How often do you service
 

The machine I have been using here lately in my 1984 Janome and it seems it just went out on me after winding a bobbin the bobbin winder just didn't stop spinning when the bobbin was wound and is very loud. Into the shop it will go. I just hope parts are available for this machine. However this is not the question.
I was wondering how often a machine should go in for a general check up? I don't consider this machine vintage but she is a bit older. The machine has always worked well. If I am to get another newer machine I would most likely stay with a Janome as I have been very pleased. What is the normal servicing a working machine? I take my car in once a year for service should I be taking the machines in for regular service?

Good question -

Machines that are used a lot will wear out -

Machines that are never used get cranky when left to languish -

I can manage the vintage ones myself. My other main machine is a Brother PQ1500 which is mostly mechanical except for the up/down button and thread cutter. I am managing that one too so far. Oiling and cleaning seems to be enough for now. I have a Brother electronic one - inexpensive about 10 years old. I don’t do anything to that one and it hasn’t had an issue.

well...the manufacturer has some recommendations. On my vikings....regular cleaning of the bobbin area is needed....but there is no requirement for my oiling anything....but...the viking tech said that there are places internally that do need oiling periodically and if I take the cover off, I void the warranty. So the recommendation is once per year. And embroidery units also have places that need oil periodically which is done by a dealer. My APQS long arm has a few places I oil and the manual and website have information on more maintenance I can do by myself including repacking with grease....so generally, I try and run each of my machines at least every 6 months and to take them in every year or two for servicing. The newest and most expensive...I really try and get them in once a year....the older ones....well, it is getting to the place where the cleaning and servicing might cost more than the machine is worth.

With mine ( Viking a purchased in 2004) I take it in when I need to- - sounding a little rough, something not quite right—
things vary year to year. Some years I put a lot of miles on my machine and I take it in for a tune up, good cleaning, maintenance check up, other years life is busy in a different way & I don’t sew that much- I may go a couple years or more without taking it in. I always clean everything on it I can regularly and take care of it- I would like it to last my lifetime so I try to take good care of its needs.

Clean up & maintenance in our area is about $150.00 so I tend to take mine in only when there is a problem. Mine is computerized so it is usually a board has gone out. Usually costs 500 to 600 dollars by the time they are through. The manual recommended yearly. lol Never gonna happen.

Last time I took my machine in to be serviced it wound up costing more than I was quoted and it came back in the same condition as it went in. I try to be diligent with up keep always cleaning and oiling everything I’m supposed to regularly so I can avoid going in unless I absolutely cannot avoid it.

The two straight stitch only machines I use most have never been in the shop for anything.

I keep them cleaned and oiled. Bought in 2008 and 2010. As long as they sew good I won't take them in.

I try to take my costly Elna in about every 15-18 months for maintenance. I sew about 12-16 hrs a week. I do clean it out regularly.

I just got my Babylock back a couple weeks ago. It was $100.00 for cleaning and repairing the up/down button. It was around 15 months but I hadn't used it much. I feel I have invested alot of money in this machines so it should be maintained, as a car is.
I try to make in annually.

My machines go in once a year usually during the summer. It's a slower time for the LQS so a quicker turn-around time. The first year cleaning is free.

My Bernina dealer recommended once every other year. That's pretty much what I've done. I do a lot of maintenance myself. My new Bernina needs to be oiled in a couple of spots and I do it religiously.

This is my practice with my Viking as well - about the same vintage. I usually take mine in when I know I am going to have a reasonable amount of 'down time' with my machine.. planning; shopping; cutting - so it doesn't impact my sewing so much. And my shop is pretty quick with turnaround. Usually a week or less.

I clean and oil my machine as regularly as I can, my sewing machine guy showed me a few things when I had mine in the last time because he's an hour from me and getting it in when an issue crops up is a very hard thing for me to do since I don't drive. Before that, I would take mine in once every couple of years. Mine is vintage and I've always worked on vintage machines, so servicing them myself saves a lot of time and money.

I’ve had my Bernina 440QE for ~15 years and it’s been in the shop for cleaning and maintenance 3 times. I didn’t use it that much until I retired and it’s in the shop now for two reasons. I wanted to order a new tray for it because my cracked again and the shop owner told me Bernina decided that was a design flaw so the next time it came in for maintenance, they would put a new tray system on like the new machines have. It’s much sturdier and it locks. I waited for the backlog to clear out before taking it in. The second reason is I got a new Bernina 590 a couple of months ago and finally got it fitted into my sewing cabinet (waiting for DH to do it!). Since I won’t be using it much, wanted the 440 cleaned. Also, thinking about loaning it to my BFF to use this winter so wanted it ready to go. Probably will take it up to the cottage for the summer. I think it’s better to use them than let them sit for months.

I am putting a lot of miles on this machine in recent months. It sat for several years before that. I can imagine that is adding to what is going on now. It will be going in asap. For now I am using my FW that I recently had serviced. I did the majority of the tune up on the FW but wanted a pro to go over it for me as I am not confident in my skills with tune ups. So far so good. My Janome will go in asap.

I have never taken any of my Janomes in for cleaning or maintenance. I clean them myself. I also ordered maintenance manuals for all of them. I also take my machines and put them on a towel on a table and take the bottom off to clean and sometime grease with Janome approved grease in areas shown I the manuals, they only thing I do after each project is to put a drop of machine oil on the wick in the center of the bobbin holder. I would take my machines in for technical/computer issues, but never have had a problem with my Janomes.

Thanks for all the input. I don't feel as bad about it going down now. I will be getting it in for repair asap. Who knows. I know I have the manual here somewhere and should see if it says anything about service or longevity.

My large one goes once to twice a year. My cheapie has never been serviced but I am meticulous cleaner

I only take my Janome in when I am having trouble with it. I try to avoid the cost if I can.

I am pretty reluctant to take mine in. I read where people get them worked on repeatedly, or get the same part replaced multiple times, and it makes me uneasy that the machine is getting serviced incorrectly or they are replacing parts that are not actually bad because they don't really know what is going wrong. Or parts are getting damaged with static electricity or a bump of the elbow or something like that when the tech is in there working. So I just take care of them at home for the most part. I guess we all have to choose what feels like less risk over the long run.

I try to get my machines in every year whether they need it or not...they always come back in much nicer running condition...more buttery feel, smoother. But in reality I generally only get organized enough every two to three years, barring any problems. I dust out the bobbin area frequently.

I am fortunate that I have an excellent local and independent machine tech, Eurotech in Vancouver, BC. If you ask around local guilds you can usually find who is the best tech for your brand of machine!

I've taken my Singer 403A in once since I bought it used, in 1972. I only took it in, because I thought that I was supposed to. The repair man showed me a couple of easy things to do to keep it running smoothly and said that I really don't ever have to bring it in again....oh...and to never sell it and I never did. I did buy another identical machine a couple of years ago, which was hardly used, so I put my older one away for awhile to give it a rest. They are both amazing machines.

Not nearly enough. I need to do it, but I hate to be without my machine.

I use my machine a lot and I clean the bobbin area after each project. I usually oil my machine after 100 hours of use or for me about every 8 weeks. I take my machine to the repair shop when it quits working and I have it serviced at that time as well. My 1955 Singer never goes to the shop as I can work on it myself since it has no electronic parts.