Capicitor replacement, is it necessary?
 

I am in touch with a repairman who says he can fix up a vintage Bernina or Pfaff for me, especially interested in a Bernina 1000 series, like a 1230 or 1130. He says that a machine of that era is nearly hopeless unless you replace the capicitors in the machine. Is that true? I have just figured I would get a machine that works and then take it to be fixed if something should go wrong.

From my understanding, the capacitors do seem to be a part that can need replaced. I'm of the opinion that "if it ain't broke, don't fix it."

You might want to read https://www.quiltingboard.com/vintag...s-t263498.html If it does have bad capacitor/s then yes they do need to be replaced.

Janey - Neat people never make the exciting discoveries I do.

I have removed the capacitors from both the motor and foot pedal on a Bernina 807 Minimatic as well as a Necchi Supernova Ultra. I haven't replaced them as I don't believe it is necessary.

I think I would replace it. It is mentioned in the above thread that while Bernina will remove them, they replace with a thermal switch or a capacitor.

Janey - Neat people never make the exciting discoveries I do.

It depends on what the purpose for them is. If it's just a radio/tv interference capacitor it can be removed.

Cari

The capacitor in the foot control in the newer (late 1970's to 80's) 800's to 1000's models has to be replaced, or the machine will just sputter.

I just found out that the thermal switch we've been replacing in the old carbon pile Bernina foot controls is no longer available. When that's gone, it'a fire hazard. We've had a couple ladies bring the foot control that's been melted to the carpet, and they had to cut the carpet to bring it in. When the foot control gets over-heated, the thermal switch's purpose is to shut it off, like a fuse.

Whew, melted carpet was way to close to big amounts of excitement.

I have a 530 record that I removed the motor capacitor from when I got it, and ever since then it's been spitting when the motor starts and sparking a lot more than is comfortable.
A post from a Facebook group made me consider replacing it again recently so I ordered the components locally (2x2200pf and 1x0.1μF capacitors + 1x2.2MΩ resistor), twisted them together and screwed them into the two input power junctions.
She is now behaving perfectly, no spitting, no sparking.
This is a knee control machine, so all the capacitor stuff is wired in at the motor. If you're going to do this, make sure the components that carry mains current are reliably insulated. I had fairly long bits of wire poking out so I wrapped them with plastic wire insulation, and used electrical tape to hold everything in one place.
My 530 has a two prong plug and therefore not earthed, so a live wire (240V here in Australia) touching the head could be deadly.
Here's a really useful reference page that I used. Some of the explanations are written in German in the diagrams, so a knowledge of German or Google translate will be helpful https://www.occaphot-ch.com/bernina-...ion-capacitor/