Well, I have been considering ordering this manual and maybe even starting my own part time business...but mostly just to save myself money if and when my machines need work. Don't know if its a good one or not, maybe someone out there has ordered it and knows?

http://www.sewmachinerepair.com/repairbiz.htm
Sewing Machine Repair as a Home Business

Do they offer a money back gaurantee? I'd give it a shot, I used my hand book for each machine and setting up a orderly way of taking my machine apart for oiling and getting out the dust bunnies that accumlate. that can stuff you buy to clean your computer buttons is good to, it blows out strings and little dust bunnies.

Hey Elaine,
Day late and a dollar short, that's me. The Singers are the best in the world, they'll last longer than a human as long as you're cleaning and oiling between garments/quilt top. I'm on my second Singer, I just bought it in November. I do a lot of garment sewing (I'll post a pic of the four bridesmaids dresses I did a couple of weeks ago next week) and I do a lot of blanket making with fleece for my kids and grands and the storm damaged. I do a lot of sewing, it's my sanity.

I bought the new Singer to replace or assist the Simplicity machine I've been using (about 3 million miles or so..) for the last 20 years. I never had to have the Simplicity serviced. I kept it clean and oiled with good sewing machine oil NOT 3 n 1 oil. It eats a machine up and slows it down. The belts are not hard to change and that's what it sounds like with your machine, if it were a gear, as Tim said, you wouldn't be getting it to do anything.

Trust Singer repair, but not the sales people. Try to find someone that does the repair separate from a sales floor. I've never been afaid to take a screw out of a piece of equipment. It can't hurt if it's not working well anyway, right? lol lol

OOOOOOh dear, got on that to soapbox, didn't I. I believe in having good working machinery. I didn't get a Singer with all the bells and whistles. I go the Singer Ingenuity at Walmart for about $239. It matches me, gives me some nice finishing stitches, it's built for quilting, and I love it. When I win the lottery I'll buy one with all the bells and whistles. I wonder if it will be as much fun?
Sharon

Sharon

sewing machines are like cars. as soon as you sew the first seam, they're rolling one off the line with a new bell or whistle you didn't even know you "just had to have". LOL

My husband had his mother's 50 year old Adler, and we took it to get it tuned up. It needed a new motor, everything lubed, tightened, cleaned, etc. We paid $129.00, took it home, and the tensioner came apart. Took it back, they fixed that for free, then something else way inside came loose. I put it back down into the cabinet, put a cutting board on top, and put my new Brother on top. Sometimes you have to weigh the "annoyance" factor. :lol:

Hi,

For my computerized Pfaff, it costs me $89 here in Vancouver, Wa. A regular non-computerized machine is about $69. If it isn't broke and costs too much to maintain, KEEP IT! A tune up is a small investment in the overall 'love' of your machine. I recently had to weigh that choice when I took my serger in for repair.

I paid $79 for cleaning and new blades. It runs like a charm. The learning curve on a new machine, not to mention the finances, was way too high at the time.

:) Lisa

P.S. Talk to the best mechanic you can. Don't be afraid to ask them for references or ask to see their work. I had some issues with one shop in Portland not doing the best job. So, I went to a big name sewing dealer (Pfaff - even before I got my Pfaff) and talked with their mechanics. Now I request one specific guy to do the work. He's usually backed up about 2 weeks all the time, but he is worth the wait.

I have a Pfaff 362 I bought new approx 48 years ago. I took it into a shop to be gone over although it was in perfect shape and worked just fine about eight years ago. It cost $80, it was all scratched up, covered with black grease and no longer looked new when I picked it up, and didn't work any better. It stopped working 6 months ago (plan to take it in and have it repaired) and bought a Janome 9700 not quite a year ago and I was told it should be taken into the shop once a year to be gone over and oiled. The Phaff had instruction as to how to oil etc. the Janome didn't have any instructions oil included. I called awhile back to have the Janome gone over and was told it would be 3 weeks before it could be done, not only that but I would have to leave it there that long.

I have not taken it in.

tuni

La Tuni - I'm so sorry about your experience - No repair man/person should return your machine to you in WORSE condition than when you dropped it off! If they are a licensed Pfaff repair person, then complain to Pfaff! They have all their repair people go through classes - its a big deal to be able to work on Pfaff machines! If they aren't licensed for Pfaff, I still would complain to the owner, the BBB, SOMEONE. They shouldn't treat people that way.

I had a shop in Portland (one I no longer frequent) try to return my machine dirty once. They tilted my machine back onto an oily rag and actually stained the machine. When I went to get it, I got oil all over myself and ruined a coat. I complained loudly and they did cover the cleaning cost, but as I said earlier, I NEVER went there again.

I have a back-up machine - a Viking, that I use for general sewing when my Pfaff is in the shop. I actually plan to take my machine into the shop when I'm gone for a week or so or not using it - like during canning season or during vacation. I always call ahead to check their schedule and they are more than happy to work me in. I've also worked really hard to maintain a good relationship with the mechanics, they are invaluable.

Have you tried contacting Janome or searching for an instruction book online? Often, you can have one e-mailed to you or buy one used on eBay for fractions of the cost.

Regarding people's luck with Singers - I learned on a Singer Golden touch-n-sew, it was the best in its day and my mom used the life out of it. She also got the cabinet for it because it actually fit her frame - she is petite. I also watched it fall into a state of disrepair from being 'rode hard and put away wet'. So much depends on how you treat your machine and the reliability of your mechanic....I am happy for those of you who have had the same machine for 50 years - what a a blessing! I pray my Pfaff will last that long....

:mrgreen: :D :) :? Yea, I taught myself and girlfriend/Daughter to fix it ourselves cause there's no one that will fix them,and we've drugg them home from the GSales and tinker with themto our heart's content . We collect them and Quilt a LOT!!!! Good Luck!!!!

I have had my Sears Kenmore 30 yrs. Never had it in the shop. I've always cleaned and oiled it myself. But since I am quilting/sewing with more regularaity now I have noticed I have to oil it more often (listening for the slight knock ) then I oil. Yes, I too have found canned air a helps to send those dust bunnies scampering away. I would like to get a new machine not fancy but has a few of the new features like needle down and double needle capabilites, least wise sometime in the future. So I am going to have to stop charging and start saving/praying too. And hint around Christmas & birthday in Jan.