I'm a Bernina sewing machine tech. I tell people if you sew every day, get your machine serviced at least every year. But never go more than 5 years without a service.
The one thing that can damage a machine is to run over those big "quilting pins." Throw those big quilting pins away! If you use patchwork, or extra fine glass head pins, you lower the risk by about 75%.
On your 380, If you keep the bobbin area clean, that is the most important part. This should be done about every 3 hours of actual sewing time or about every project. Remove the hook, and needle plate, and sweep all the lint out with your brush. Make sure there's nothing stuck in the race (which is the ledge the hook sits on). Put a drop of oil on the race, and put it back together.
You can also remove the take-up area cover, and make sure there aren't any threads caught in the take-up lever. You have an "L" shaped wrench in your accessories, that you can use to remove the screw on the left side of the machine. Lift the cover up before you twist it out. The plastic is very flexible. Oil at every joint in the take-up, and way back inside, there's a big round piece of metal, called the "pitman." It's important to oil the shaft behind the pitman. Turn the handwheel until you see the cut out piece on the pitman, then reach your oil back in there.
If the timing is off, the bobbin thread won't get picked-up to form the stitch. The first thing to do when this happens it to put a new needle in and make sure it's all the way up.
Always use a good quality thread like Guterman or Metler.
If there are tension problems, re-thread top and bobbin. Then get comfortable with adjusting your tensions. They're adjustable for a reason -- you are in control.
PM me if you have any questions.
Reply With Quote