ArchaicArcane

I have a lady drop this machine off for me to look at the tension.

I looked.

I'm confused.

The tension dial doesn't have a stop, so there MUST be a piece missing, right? I can actually spin it right off. Of course I can't find a good photo online. It also has no numbers.

OH, and she'd been running buttonhole thread through the bobbin case with the "default" type tension on the spring and couldn't figure out how no amount of tension adjustments on the top tension would work it out.

Education opportunity after I figure this tensioner out.

ArchaicArcane

OK, I think I have the no markings thing figured out. User manual helped with that. I will post a photo of the parts of the assembly once I know what the proper order of assembly is.

Candace

I have a 530 but I've never had to remove the assembly. One thing I'd be curious to know...The stitch length control on mine has never gone all the way up or down. It does reverse fine, but the lever has never moved all the way up or down. I'm wondering if it should be able to. I've oiled it and there's no gunk, it just seems that it has a limited range of motion. So, someone has either tinkered with it or this is simply how this model operates?

ArchaicArcane

OK, so here's what I did (right or wrong, I don't know, because I wasn't able to find an exploded diagram, or even a photograph of any sort) and why.

The order that the photo shows is the order that the pieces came out.
It's fairly logical, but the marks didn't make sense.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]463713[/ATTACH]

When I reassembled, I reversed 3 and 4, as indicated by the numbers because of the marks on part #5.

The marks you can see at the 9, 5 and 2 o'clock positions directly correspond to the "feet" on #4. My thinking had been that marks like that were likely created from the years of use where it had been working right rather than the months where it had been working poorly. Additionally, the marks on the washer (#2) corresponded with the top of the beehive spring, and there wasn't a mark of any kind on the other washer (#4) that corresponded.

Range of tension adjustment feels good, and as long as no one tweaks til the knob falls off, it should be good.

This machine also didn't seem to go all the way to 4, but I didn't worry too much about it as the range of stitch length seemed reasonable.

Candace

Yes, I get the range of stitch length too. It must be just an oddity of this model.

ArchaicArcane

It really could be as silly as the markings were optimistic.

Candace

Very true. I sewed on mine the last three days and made a Mondo Bag. Such a nice machine. Though vintage Berninas are kind of my weakness.

ArchaicArcane

It's funny, I've worked on a number of them and haven't bonded with them at all. Perhaps it's because I haven't sewn on one for more than the time it takes to fully adjust and service the machines.

Candace

They're my favorites mainly because they're good FMQing machines and vintage Berninas and Elnas do the best serpentine stitch, which I use a lot.