J Miller

Does the Bernina 730s have plastic gears and other bits inside?


Joe

Mizkaki

Joe,

Yes, the Bernina has a plastic gear. It is on the top on the vertical shaft coming up through the upright arm on the right.

Cathy

Candace

Most early Bernina models have at least 2 to 3 nylon gears. All of my Berninas do.

J Miller

Do they deteriorate like the Singer gears, and are they prone to break?

Joe who is being prompted to ask these questions ......

DanofNJ

Joe, I assume this is your PTSD re: Bernina's having nylon gears. So far I haven't had any fail, but obviously they will because nylon is a petroleum based polymer and it will ultimately dry out, if I'm recalling Chem II correctly. Nothing is worse than Necchi plastic gears however. Yes, it is shocking that Bernina puts in plastic stuff... Pfaff however did not. Elna did.

JudyTheSewer

Hi, from experience, it is common for these gears to have failed in the 730, 830, and 930 models. I think they are usually replaced by now if someone is using the machine. I am relying on my memory here so what I'm about to say is only as good as my memory; those original gears were prone to splitting due to the materials used (something about it wasn't quite the right chemistry.). And, the replacement gears that are being installed today are much less likely to have a problem. My expectation is that I will never have to replace mine again; nor will my daughter who has an old 830 mechanical that she adores. My OSMG replaced the gear in a 730 for me and I think the bill was about $70. I looked at a 930 once and that also had the cracked gear. For more information, please join the Yahoo Group called BerninaThirtySomething. The "Thirty" referring to all of those old mechanical machines: 730, 830, 930, 1030, etc...... Not the newer electronic models. There are some very knowledgeable folks in that group. You can't go wrong with an old mechanical Bernina even if you have to change a gear once - JMHO.

J Miller

Dan,

Well not really PTSD, but it annoys the heck out of me when I look in a Singer such as our 338 or 328 and see metal gears, then look at the others that have the same basic design and see plastic gears which break right when you're in the middle of something.
(Been there - done that).
My wife's Bernina 930 has several plastic gears in it, and so far ( it's an 86 model ) there's been no problem with it. But like you said, eventually they fail.

I think we'll pass the 730, I just don't want any more gears to fix.

Joe

DanofNJ

I was joking...but it does bring into doubt the Bernina Mystic when you open them!!!!

PS...I still go after them if they are a good price like a rabid animal..don't ask me why, I just like them and they are the only plastic machine I own albeit my Janome 4120...

J Miller

Dan,
What is a good price for a 730 that's got it's case, cords and controllers, guide book and some extra parts?

Judy,
Wasn't ignoring you, I just missed your post. Thanks for the information. I do know the 930 my wife has now has never had anything done to it that we know of. My cousin bought it new in 86 then my wife got it when she died in 2000. Since 2000 my wife has used the heck out of that machine and there has been zero problems with it. I had the top off just a couple weeks ago and the plastic gears are in good shape. Perhaps my cousin had the gears replaced before she passed, no records anywhere for us to know.

Joe