I had to have my timing set on my Bernina three weeks ago. Yesterday timing went out again and back to dealer I went! Dealer/serviceman just called me and said it was "consumer error" and I must have done something wrong . (I was doing a simple zigzag stitch and didn't break a needle).

I explained to him that the thread/fabric did get caught down in needle hole and perhaps that was what instigated the problem. (After I removed the bunched up thread, I was able to continue sewing, everything seems fine. It seems to me that I could have pulled machine out of alignment when I pulled out wad of thread and but he didn't think that would have put machine out of time......hmmmm). Yet, I wonder if Bernina is a real sensitive machine that I will need to baby.

My question is: Has anyone had trouble with Bernina's durability or reliability? I have had several sewing machines in the past many years and never had problems outside the normal issues, tention, etc. Having "out of timing" issues twice in one month is not normal.

Any help will be appreciated. I am quite embarrassed thinking I might be abusing my machine.

I've had Berninas for about 20 years and never had this problem
I am careful when sewing so I don't do damage to my machines and have extra repair bills. I don't sew over pins and use good quality thread. Love your Bernina and she will love you back. LOL

Agreed! I've had my Bernina 1130 for 20 plus years and haven't had any issues with it. I also have a newer one (730) that I love. No problems with it either.

Ditto from me - but I've only had my less than 2 years but love it more than any machine ever.

It would be helpful to know what model you have. Bernettes are notorious for trouble. But they're made FOR Bernina, not by Bernina.

Is it a Bernina or a Bernette? Agree that Bernette is much more likely to have that problem. Have had my Bernina 1230 for many years (15?) and never had a problem with it.

I've sewn on my Bernina's for 20+ years and never had those kind of issues...
I did manage to burn out the motor on one of them. This was back when I was working on it 10 hrs a day...every day.

I'v had mine about 5 years and have not had any trouble with it!

I'm on my 2 Bernina. She is 7 years old, I have had troubles with this one, it is the quilter's edition.
I had something go wrong with the back up button, which I seldom use. it went into the housing and got stuck. Which when I did use it, would push it further back. Then it shorted out the circuit board, which I had replace around a year ago, and was told I was " hard on machines".
I ended up taking it to a Non authorized repair man, because i was having problems with it again.
He said something interesting, " you either dropped your machine on the floor, or when someone took it apart they tightened the screw so much they broke where your screw and the housing came together.
that is a lot of money later.

I just purchased a Viking and had my Bernina fixed again. So I have well over $2000 into a machine that still has loose housing unless I replace the complet out side cover..
My light fixture hangs down, but my back up button now works.

I should have dropped it, i wouldn't continue to pour money into it.
sue

I'm sewing with no problems at all on the original Bernina 830 record that was my college graduation gift from my parents in 1975. I have it cleaned (fairly) regularly and it is wonderful. It sat, unused, for about 10 years (while busy with kids, teaching, etc.). Had it cleaned and replaced some soft rubber part that had hardened... purrs right along..... love, love, love my Bernina.

Just last week, it wouldn't pick up the bobbin thread. I called my usual dealer in OKC, but they were closed due to ice and snow. So I googled Bernina, called the first number and a really nice dealer in Utah helped me solve my minor problem (which was user error) sheepish grin... ended up sewing all day!!

I have had a lot of trouble with the timing on my Bernina 185E. I have send you a PM.

You don't have to break a needle to knock the machine out of timing. You can do that a couple of different ways. The most common is sewing over/hitting pins. They don't always break the needle.

The second one is sometimes common to folks who learned to sew 'helping' the machine by pulling it from the back side of the foot while you are sewing. If you 'pull' it from behind you can theoretically get the timing out of alignment, or so I've been told.

If the bobbin case wasn't 'clicked' into the hook I suppose it could have been slipping and may have caused the 'pile up' of thread.

A good rule of thumb when you get a thread nest is to rock the hand wheel back and forth in little increments to see if you can get it to loosen up and work it out that way rather than pulling or forcing it out.

(BTW I call thread nests goobers but when I worked for Pfaff they told me I couldn't do that. Well, I am a GRITS and goobers (peanuts) come out of the ground all tangled up in these little bitty roots and that's what a thread nest looks like to me!) LOL

I've always heard Berninas are great. I'd ask him to give you some 'examples' of the kind of operator errors that could have caused it and see if he can list any or if he's just full of himself.

I've had a Bernina 1260 for over 20 years and it has never been in the shop for repairs. The only thing wrong with it, the light switch (I've changed the bulb a couple of times, so it's not the bulb) doesn't work. I just use a little arm light behind it and it's doing fine. Now, on the other hand, I have a Bernette Serger and it went out of timing. The repairman charged 82.00 or so to fix that. I have a Bernina Deco 650 embroiery machine that needs repair. The bobbin shuttle won't work....but will have to wait to be fixed. I have to drive almost two hours to the repair shop. I love Bernina machines. They are one of the few that still have metal gears in them. Most have plastic. I don't sew over pins and I keep it cleaned and oiled. Love my BERNINA, she's a workhorse. Mary

Have had my 1230 for 24 years and never had it in for repairs. Love it! Recently bought the Bernette to use in classes and Friday morning sessions and it clunked and now can not use the 1/4 inch foot. Guess the dealer is going to drill a hole in the foot to make it work correctly-something like that. We will see. I knew I was buying a machine made for Bernina, but thought it would still be reliable. Wondering now if I should have bought the Bernette.

I have the Quilters Edition also and have had no problems and I sew just about every day, all day long. I love my Bernina!!

My dealer told me when I was looking for a second smaller machine to take to class if I was using a Bernina, I would be very unhappy if I bought a Bernette. My expectations would be too high, and the Bernette would not live up to them.

I bought a 1230 about 25 years ago. Then I got the Deco embroidery machine. Decided I had to have the 180 and traded of them in on that one. In the meantime I got the 1100 Bernina Serger and when the 200 embroidery machine came out it was too fast and stitches too pretty to pass up. I personally love my Berninas and wouldn't have anything else. I take them both in once a year for a good cleaning and oiling just like I go to the dr. for my annual physical. I would recomend Bernina to anyone. Just compare the embroidery on other machines. Not nearly as pretty.

I have a Bernina 830 (1973 model) and I have never had any problems with it outside the normal tuneups. I love my machine, it's a work horse!!! :D :lol:

I haven't had any timing issues. Sounds to me like your guy just hasn't fixed the problem properly. I'd ask him to explain exactly how "you" are causing the problem. I don't think you are.

I am just learning to FMQ and was having great difficulty because my machine was skipping stitches over huge areas. The owner of the shop where I bought it (who's a little snippy I might add) said it was all my problem because I didn't know what I was doing. So when I took my machine in for it's free first year maintenance, I had the girl who accepted make a note of the problem. When I picked up my machine, the owner's husband who is a Bernina certified technician said that there was indeed a problem and he took care of it. With the price of Bernina's I think the consumer needs to be persistent in demanding service. I was willing to accept responsibiilty if I was doing something wrong, but it turned out it WAS a machine programming error. So stick to your guns and insist that you get a machine that works. I love my Bernina, but with what I paid for it, I expect it to perform!

I have 2 Berninas Activa 240 and Artista 630 special quilters edition.
Love them both had Activa 6 years no problem,Artista 8 months no problems so far wonderful machines .I always have mine completely serviced and cleaned once a year They are high ticket machines and I want them to last.I always remove pins to prevent damage to machine.I was having a problem with thread nest a couple of weeks ago,my machine did not like the type thread I was using in bobbin once I put in a different brand of thread it did fine hope this helps.

My sister received a very nice one for Christmas. It has been in the shop 2 times already. She is ready to tell them to keep it. I believe I would also. They just don't make them like they used to. As with most everything these days.

I have the Bernina 1008 and have never had any problems. Of course, I did not use it for six years and recently (I retired)started using it again.

My Bernina has given me no problems, although mr BSR stopped working and was replaced under warranty. I love my machine at least as much as i love my cat, and I do love my cat.

I have had my Bernina 1031 since 1994, never had any trouble until 3 days ago. Took it to the shop and they said it was out of time. I was just sewing along perfectly and all of a sudden the needle started to hit the bobbin racer case.

I got a Bernina 440QE. It would start sewing, then stop abruptly and refuse to start again. I was told my room was too cold. I started leaving the heating on all the time on high, but it still was faulty. Eventually Bernina gave me a new machine. I upgraded to a 630 later on. I have a really old Bernina (can't remember number) which sews easily, quietly and is not tempremental

I have a Bernia 1230 that is about 18 years old and a 440 quilters edition and they both are great machines and I do not have problems. I get them serviced about every year to 18 months depending how often they are used. Kelela

I have a Bernina 1130S and was having that problem not long ago, and after saying a few choice words of disgust, I stopped, took a couple of deep breaths, and re-threaded my machine. I have no idea what had gone wrong, but, this fixed the problem. Sometimes gremlins appear to get us to slow down and test our patience!! If all else fails, try re-threading to make sure you are in all the proper spots for tension control. I hate when that happens and was an unhappy camper until I figurd it out. Good luck, because I love my Bernina. I once had a Bernette, and it was not a good machine. I traded it in on this Benina.... best move I ever made.

Bought my first Bernina in 1968 & wore it out. Replaced it with another one just 3 or 4 years ago. Was with out one for a year. Even my serger is by Bernina. No I haven't had problems.

My Bernina just went out of time. I took it to a repairman and he told me he didn't have the equipment to fix it. I guess now I'm scared to find out what the repair will cost.

bought a new Berniana in 1972 sewed everything on it from lace, heavy denim jean seam repair, horse blankets, leather (with leather needle) never missed a stich. Then 3 years ago the motor burned up loved it.

I have never had a problem with my Bernina - been sewing on it for 20 yrs - Is your machine new?

I got a Bernina Artista 630 last year for Christmas 2009. I had to learn to thread properly each time, and it is picky on what threads I sew with. Then this year while under warranty (just before Christmas), the bobbin door kept popping open while sewing and would throw off the tension. I got so frustrated because I was trying to make Christmas gifts, so I taped it shut with painter's tape. My dealer is an hour away. I took it in to be serviced after Christmas and they had it almost a month. When I called after 3 weeks they said the door had to be replaced and they had to wait for the part to come in. With what I paid I was not expecting some of the small issues that I have had. I really enjoy sewing on my Brother sewing machine more, as well as my brother Disney embroidery machine. I am wondering if I should have put my money on a Baby Lock.

I have two Bernina's a 730 and 830. I love both of them and I haven't had any problems. My problem is that they both are smarter than I am!!!

I have had the Bernina 1630 for 20 years or so. Did have to have the mother board replaced years ago and it has been a wonderful machine. I have it cleaned once a year and oil and clean it regularly.

I have a bernina 440 EQ and I have had that problem with thread nest and sometimes looping and I rethread and maybe even use different thread and it will be OK. I do need to take it for a physical. It may be out of time. I'll let you know.

I have owned a 440QE, then a 630, now a 730. Loved them all and never had timing problems. Recently bought a 380 to take to classes. Again, no problems. I teach at a Bernina store and you'd be astonished at the "abuse" these machines can take, especially when the user is new to sewing. I wouldn't buy any other machine now. Good luck!

[quote=blisterful]I had to have my timing set on my Bernina three weeks ago. Yesterday timing went out again and back to dealer I went! Dealer/serviceman just called me and said it was "consumer error" and I must have done something wrong . (I was doing a simple zigzag stitch and didn't break a needle).

I explained to him that the thread/fabric did get caught down in needle hole and perhaps that was what instigated the problem. (After I removed the bunched up thread, I was able to continue sewing, everything seems fine. It seems to me that I could have pulled machine out of alignment when I pulled out wad of thread and but he didn't think that would have put machine out of time......hmmmm). Yet, I wonder if Bernina is a real sensitive

I love my Bernina. I have mine since 2000 and loving it

I have a Bernina 440EQ and right before the end of the first year, I was sewing and went into the other room to press a seam. When I came back to my machine, it was down like turned off. Thinking the cat unplugged, I checked, No. Tried turning it off and back on, nothing. Called the dealer and they had me try plugging in to a different outlet; lay on its side for 15 minutes (like that will fix something); remove the plug and replug it in; etc. Finally they said to bring it in to the shop. The mother board has gone out ($550 which thankfully I didn't have to pay for). Took two months before I got her back and all the settings were different. Then this past summer, (she is now just over two years old) the message light started blinking saying I need to get it to the shop ASAP. I wasn't even using it yet, I just turned it on. Called the shop and took her in for a checkup. She was gone for two weeks. So far this time the 440EQ is still working. For an expensive machine, she is very touchy. I have several Brothers, Two Kenmores, and a PFAFF and none of them have been serviced like this.

I have a Bernina Patchwork Edition. The problem I have had is that no matter how I adjust the tension, my bottom thread always seems loose. Have had it worked on and it works OK for a couple of days, then I am back to the same problem. You mention a timing problem. I have never heard this term and am not aware of what the symptoms consist of. I have occasionally (well, maybe a bit more) sewn over a pin or two. I have banished my Bernina from the sewing room and have been using my Singer Confidence Quilter on a steady basis. If any of you have had this stitch problem and it has been resolved, I would like to know the solution.
LeeJay