Bernina 770 problems
 

1.Continually 1010 error Main Drive Sync failure- machine stops and needle won't go up & down. If I remove the bobbin it frees the needle
2. Placement of the hook is extremely difficult. Can I be putting the hook in upside down? The threads gather behind the hook very frequently.
Can anyone help me please?
I can't keep sewing until I get some help?

I, too, have had my machine two years and I guess I have been lucky not to have had the 1010 Error message but I like lyric girl’s suggestion about tilting the machine to get the hook race back in.

My friend had this same problem about two weeks ago! The Bernina tech said it was a tiny piece of thread caught and hard to see and reach . $255 dollars to repair. Standard service fee to find the problem and then labor charges to repair the problem. So get a flashlight and strong magnifying glass, long tweezers and start looking.

A co worker bought a Bernina,. She soon got fed up with how fussy it was. One little piece of thread stuck somewhere and it was in the shop. The dealer keeps implying user error but all she does is sew normal and not doing anything wrong. She bought a Eversewn Sparrow 30 and loves it.

My friend's machine had the error. Had to take it in. It was a tiny piece of thread she could not see or reach at least that is what the tech told her. And the dealer said she should bring it in when she gets the error. She has contacted Bernina and the response was to refer to her dealer. LOL If you have access to a great dealer and excellent repair service then you are blessed.

In the gears icon, it shows how to clean the cutter. First remove the foot, needle and needle plate. It tells you to press the "link," then press the cutter button. The cutter will slide out into the center of the needle plate hole so you can clean any lint that is caught in the cutter. Press the next "link" and the cutter will slide back into place.

Also, you need to put oil on the hook race and add oil to the reservoir that is just under the needle plate. It takes a special oil that has a higher viscosity. If you take time to clean and oil every project, or every 3 hours of actual sewing time, it should behave better.

I have a Bernina Aurora QE 440 and absolutely love it. I bought it new in 2009 and have never had a problem with it. It is a well made and very dependable sewing machine.

I have both a Bernina and a Janome 9500. I started to have problems such as your friend mentioned soon after I brought it home. I took it back to my dealer. She calmed me down, showed me what was happening and showed me how to remove the bobbin and bobbin case and to clean with a small brush and to watch our for small bits of thread. (Read remove all the bits of thread that accrue when one must rip out a seam.) By following her instructions, I can avoid the problem, or, if it occurs, I know how to fix it and it reminds me of what I must do to avoid the problem. I cannot imagine feeling that a machine such as you mention could compare to a Bernina or a Janome.

I got tired of how finicky my series 7 Bernina was.....I sold it. We all have different patience levels don't we? Good luck, I'm sure you'll get it sorted out and be more the wiser for when/if it occurs again.

I absolutely love my Bernina! Its sad to hear of other sewers having Bernina troubles. I, on the other hand, have had a Bernina 830 for 28 years and have never, ever had a problem with it. It is a true workhorse and will sew thru anything. I have it serviced every 1 1/2 years for a tuneup faithfully. I guess I'm glad that I don't have a new, fancy Bernina but honestly, I have only heard good things about Berninas. This is the first time I ever heard someone complain about one.

Bernina's are fussy high maintenance...I used to sell them and I bought my Janomes when I could have gotten a top of the line Bernina at dealer price!

My friend in Arizona loves her Berninas and gave me her last one (which she replaced with another Bernina). She says her current one is less fussy but that the one that she gave me (the 820 "sewing computer") really prefers Aurifil thread and she often uses decorative and fancy threads. I'm finding that while I can use my remaining stock of Dual Duty, that it just purrs happily with the Aurifil.

I clean out the bobbin case area often (more than just when replacing the bobbin) and put a pair of long handled forceps by the machine to get those nasty little threads out of the bobbin area. With my vision issues though it can be quite a struggle, first to see the thread and then since I really have no depth perception to actually catch it.

Good luck!

Lyric girl, you must've gotten a lemon. I bought my MC 8900 used from dealer last yr.and l love it! That's said, l'm still keeping my trusty 6500pro by Janome that l've used for 15 yr. as backup...still love that one too. My old 1030 Bernina that l used to start my drapery business back in 1986 is still going strong in the workroom l sold it to 10 yr. ago when l retired!

I'm picking up my new 770 today. I have a 150 QE and love that machine. Had zero problems with it for 18 years. I wanted to upgrade.
Really excited! Thanks for the comments. My next door neighbor works at the Bernina shop where I go and she's always willing to help if there are problems or just questions.
I know many happy Bernina owners. They are fabulous machines.

I have a Bernina 770 QEE. The automatic thread cutter cuts the thread randomly, when I have paused stitching. Anyone have the same problem?

I have a Bernina 1530 that I purchased in 1994. It's been a great machine. I was looking at some of the new ones at my local dealer and the service tech said I should hang on to the 1530. She said she's had people trade in their 1530s and older Berninas on a new machine, only to have them return literally crying because they regretted trading in their old machine. I was shocked a Bernina tech would even say something like that.

I just bought a 770QE
 

I also regret buying it and I was soooo excited when I got it to replace my 1530. Almost every time I sew on it, something goes wrong. It is 3 weeks old and they have already ordered a new mother board. It has brought me to tears twice and frustrated me beyond belief. I dread going in and sewing because right now especially I need the happiness sewing brings me. Definitely not frustration.
As far as I am concerned it appears to be a piece of junk.

Thinking of buying
 

I’m thinking of buying the 770 Tula. Are the problems with it typical or just an occasional lemon?

I've had my 770QE a year now and absolutely love it. No problems at all.

I can't tell you how glad I am to hear that. I hope a lot more people jump in with that response.

I still have my 150QE and as I said before, in 20 years it's never had a repair. I'm saving it for my sweet baby, Arden.

So it isn't a 770?

Susan, not sure if this is meant for me or not. I still have the 770 and love it.

Mazo, I am pretty convinced mine is a lemon. You should buy. The features really are fantastic. Use good thread. :)

I have the 770 Tula machine. I love it and haven’t had any problems so far. One thing with it, I have to hold the threads when I start sewing otherwise it goes clunkity-clunk and makes a nest. My other Bernina was like that too.

When referring to Berninas - it is helpful to mention approximatlely what year it was made.

Some Bernina model history:
https://sewingiscool.com/bernina-models-history/

For reasons unknown to me, Bernina got the idea to number some of their new, super-duper, fancy/finicky machines with the same model numbers that were used 30-60 years ago. Many of those older machines are still working well.

So - when someone says I loooooove my Bernina 830 - which one? The basically mechanical one - from what I understand is relatively fuss-free

or the "new" computerized Bernina 830 - from what I understand has been a "problem child" -

Thank you, I’m going for it. About holding the threads, I’ve seen a few comments about that. It’s a habit for me and what was taught long ago. I think I’d have a hard time not doing it at this point.

Hmmm..... I don't have that problem with beginning threads. I use the thread cutter and the next one goes really well. I'm wondering why you're having trouble with those threads.

Holding the threads for the first 2 stitches is a habit many of us learned in Jr. High Home Ec. class. I still do it. If the thread isn't pinched under the presser foot, it's free to tangle any way it wants. Holding the tails prevents the take-up lever from jerking it as the first stitch is formed. It's a good habit for any sewing machine.

SusieQOH—-I don’t use the thread cutter. Perhaps the thread holding isn’t necessary when the threads are “up in the air” with the thread cutter. I don’t know. Maybe I’ll try using the thread cutter and see how that works!

Lori, I love that thing!!! I hope it works for you. :)

Hi, I use the "mouse" trick when starting out stitching....a "mouse" is just a scrap piece of fabric that you keep under the presser foot when you don't have your piecework there....when I finish my piecing I just feed a scrap in and leave it under the foot...so when I start up piecing, that scrap holds the thread so it doesn't not nest up.....some folks use scrap pieces cut into sizes that will end up as four patches or nine patches or something that can then be made into a "bonus quilt". I made a scrappy Jacob's ladder quilt out of 3 inch finished nine patches that way...it took a while....but in the end, I had a "bonus queen sized quilt"

I love my 770
I dont use the auto thread cutter as it seems to take more time. How silly is that?!
i do use leaders and enders.
Back in ‘84 when i bought my first Bernina, a 930 Record, the dealer told me it was the only machine that could sew off the fabric and not tangle. And it still does.
I love my Berninas! Although sometimes i want to try other machines, just to see.
I bought my 770 from a quilt show. My intent was to sew on different brands. Never even happened. I guess i am just a Bernina girl!
I would not mess with lots of problems. It could be a lemon. You get them in cars; why not sewing machines? Incidentally, some Berninas cost twice what my first new car did! Crazy!!!

SusieQOH, The mother board is finally replaced, and it is a different machine. !! It still has a little fussiness, which I am learning about.
But it sews Oh so beautifully.

Susan

So glad you got your problems taken care of, Susan44.

I got my 820 back from the shop (once it opened again) and we are having fun together. It was a thread sensor and the repair/cleaning was less than I expected.

I don't use fancy stitches much, but I'm going to try a few tests this week...

Susan, that's great to hear Yay!!!!!!!!!!