Help please with jammed stitch width selector

[sydneymath]

I have a Bernina 910 which I took to a sew-in yesterday. Upon putting it back into its cabinet today, I find that I CANNOT turn the stitch width knob -- it is HARD set a little past the 1 width. I feel something must have jarred it in my travels - I have had this machine 25 - 30 years; it works perfectly all the time. Does anyone have any ideas how to get that dial to move, except for taking it in to someone? I have never even had it in a shop - I have always done the maintenance.

THANKS for any help you can offer!

[sewchris2642]

Never over look the obvious. Is your needle all the way up? Is your stitch selector on zigzag or straight stitch (if they are separate)? Other than that, my only suggestion is to take to a dealer/repair place and have them give you a repair estimate. Then you can decide to get it repaired or buy a new machine. Frankly, the repair cost probably will be more than the monetary value of a machine that old. And worse case, could be more than the cost of a new machine. But I don't underestimate the sentimental value to you. Only you can tell if the repair cost is worth it.

[cristeen]

On an old Bernina, I'd take it in. I've never had service on my 30 yo Bernina be more than $100, which included cleaning. They just don't make machines like that much anymore. I would establish a relationship with your local Bernina repair person if you have one. Once you have a relationship - if you take the machine in and it's a simple 3-second fix, it's often times free or under $10.

A few things to try first. Remove your needle. Unthread the machine completely, remove the bobbin. Change your stitch indicator - run it through every setting. Have you sewn with it since you noticed it was jammed? If not, I'd rethread and sew a little bit, see if anything jars loose. Drop the feed dogs, remove the foot. Basically, anything that can be changed on the machine, change it.

And if none of that works, burn an offering to the god of sewing machine repairs and take it in.