

The hole is for drawing the thread through to make a buttonhole. I saw it on another RU-vid video

motobuilt73 sewing pin tucks

I used to feed thread thru that arm hole

Gilda garbutt wyer Hi Gilda! My guess is old oil has turned to glue. Thread could also be caught somewhere. Have you removed the hook? If thread get caught in there it can be very difficult to remove. Id check that first. Can you get the hand wheel to move backwards at all? Allen i can do better on the phone 651-747-1176 Thanks for the question!

Susan Davis hi susan davis! I can only guess... i would check to make sure you machine isn’t in a buttonhole setting. The next thing i would do is to see if the lever that switches from straight stitch and zig-zag to design stitches moves freely. It should click loud when you move it back and forth. Lots of oil and working should free this up. Old lube can cause nasty problems. These machines need regular lubes. Hope this helps. Allen

Annigreenspring thanks for the question. On the front of the machine, in the lower right section, 2 inches below the stitch length regulator, is a round knob. Turning this knob to the left will raise the feed dogs. To the right will lower them again. The linkage gets very stiff and may not want to turn. If this is the case extreme care is required to free it up. Replacement parts are no longer available so don't force and possible damage anything. Thanks again.

Mine won't move either.

I got her repaired! Bernina shop in Stuttgart. It was the electronic board in my foot pedal. They still make this part. So, I was lucky.

Have same problem

Anita Miller hi Anita! Great question. It is possible that the belts are in poor shape but you seem to feel they're ok so I'll take your word on that. The main cause for the symptoms you are describing is lack of proper lubrication. The machine needs to move very freely, including the motor brushes! Then you can adjust the belts. They need to be as loose as they can be and still run the machine! Too tight steals all of your power!! I hope this helps Allen

Hi Allan, Thank you so much for your prompt reply. I did oil the machine with Tri-flow oil. I will check the manual to see if I missed any spots. I cleaned the motor commutator and replaced the brushes (even though they didn't need to be replaced.) I will try loosening the belts as you described. If nothing else works, I'll replace them with V belts. Thanks again for your help!

nosowisewoman hi nosowisewoman thanks for the question. A sewing machine has one or two upper threads but most people usually use one and pair it with a bobbin and bobbin case to make a stitch. Sergers don't have a bobbin. They have typically three or four threads that peel off thread cones perched on spool pins behind the machine. Sergers also typically have a set of knives to shear the fabric to a custom width to set the seam width. An 830 Bernina is a sewing machine not a serger

Christine Cambridge I'm sorry I can't make a video one that! Those screws are a pain. I have some jeweler's size that I use. They make it possible but still not ease. Glad bulbs last so long! Good luck!

Keith Jones hi Keith. The 830 used several different foot controls. If yours just goes fast with no incremental speed control it probably has a ceramic housing full oh dine size carbon discs. The more you press on the foot control the more these discs are pressed together reducing the resistance and allowing more amperage flow to the motor. If your controller has "bounced off the floor", some or all of these discs could be broken. The only time the circuit is closed is when you press the controller all the way to the " wide open" stop. Great question. You should find a repair tech. New foot controls for Berninas are very expensive!

Gilda garbutt wyer hi Gilda. Seasons Greetings! Im not there to see but... old oil and grease act as glue. The lever that moves the mechanism from zigzag to special stitches should cause the mechanism to “clunk” when you move it from its front position to the back position. This mechanism needs oil. WD40 to free things up then a fine machine oil to keep things loose. The whole linkage needs freeing up. Oil everything the n Work the lever forward and back until it frees up everything. I hope this helps, Allen

Kar Ser Hi Kar. The main two reasons the almost all machines can have this problem is old oil and grease. Old oil and grease act as a glue. This old oil and grease must be removed and replaced with fresh to allow things to move freely. Sometimes people tighten the belt instead of lubricating when old oil and grease cause the machine to tighten up. Thanks again for your question. Love your machine!

Pat Lawson Hi Pat! Thanks for the excellent question! There are both 15 watt and 25 watt bulbs sold in that same size and shape! Use only 15 watts or less. Any higher wattage will get too hot! 15 watts, even though it is what is designed in still gets hot! There are “ led” bulbs of the same shape that run much much cooler. I hope this answers your question. Allen

Valerie Abrahams sorry I missed your post! I'm also sorry I can't give an opinion on the value of machines I haven't inspected. There are just too many variables. Allen

Julie Aduca hi Julie thanks for the comment. I'm not sure if you mean the machine keeps running by itself or if you have to turn the handwheel to get the motor to start. Either of these situations should be checked out by a train tech. Oops with electricity is dangerous!

Nate Christopherson hi most probably it is old oil/grease. Something bent is improbable. Try some fine oil on the vertical shaft, both upper and lower bearings. The rest of the entire machine probably needs the old oil and grease removed and all bearings and linkages freed up! 3 - 4 hrs of knowledgeable labor?

Jean Goodbrand Hi Jean. Good question!!! Raise cover and look directly above the presser foot bar. There is a silver slotted screw about the size of a nickel screwed down into the shaft the houses the presser foot bar. It compresses a spring that transfers the energy to the presser foot. The further in you screw it the more pressure is put on you fabric. The screw and spring should be removed, cleaned, and reoiled periodically. Hope this helps. Allen

@@abberepair8288 Thank you so much for your lovely response, much appreciated! I have wondered about this for years.

@@abberepair8288 Thank you so much for your lovely response, much appreciated! I have wondered about this for years.

Hi there @ABBE repair, Thanks so much for being so generous with your advice. A quick question re my Mum’s Bernette 680 which I just inherited... My Bernina 830 is very heavy to handle now that I’m gettin older and I thought Id sell it and use the Bernette instead. I am generally happy with it but i find it hopeless with any more than two layers of fabric - it just doesn’t seem to want to feed. Is this likely to be a maintenence or mechanical issue that can be resolved? Do you know of a remedy to this. . Cheers!

David hi David. Thanks for your question. If you look a the outside leg seam on a pair of jeans you will find a two parallel and synchronized rows of stitching. Look on the inside and you will also find two separate rows of stitching. Your machine only has one bobbin. When you use a twin need and two threads on top you still have only one thread on the bottom. This gives you two rows of stitching on top but a sawtooth pattern on the bottom where the bobbin thread (1) knots with both needle thread every stitch. This also requires increasing the upper tension to get a clean look on the bottom. I have not tested this stitch for strength. I don’t know if it’s more than decorative. I hope this answers your question. Allen

@@abberepair8288 thank you for your insight :)

Doc Sledge Hi Doc! Tinkering can be fun! I am not familiar with your specific motor. I like to stay with factory replacement parts or proven replacements. I don't have the time to make all the modifications necessary to machines and brackets, belts, and power supplies!... I'm not sure what my insurance company would think... I like the factory motor. The brushes are a little small but are easy enough to replace. Ease to polish armature... I like the 830. If you are doing it to make it more rugged, industrial like, it has no oiling system and two plastic gears. Great domestic machine as it sits. Not rugged enough to take the hard use I associate with industrial.

Doc Sledge my Bernita 830 seems to have a slight wiggly in the straight stitch. Please help. Sally

Gilda garbutt wyer Hi Gilda. Thanks for your question! I'm assuming that you've cleaned it. I use a 50-50 solution of 409 and water. Full strength 409 can remove the lettering on machines! On some of the glue and grease I use rubbing alcohol. Be sure to rinse with clean water. If it's yellowed because of UV (sunlight) there isn't anything I know that will make it better. I hope this answers your question. Happy Holidays!

Lubricate per these instructions: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-N_OH2wwOCIU.html

Angela O'Connor hello Angela, thanks for the question. It could be old oil. Oil turns into an adhesive with age. All of the solvents the keep it liquid evaporate over time. If this is the case and it’s been a while since it’s been cleaned and lubed, the bearings in the rest of the machine are probably in the same condition! Just oiling the clutch would then cause unnecessary wear on the other bearings. I did a video on lubrication that could help you. If you loosen the stop screw in the clutch you can remove the retainer screw. NOTE: Put the washer back in exactly the way you find it! I would clean the shaft and center hole in the hand wheel with rubbing alcohol. Then put a couple drops of oil on the shaft and rub it around and reassemble. Remember to retighten the stop screw. NOTE: if your belt’s too tight tithe needle will continue to go up and down! Hope this helps! Allen

@@abberepair8288 Allen, many thanks for taking the time to give a very thorough and detailed explanation, the type I was hoping for 😊 So helpful, I will use all the info. Thank you again. Angela

Allen, I have done as you suggested and it has worked 😄 the mschine is winding thd bobbin wothput the foot shaft hopping. Hwever there is now a rattling sound which appears to be coming from the area which holds the bobbin. Almost like a ball bearing sound, if you can understand what I mean. It's functioning but noisy. By further thoughts? Thanks for getting me this far.

Sorry I meant 'any further thoughts'

Gladys McCoy hi Gladys! Thanks for your note! I hope you like yours as much as I like mine! As for a thread cutter, I have a little scissors that I keep handy. Have a great day!

Hi All, the Bernina 830 has a thread cutter on top of the presser foot lever. You can lift both threads and cut them there. I usually use scissors but when in a hurry or can't find the scissors ;-) I use this cutter. Mine is from 1979 and has this facility.

JandaliaTheFirst hi JandaliaTheFirst! Thanks for sharing! Allen

This is the first time I've seen anyone mention the thread cutter on the presser foot lever!

Linda Roblyer Ho Linda Roblyer. Thanks for your question. The only thing that comes to mind is, did they leave it in the button hole position instead of straight stitch or zig-zag... this can do exactly that. What kind of machine do you have? Hope this helps. Allen

ABBE Repair bernina 830

Linda Roblyer Hi Linda Roblyer. Does the regulator bar move up and down? Is the marker on the button hole knob pointing straight up? Allen

fabianam4 thanks for the question. I will try to include that in any future videos. Meanwhile, there I a lever on the top of your machine just to the right of the stitch selector. The lever should be forward or toward you when using a zigzag or straight stitch and back or away from you when using all other stitches. You should hear a clunk when "shifting" this lever. If there is no "clunk" the oil is probably so stiff the linkage can't move. This is a common problem with these machines. It's not the machine it the old oil. Oil and grease go from being a lubricant to becoming an adhesive over time. I would bring it to a pro. Freed up this machine should be a jem! I hope this helps. Allen

Nancy Gould I have an 830 from 1982 when I bought her. I bought my walking foot from Bernina store in Conway Arkansas.

Debbie Widner is the walking foot from Bernina or a knock off? Does it work well?

Nancy Gould My walking foot is by Bernina. It works well. The only down side is it takes me couple of minutes to get it attached to machine. But worth the trouble and it does work well.

@@debbiewidner5676 Great to hear. A Bernina walking foot that is available. Was it terribly expensive?

Nancy Gould I have receipt I can look it up and let you know.

Oncycle hi oncycle, I do believe this would be considered the 830 new style. The old style is looks like the 700, 701, 730. I hope this answers your question

Gilda garbutt wyer Hi Gilda. Some 830s have a circuit board in the foot control. Some have a carbon pile control

Carlamari Drew hi carlamari drew! Great question! Yes is the answer to your question. Why? is the question I’d ask back. If you flip open the top of the machine and look straight down at the tube the presser foot bar fits in. There is a shiny screw scored with a slot for a straight flat screwdriver. This screw is the screw that you screw in or out to change the pressure. I always pull the spring out and clean and lube that assembly. Old oil can make the assembly very stiff. It must move freely. If you unscrew this NOTE it is spring loaded. Only remove that screw with the presser foot off and the presser foot lever down to relieve as much spring tension as possible. Count how many turns it took to remove the screw and start with it there when you put it back together. Assembly should be clean and well oiled. Hope this helps. Allen

@@abberepair8288 Thanks so much! It doesn't hold my fabric well. I mean it will hold, but if I am sewing something slippery forget it, I really have to hang on to the fabric otherwise it slides all over the place. I will keep you posted, thanks again!

Carlamari Drew hi carlamari drew. One other thing to check is if the feed dogs CAN come up through the needle plate slots to move. Lint builds up under the needle plate, between the rows of feed dog teeth. This gets compressed and given enough lint, it can prevent the feed dogs from being able to move up though the needle plate. Remove the needle plate and clean channels between the rows of teeth. Hope this helps. Allen

@@abberepair8288 that's great! Thank you I will let you know how it goes 😊

Big Smile RU-vid hi. If you lift the stitch length regulator it goes in reverse. Let it drop and it will go right back to the same length stitch. Allen

Vilma Valladares72 Hi Vilma Valladares. Thank you for your question. I don’t speak your language but I’ll try to get it translated! Allen

Snigdha Das Hi Snigdha Das. Wiring, motor brushes, and the electronic speed control in the foot control. I have one in my que now and I believe it is the speed control. Hope this helps. Allen

@@abberepair8288 How do we resolve the issue?

Snigdha Das hi Snigdha Das. I have had 25 years to learn some of the answers to that question. I have a degree in Robotics. The way i found to increase my speed of diagnosis is to have those components in stock. I have foot controls, cords, etc I can plug into the machines to quickly help isolate the problem. I can’t do that over the internet. There isn’t an easy at-home answer. It’s time to see someone who knows how to troubleshoot that machine. I hope this helps. Allen

@@abberepair8288 Thank you!

Snigdha Das Hi Snigdha. Thought I’d give you a quick update. The foot control speed control module was the problem for the machine on my bench. Allen