How often do you service your machine or do you wait until it plays up.

Thank you all for sharing I think I will bite the bullet and book my machine in.

I should have it serviced now (after 2 years), but don't want to be without it for sewing. BUT. . . I just got my Janome serger out of the closet after about 12 years, and it runs beautiful--couldn't believe it--it actually came with instructions for oiling, but I thought after all that time it would be gummed up. Nice surprise!

A yearly service for my Brother Galaxie 3000 and regular clean ups for everything else (plus the Brother too) after each sewing session. I am able to service my Bernina (owned for 30 odd years) myself. My dealer is in my area every year so it goes to him then. Unfortunatly we got out of sync and now I take it to him which is a long journey. My baby is currently with him and I am waiting for news...
Congratulations on getting 15,000 plus flowers

2 comments

by embroiderymad 11 Nov 2010

Thank you I hadn't noticed to you said.
What do you do to service it yourself

by asterixsew 11 Nov 2010

Oil the machines, give them a very good clean. When I oil it I run the machine so the oil gets through it. Mop the surplus oil up. Check that the stitches are correct and if the tension is wrong alter it. I have more than one spoolcase holder and alternate the use. It seems to work for me. Just give it a careful check over. Berninas are brilliant machines. I always try to keep the machines covered up when not in use and for the Brother make sure the door is shut and no cats in the room when I am not there.

I clean my machine every 8 hours of sewing and taka it in for service at least once a year.

I try to remember to clean it after every project and take it in to the dealer around every million stitches.

Well after reading everyone's answers, I guess I'm the naughty one here: I got my Janome (sewing machine) serviced 2 years ago, but only because it was so noisy my daughter begged me not to sew at night anymore coz it woke her up (pesky tweens lol) .. turns out that one of my rugrats had poked crayons into a teenie hole in the top of the machine casing and there was crayon all thru the gears. My machine returned with a little zippy bag of crayons and a note under the foot that said "please dont allow your children near your machines with crayons again" lol! oh and its really really quiet now :D xXx

3 comments

by embroiderymad 11 Nov 2010

lucky your teen complained to you.

by asterixsew 11 Nov 2010

Wonder if she was the one who had put the crayons there in the forst place

by danababes 12 Nov 2010

lol thats what I'd wondered too, since I got the machine to sew her clothes etc when I was pregnant with her. As a toddler she'd sit at my machine (with it unplugged) and pretend to sew .. perhaps one day she'll tell me she did indeed do it lol. xXx

My old Janome Memory 7 is 29 yrs old and I had it in once after I had it a year as it was a free maintenance and then I would have to pay after that, but in the next 28 yrs I never had anything done to it except for my own cleaning.
Now that I have a new machine (Janome 11000SE) I haven't had it long enough to take it in yet.

1 comment

by danababes 11 Nov 2010

ahh lol I'm not alone .. must be that the older Janomes are tough machines :) xXx

I keep it clean by clearing the lint out but my Aurora 440 reminds me when it needs to be done.
It also tells me to have it serviced! I have a good agent locally so have no problems. My old 740 Favorit is mechanical so just gets service when it plays up.
ElizabethAK

I try to do my Janome 10001 at least every other year. But I have no dealer & either have to mail it south $75 each way; or bring it with me when I travel. Then it's another $150 at least for servicing. My older Janome 9000 probably won't go in for another servicing at those prices. I keep them clean & do everything I can by myself. But over $600 a year for both machines is out of my budget. (I live in SE Alaska & have no dealer locally - closest one is in Washington state)

I follow the recommended schedule on my warranty. That way if something major goes wrong, it will be covered. You might want to check your warranty. If the required maintainance isn't performed on your machine, it can void the warranty.

1 comment

by embroiderymad 11 Nov 2010

Thank you I should check my machine is 1 1/2yrs old now.

Great question, thanks for asking! *

My single needle (Regular machine) goes in once a year, but my Viking Emb, they said "If it ain't broke, don't fix it!" That irrated me, but it has been sent in for 3-4 weeks several times a year since I got it, so I guess it gets its maintenence! Hahaha!, Hugs, Judy

Take my machine in once a year for service and so far so good, not major problems. the rest of the time I just clean up and oil lightly.

I put my machine in on a regular basis , then it only need a good clean and oil , so many leave it until something goes wrong , which quite often means parts etc , I couldnt function with out my sewing machine so I look after it well .

Once a year it gets serviced by the dealer. During the year I clean everything I can clean on a regular basis and after messy jobs (like velvet, corduroy and fleece).

Mine goes to the dealer once a year, and if necessary i clean it during thje rest of the year.

Once a year I take it to the dealer for an indepth cleaning. In between I always vacuum it out when passing by with the vacuum, as well as my serger, and long arm. I tried going along willy nilly but sure as I'm standing here that silly thing will act up just after a year. Soooooooo birthday time is cleaning time for my baby. Keeps her happy and if she's happy I'm happy (giggle)

Hi I usually clean it often and disassemble the whole bobbin area to clean. I take it in about one a year to keep it in tip top shape. You know a stitch in time saves nine. Suzanne

I clean my machine often to free the bobbin area of link and oil it, change the needle, etc. By doing this, I don't have to take it in for servicing on a regular basis. My dealer is over an hour away and requires I leave it so I am without a machine for awhile which is never a good thing.
Joyce in GA

1 comment

by kttyhwk4 11 Nov 2010

why not try calling ahead and see if they will schedule an appointment for you. While working at sewing store we did this for a lot of out of towners and they shopped, dined and went to the movies while tech worked on their machines....worth a try.