I have 2 machines. I love both of them. Am thinking of getting another. Been keeping my eyes open for the different estate sales but so many of them need work and quite pricey. So I may just pick one up at a big box.

You should probably get a backup machine, even if it is an older machine, for that time that it needs to go in (whether for repair or servicing).

I agree with Tartan. Clean the heck out of it. You probably do not need to oil it. My 1975 Viking has never been oiled. Was told that it nerver needed it d/t the type of steel it was made out of. If it just a mechanical machine, read the manual, check online and clean, clean ,clean!! If it is not broke don't chance someone messing it up.

My Viking manual says that the gears, etc, are sealed and not to oil. It runs beautifully, so I will not take it in unless it starts acting up.

If your service man is not "approved" to service your brand of machine he cannot get parts from the parent company and will have to either tell you he can't fix it or rob parts from another machine that he thinks will work. I have a Babylock and the service center is 250 miles away. I sent it there with my daughter and after about TWO MONTHS they got it fixed. NOT a good scene and it cost boocoo bucks on top of that. The only thing wrong was that the automatic threader wasn't working right and because of my vision I have to have that feature working. He said he adjusted some other things and cleaned it, but I hadn't noticed anything amiss so I sort of feel like the longer they keep it, the bigger the bill! He won't get it again unless it is an emergency!

My Viking..does not need oil..the manual says only to clean out the bobbin case..said nothing about oiling the hook..my dealer always takes at lease a week..if not more..I learn the hard way ..do not waste the money..if there is no problem..on these machine..if they are care for ..if u are just worry about the lint collection..take the bottom plate off ..blow it out..I have done that to mine..I also thought after years .I should just have it clean..nothing was wrong with it. So finally I did take it in .but I was told a part was bad on the embroidery part..which I could not disagree with because .i hadn't use the embroidery part for ages..but it was fine the last time I used it..but I did took his word for it..the part and clean job ended up over 300 dollars..when I next sew on it..it now does not tell me when the bobbin is running out..it cuts the thread half the time when I push the button..it doesn't always start sewing the first inch..none of these things were happening when I took it in..I took it back ..it seems these things only happen at my house..REALLY..not saying this will happen to others..and yes it was a Viking dealer I took it too..just saying ..why ask for trouble and spend the money..and be without ..if there really isn't a reason..again just my opinion.

The machines I own are also sealed and not for me to oil. Even though I keep them as clean as I can within the areas that I have access to, the professional servicing/cleaning of the machines includes areas that I can't get to; plus they are oiled or whatever when they are serviced ... I know this because they sound much quieter when I get them back home. The dealer to whom I take my machines to be serviced will allow me to make an appointment so that it's only gone for a couple of days, rather than a couple of weeks (w/o appointment). He always forgets something, though, and I learned long time ago to leave notes with him about what is not right and even then, he forgets to do everything. Makes me crazy, especially considering the big bucks he charges me! Because he is just a 10-min. drive away from my house, I buy brands of machines for which he is a dealer, altho' that changes from time to time. He just got his first shipment of Baby-Lock yesterday.

If your technician does not know the Viking, I would not take it there. If you are close to a Joann Store, they are usually a Viking dealer. The turnaround time could depend upon when their technician is in. Otherwise, if it is running ok, like Tartan said, give it a thorough cleaning, put a drop of oil on the hook, and maybe just a drop on the shaft. It should be ok. If you put a drop of oil on the shaft be sure to sew for a few minutes on a scrap of fabric. Good luck and don't fret

If the gears are all sealed in and you have the manual that came with it, it will tell you exactly where to oil and clean it. Usually, if you just clean and add a couple drops of oil, that should do it. Clean out the bobbin and the bobbin cage after every thread change. Never use canned air to clean out the cage as it will leave water that will eventually do some rusting. I have been sewing for 55 years and my machines are at least 20 to 30 years old and I have never ever taken then anywhere. It's just a rip off to charge 99.00 plus dollars to service a machine...what service? Machines last for years and years and years ..they are built to last. All the scare tactics they use to make you do service that is not needed. Clean and oil is all. You shouldn't need parts at all. Even the Computerized machines come sealed so cleaning is all that is needed and the occasional drop of oil, check the manual......my longarm has never been service either. I clean and oil before every job and my manual tell me exactly what to do. I have never had a problem with it. It's a Gammill, built to last. lol

My janome is about 20 years ole and works like a top. The other two brother quilt clubs are electronics and they both work like new and all I ever do is clean and oil.....and that's all the service does.

And you all know how much quilting I do..lol

Luckily there are two independent repairmen or OSMG's, who live within 30 miles of me. I have an older Pfaff from 1994 that started squeaking. I didn't have the special tool needed to get into it to oil it myself so I decided to call one of the men who advertised on Craigslist. He didn't have the tools to work on my machine but gave me the number of another guy nearby because he knew he had the tools and would do the work for a fair price. Two days and 35.00 later my machine was purring like a kitten. I have used both repairmen and have been very pleased with their work.

Check Craigslist in your area for sewing machine repair. You might be surprised at who you find especially since your machine is not in warranty.