sewing machine users?

wigglebeena

Peeps, can you help?

I bought a sewing machine (total newbie) on Ebay recently. Just came to use it for the first time last night. It seemed to work ok although it had been threaded up wrong.

But when I walked away from it for a few minutes, leaving it plugged in - it started up by itself, sewing like crazy!

Now, I don't think I've got a handicrafty poltergeist in the house. Presumably it's a problem with the electrical pedal or some other technical glitch. (Also the pedal appears to have two speeds, stationary or absolutely flat-out. And there's an unpleasant little whine before the machine starts sewing.)

The machine was sold as working ok: I'll address that in another post on the Ebay forum. But: does anyone know a good sewing machine mechanic in West Yorkshire, who doesn't charge an arm and a leg? Or have any general or specific advice for me?

Olliebeak

Sorry - can't help with a sewing machine mechanic in Yorks. (Mine is in Widnes - and he's brill) Did you get the sewing machine manual* when you bought it? Best to make sure that you thread it up correctly. I was having a problem with a machine doing missed stitches about 30 years ago - got the mechanic out to it (a different mechanic I might add) only to be told that I had the needle in back to front - still cost me a call-out fee! Sometimes little things like that can make a world of difference.

It DOES sound as though you could have a problem with your pedal though.


*If you didn't get the manual with the machine - try googling the manufacturer's name and then the model of your machine - sometimes you can download the manual from the internet.

Good Luck

wigglebeena

cheers Olliebeak. I don't think it's the threading, it was wrong when I opened it up but I laboriously corrected it from the manual. I have the manual but can't see anything relevant in it. To yell.com looking for a mechanic!

What I'm wondering is whether a service will cost enough that I'd be better off buying another cheap machine off Ebay. And how likely I am to get a refund/discount off the seller - they have the standard 'no refunds nohow noway' disclaimers on their listings, but I'm not taking that too seriously as most people reckon such claims unfounded in law.

But I'd rather get a discount and have it repaired, rather than the ****ache of returning it, getting a refund, and trekking about collecting another.

plumduff55

Hi, ask at a local shop that sells sewing machines, they will usually know of mechanics in your area. It may just need a replacement foot pedal.

wigglebeena

Olliebeak, what does your mechanic charge? (so I know if a quote is a complete rip-off).

plumduff55

Hi again, my last bill (about 3 years ago) was £40 for a new foot pedal and a full service. I took the machine to a local shop so no call out charge.

Olliebeak

Would be difficult to say how much he would charge, Wigglebeena.

Some mechanics have a workshop where you can take your machine to be sorted (but you obviously need transport to do that - No.1 son comes in useful as Widnes is about 12 miles from me!) or then again they often come out to your home when they will charge a call-out fee. You will ned to give them an idea of what is happening with your machine and they will give you an estimate of what it may cost. My mechanic always gives two estimates - one is what he thinks it may cost and the other is an absolutely 'worse case scenario' - he will also contact me if he thinks it may be any higher to see if I still want him to go ahead.

I hasten to add that my machine is a 1956 Singer model and parts can be hard to come by - luckily he has a few 'dead versions' of the same machine in his workshop that he uses for spare parts!

Check your local yellow pages - that's how I found this guy!

wigglebeena

Cheers guys, that really helps. I will get a few quotes and get it looked at - the 'ghostly' sewing machinist thing freaks me out! Will probably get a full service while I'm at it, to get off to a good start.

wigglebeena

oh !!!!!!. took it in and have just phoned the guy after he has looked at it. apparently as well as a pedal it needs a new motor which altogether will come to £140. He has offered instead that i could have a 'much better' Janome model, which after p/e he will charge me £190 with two year warranty. (Allegedly worth £300 w/o p/e).

anyone know anything about Janomes? I know I'm probably being bull****ed: but how much?

Olliebeak

Hmmmm, I think I would be looking for a second opinion, wigglebeena. Not saying that the guy is fibbing - but the fact that it would cost you £140 for a repair or he could sell you a new one for £190 would have me thinking twice.

Is there another guy who just does repairs and NOT sales who you could ask. That way if he tells you that a new machine is needed you would know for sure that it wasn't just to sell you one.

I'm sure you could get a new machine for less than £190 anyway!

mocolo

wigglebeena wrote: »

oh !!!!!!. took it in and have just phoned the guy after he has looked at it. apparently as well as a pedal it needs a new motor which altogether will come to £140. He has offered instead that i could have a 'much better' Janome model, which after p/e he will charge me £190 with two year warranty. (Allegedly worth £300 w/o p/e).

anyone know anything about Janomes? I know I'm probably being bull****ed: but how much?

I wouls echo olliebeak and try and get a second opinion-it sounds mighty convenient.However, I have read lots of forums where people are very happy with Janome. But on other threads people are happy with a woolies or aldi machine which is much less than the cost of your repairs,

mocolo