Nooo sewing machine don't leave me now

[cimorene]

Last Monday afternoon I got really enthusiastic and decided to start the better flannel bloomers I've been meaning to make on the sewing machine. The machine sort of hesitated, and I thought, it probably needs a little care. I saw a video recently about cleaning the dust out from around the bobbin and under the plate, so I followed the disassembly instructions in the manual and cleaned some dust out with a Q-tip and a makeup brush and then put it back.

I didn't put oil in, even though the instructions said to, because the bottle of sewing machine oil we have is like fifty years old and all yellowed and crusty (the plastic, not the oil), and to keep it from leaking I put it in a freezer bag and knotted it closed a few years ago and I didn't want to open it. I've never oiled a sewing machine before and I didn't really feel prepared to start.

But when I tried to start it again it just sort of froze up and failed to start! I went through the process I had followed in the manual and took it apart AGAIN exactly the same and put it back together again too, just to check I hadn't made a mistake in putting it back together, but yeah, no, the motor still just goes mmmmm and the gears won't turn.

So. Either it REALLY needs oil, or I did something wrong that I'm not smart enough to figure out. Because of the latter possibility I'm kind of afraid to try to oil it though, because that means taking it apart again through all the same steps! Other alternative is to have it serviced. I have to start by looking up Bernina service. It probably has to be driven to Kaarina, realistically. And normally I'd just be like how about I never get around to doing that because it sounds alarming. But right now I have a lot of projects that I want to do, and four cut out pieces of flannel on the table that... I'd really like to be able to wear?

Comments

[princessofgeeks]

Good luck! Hoping for a quick solution.

[which_chick]

Oh no! I don't know a whole lot about sewing machines and what I do know comes from YouTube. I'm not sure if a video guide would be more helpful than the actual manual, but it might be worth checking out if you're hesitating on the "drive to the service place" activity.

Sometimes the people doing the "service your sewing machine at home" videos have helpful tips or point out places in the disassembly/reassembly where you might have the opportunity to do something wrong. You don't have to take the machine apart again, maybe just watch the video and see if it mentions anything that sounds likely.

[viggorlijah]

Why not just buy more oil? They’re really cheap and they do make a big difference. I think you can use other types of oil if you check they’re the right kind.

[cimorene]

Good point, I will start there.

[msilverstar]

Maybe there's someone who knows how to fix it locally? I bet some sewers, especially quilters, could give you some pointers. There might even be a tinkerer around.

[laurenthemself]

Fingers so very crossed for you. I've inherited a Singer from my grandma and am scared to even look at it without calling my sewing machine guy (he fixed my lil electric one but I bet he will like the Singer more to work with).

[cimorene]

The older ones are supposed to be really nice to repair because, I guess, they hadn't yet discovered skimping to increase profit margins? The idea of a design that's simple and sturdy enough that you can just repair it forever is really attractive. This Bernina is my MIL's from the 1970s, so vintage enough to be cool, but it's still got a beige plastic body, so not quite into that antique territory.