Bernina sewing machines do need to be cleaned and oiled on a regular basis.
To do so we first want to remove the thread from the machine.
When you do that, if you just pull the thread from the spool right on out that often drags
some of the lint that gathers up at the needle.
Often what I will do is clip the thread from the top and take that thread directly out
of the needle the same direction it always works.
We are going to open this up and also remove the bobbin case; set that aside.
Take out your needle.
Now your manuals are going to tell you to turn off your machine.
If you just go ahead and unplug the foot control your light will still be on.
You can still see what you are doing, but there will be less issues if you step on the
foot control.
Go ahead and do that.
We are going to take off our presser foot.
You can lift up the lever in the back here and pull the whole unit down and off.
To take the plate off...
You know, fabrics like flannel and fleeces, some of the minky and cuddle fabrics that
are going on these plates...
That is going to gather up a lot of extra lint down in this area.
You are going to notice there is a bullseye in the back corner of the throat plate.
You are going to ahead and push down on it.
Sometimes what I will do is push down on it with my thumb and put my other knuckle on
top of it and that will pop this plate up.
You do not have to have a screwdriver at all to do any of this cleaning.
So you really do not have any excuse.
When you reach down in here you are going to see a little, silver lever.
You are going to push that to the left.
This will come down.
This will stay attached to your machine.
Reach into the silver part of the hook and pull that on out.
This is where you are going to take your brush that came with your machine.
I often use the dust-it brushes.
These are great because I can just swish it right on out and get the lint coming on out
of here.
Do not use canned air.
That is going to push more in than out, and that we definitely do not want to happen.
Now for your oil, what you are going to do is, as you use it for the very first time,
you are going to need to stick a pin down the point to get the oil to come out.
Take your hook here, but does all the work.
This part is metal against metal every time the stitches are taken.
We are going to want to add a little oil to that edge along there.
Just a couple of drops, and then once we start running it that will help disperse it as it
goes.
You can actually see when you turn the hand wheel, you see kind of a half-moon turning
now.
It says to go back and forth.
It is an oscillating hook system so it oscillates back and forth.
So it does this.
It goes back and forth, rocks.
What we are going to do...
Often times here I will lean the sewing machine back.
This little point, this is the part that actually comes and gets the thread off of the needle.
Sometimes what I will do is after, I will clean this part too if there is any other
lint hanging out I will even feel this with my finger and make sure there are not any
burs on that.
A bur would happen if your needle strikes it and leave a little rough spot.
That is something that you would want to have your authorized Bernina dealer take out for
you and make sure everything else is okay.
So as I put this in...
We are going to go ahead and set that in.
There is really only one way it goes, but it does land flush against the rest of the
machine.
Once it is in there it will stay.
It does not click or anything, but it is in there and will hold.
You are going to take this, put your fingers along the bottom part of the silver and press
back until it comes back behind the lever that you pressed to release this.
After you get all of the other lint out from under the feed dock you are ready to put your
throat plate back on.
Go ahead and do this.
Just line up the back edge of the throat plate with the machine and press firmly down.
That is all you need to do, and then we will go ahead and put our bobbin back in.
We will put a brand new needle in after you do some cleaning and oiling.
It is probably due for it anyway, and that way you will have a...
You will be ready for your next project.
Use the little cutter on the door.
Close that up.
We will add our presser foot.
I always put the foot on next and then put my needle in last.
That gives me a little bit of an alignment part as I put my needle down into the foot
area.
Then it goes straight up into the position.
If when you put your needle in, for any reason you do not get it up, all the way your needle
threader will not work.
I always recommend, after you have changed your needle, make sure you use the needle
threader because if the needle is not high enough the needle threader will not line up.
You will know before you start to sew and have additional problems.
That is just a little extra tip there.
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