Loud clacking noise

[Susan B.]

My Bernina 440 has started making a loud clacking noise in the bobbin area. :? When I start sewing it's quiet but soon the noise builds up until even my friends who also have Bernina 440s ask what's wrong. I keep it scrupulously clean under the feed dogs and in the bobbin area. I oil the bobbin race exactly as you are supposed to and just had the machine serviced a week ago because it was making this noise. They said it had a pin stuck down in it....

It seemed to be quiet for about a day after I got it home. Changing the needle did not help. A new bobbin did nothing. Changing to a thinner thread seemed to help a little. The noise never seems to be there when I begin sewing, but comes on after a few inches of sewing. The stitches are still perfect...I am stumped and apparently so is the Dealer's maintenance person. Any thoughts?

[E.M. T.]

Yes ! Back to the Shop , pronto ! :x

[Geneva C.]

I have a Bernina 730 named Sybil, for exactly what you are describing! However, my clacking is in the head of the machine. I've taken it in to my Bernina dealer at least a dozen times and they say "it doesn't make any noise." (I guess I'm lying?) So now I have recorded it and will take it into a new dealer since I have moved. I'd take your machine back immediately! (And record the sound!)


Geneva

[Marianne G.]

I too have a 730 and it has a whisling sound that my husband and the tech can't hear but both my girls and I can. Don't forget that some people can't hear certain sounds. I can't even record this as the tech will still not be able to hear it.
Marianne

[Marianne G.]

I went back to the dealer, but, of course, when we set up the machine and began sewing.....it sounded just fine. Hopefully it will continue to do so at home. I did discover it does the noise when I use 40wt thread from a large spool on a stand. Guess i won't do that anymore.

[Susan B.]

You should be able to use any 40 weight thread. Does your thread stand allow it to feed off the top of the spool? I do it all the time with the spool to the right of my machine, using the extra thread guide on the right of the machine.

By the way, don't pull threads backwards out of the new fangled Berninas. Clip them, raise the presser foot, and pull the extra forward.

My machine made a terrible racket before someone threw this hint my way. :shock:

[Susan B.]

My 440 made a clacking noise in the bobbin case too plus thread breakage. I was using bottom line in the bobbin and Monopoly on a new thread stand. Bottom line bobbin did not wind correctly and Monopoly was so light it caught and or broke wrapping itself around spool on stand several. Totally my error. Should have used cone adaptor on thread stand and paid more attention winding the bobbin.

Barb ops: