katier825

If you replace the motherboard, would the new one come with a warranty? If so, I'd be tempted to go that route.

Last year the motherboard went on my Viking 400. I was quoted at least $300 and no guarantee that they could get a new one. Only 30 day warranty on the repair. Since the machine was about 16 years old, I opted for a new machine.

It's tough decision these days. Everything seems to be designed to be thrown away rather than repaired.

Lostn51

Okay its no secret why I dont do modern machines but if I were you just take a look at a Singer 500A. To me this is a modern machine because you have to plug it in the wall......but its a vintage machine!

This was the top of the line machine in 1962 and the machine can hang with any of the new ones on the market in my opinion. It has a plethora of built in stitches and you can pick up the cams and have a huge selection of decorative stitches. You can have the needle set and the left, right or center position, if you have a hoop you can get the monogram letters and do your own monograming. It will do embroidery work but it is FM and you can run a twin needle on it.

The average price for one is around $200 to $300 depending on the amount of accessories and the cabinet, but you can not kill it and the parts are readily available. Also it can be used as a portable like the FW's.

Billy

quiltinghere

OUCH I'm reallllly sorry to hear that your mother board went out...

especially because I have the Brother PC6000 also.

Did something happen, like other suggest, with electric current?

I don't think mine is 12 years old and it would be a tough decision if I had to make one but I think I'd just get a new machine for the $400. I'm betting there are a lot of machines on the market NOW that are similar to the PC6000 for about the $400...which is no where near what I paid for it new!

I'll hug my machine and talk nice when I sew the next time! LOL

tolepainter54

General rule of thumb is, if the repair is half the cost of a new machine, better off to buy new. That being said, you have to take into consideration how well built older machines can be compared to new ones. I have a Viking D1 that I bought used and I love it. Good luck with your decision.

Jingle

I have a Singer 328 K with the cams that will do all the above. I've put many a mile on it before upgrading to newer machines. I still have it and it works great. I bought it new in 1962 or 1963.

lab fairy

Computerized vs. mechanical...the big debate. A hotly contested one on this board. I've killed a mechanical machine so nothing is impossible. There are goods and bads with everything you decide to sew on. I "own" an electrical engineer and DD married a soon-to-be one. Electronic and computerized are not bad words in my home. We've repaired many machines (mechanical and computerized) and its a toss-up.

Everyone has a bias and will tell you their opinion. When it comes down to it, you are the one who has to decide. I like free-motion embroidery because I can't sit still long enough to let the machine do the work for me. Yes, the machine's embroidery is more perfect but to me that is a drawback.

I prefer my machine for many reasons and really don't like a fully mechanical machine. Old mechanical machines have advantages, my nephews and I disassemble them and scavenge them for robot parts at times (yes, we put them back...mostly) but I have to admit I don't like sewing on them.

kristen0112

I have a Singer Futura 250, it does embroidery and I do piecing on it but the throat is not that big. I recently bought a Flynn Quilting Frame and set it up and was able to quilt using that I haven't done anything big on it yet...I believe that Singer made some improvements on the Futura line there is a 350 version. They run under a $1000.00. The upside is that you hook up your sewing machine to your computer for the embroidery functions, i.e. there's no mother board in your sewing machine to go out. I have been pleased with it, I got it as an early Christmas present last year and made all kinds of things for Christmas.

Lostn51

This is funny, Pam (Pam1966) and I were talking about me servicing her computerized machine and I told her that they sorta intimidate me. which is really silly in a way because I can work on vintage sewing machines and the computer that my wife is on right now I built 3 years ago and there is still not a computer on the market that can compete with it.

But you put the two together it just messes me up LOL!!!:lol: :lol: :lol:

Billy

lab fairy

Billy, I really think it has more to with what we used to call "form and function" in those design, tech and engineering courses. Some people are just purists and there is nothing wrong with that. There are also some integrated systems where you scratch your head and go "what were they thinking?" That happens a LOT. We've built several of our home computers but often don't bother. It really depends on what we want to do with them. The really "custom" one somehow went to college. I hope it graduates someday.

earthwalker

Whatever you decide, get yourself a really good surge protector and a UPS (uninterrupted power supply) unit. They are fantastic for anything computerised or surge sensitive. Also if you are in a humid environment a dehumidifier is not a bad idea either.