Thank you for the LED tip - what a difference! And while I was in there I cleaned the idler assembly by the flywheel. Yep, it was gunked up. My 180 is very happy now!
The dangers of innocent oiling: got around to using my 180 and the bobbin thread would not pull up. I returned to your video and discovered the idler assembly had something to do with timing... With the machine unplugged and apart (again!) I played with the pulleys. Aligned the needle eye with the hook and on the uptake part of the stitch & gingerly inserted the idler wheel. Whew! It works, and no damage. Thanks again for your tips!
Thank so much for your information to all of us Bernina owners! I just wished I lived closer so you could service my machine without the shipping charges.
Bonnie Bartlow Thank you Bonnie for your kind words! Yes if it would not be for shipping, I would have a great business servicing and repairing Berninas. With my Bernina eBay sales being very slow it would sure be a great way to keep me in business. Thanks for watching! Bill. (Joe Kind is just a user name)
Thanks to your tutorial, I just replaced the original, non-LED, light bulb on my 20 year old Artista 150QE with a 99 cent 6 LED panel from eBay (inc shipping) and it is really awesome. I considered investing in that fluorescent light when it came out many years ago, they were pricey. I love my machine and updating to LEDs really helps increase the light on the work area.
Thank you so much for this informative video. I have a Bernina 160 sewing machine. I was able to easily get a 12 v LED replacement bulb from the local Auto parts store! Worked perfectly no modifications needed. Sylvania 194
Perfect! It’s hard for some to wrap their head around the idea of getting a sewing light at a auto parts store. Glad you shared as it shows others that this can be done. Thanks for watching 😁
Hi Joe, great video. Just bought two new bulbs, wish I had bought LED. I have a Activa 140 and the light has stopped working. I have checked fuses, wire, continuity and light not working. Any hints?
Thank you so much for all your information videos! You are much appreciated. I have a 770QE and my bulb just went out. I would love to know where you are, I would be up for a road trip or two to have someone knowledgeable work on my machine. Thanks Tee.
tee kinchius Hi tee, I am located near Reading Pennsylvania USA. Since I only service what I sell on eBay I don’t have a store. I am a independent repair person and my workshop is in my home. Guess you could say that because I am not a Bernina dealer, I don’t mind sharing information I have learned over my almost 20 years of servicing and selling only Bernina models. I usually don’t take in outside work unless someone is left with no other options and they don’t mind shipping me their machine. Thanks for watching my videos 😁
Wonderful suggestions! Please can you give me any advice on a Bernina Artista 180. I'm on the other side of the world, I'm good with electronics and my machine is intermittently restarting/resetting. I have replaced every capacitor in the machine and power supply - all voltages perfect and stable. But have no idea why it continues to cut out like this!! Please help!!
When exactly does it cut out? Guessing it might be while you are sewing? If so, for about how long were you sewing and does it seem like its running hotter than it should? If you turn the hand wheel of the machine does it not have much resistance as in the machine feels smooth and it takes little effort or does it feel a bit stiff like something is binding, especially after when the machine shuts down?
@@JoeKind1958 Thankyou sooooo much for your reply. It cuts out sometimes a few seconds after putting it on. Resets/restarts when in eco mode even. I have disconnected all the stepper motors and other sensors, and just left the yellow power connectors connected to the main board and it still resets. Something on the main board I'm guessing. Can't see dry solder joints. So it doesn't reset only while sewing, it resets randomly. The longer the machine is on it seems the more stable it becomes. One would assume that when it heats up it fails - but no. Everything works perfectly when it's not resetting randomly.
@@RCanning78 Sounds like you have ruled out a lot of the areas that could be causing a short. I would bet you have checked over the wiring to see if anything has been rubbed through that would cause a short. For a problem like this, since I have other machines where I could borrow another power board, I would give that a try to see what happens but you don’t have that option. I have had boards that were repaired by Bernina and most of those had wire “workarounds” to bypass areas of the board that were not making contact. So the board itself could have someplace that is barely making contact. Caps are the usual suspect in older boards but the resistors are known to fail as well on both of the boards. I would monitor the output of the power board voltage with the machine powered up to see if there is an intermittent quick loss of power coming out of the power board. That is sometimes hard to do with a digital volt meter because the voltage display does not respond fast enough sometimes. Thats where a regular volt gauge with the older style analog display is much better than a digital display. Between a power board and a main board, over the year’s I have replaced way more power boards then the main L print board. Any power board from a Bernina 165 up through the 730 model all use the same power board. I know there is a resistor near the glass fuse on the power board that is known for failing. That should give you a few things to think about. Oh one last thing, sometimes the female end of the wire cables, the metal part might be ever so slightly bent open and cause a bad or intermittent connection when plugged in.
@@JoeKind1958 I really do appreciate your time helping Bill. I have replaced the SMPS chips in the power supply as well. Checked the diodes and resistors. I did check the 5V power rail with a multimeter during a reset. The power did not move by even 0.1 of a volt. Have you ever had a problem with the SRAM chips going? Ram can cause resets if faulty I believe?? (Thinking of computers) Clutching at straws at the moment. So annoying. Perfectly working machine - with irritating resets. The machine can just be standing in eco mode doing nothing at all and will randomly reset.
My aunt and I each have these exact machines. Mine came with a standard bulb and my aunt’s came with the expensive cfl. Hers burnt out and as you said, the replacement was crazy expensive. So we ordered bulbs similar to those you show. The only difference is they are configured in a square instead of in a circle. I stuck it in my machine and it works like a champ-no shaving of the side needed. But when I tried it my aunt’s machine, nada. I switched it around different ways, pushed in the sides a bit to ensure contact, but no luck. Any thoughts on what the problem could be? I’d really appreciate any help.
The first thing I would check is to see if with the machine powered on, is there actually voltage (12 volts) at the white bulb socket. If not then that problem needs to be fixed. And if there is not voltage at the socket then chances are good that is why her cfl stopped working. Next thing to check would be the new bulb as it could be defected. Try it in your machine to see if it works. Also the metal contacts in the white bulb socked. Sometimes they need to be bent out slightly so they make contact with the contacts on the bulb. These Chinese led bulbs cone in many different shapes but all give off a nice bright white light. One last thought. If you carefully remove the cfl light you could plug it into your machine to see if it works. If it works then that goes back to the possibility of the socket not having any power. The wiring of the socket goes back to a circuit board that it’s plugged into. That plug could be loose or is not making a good contact. Sometimes bad connections start working again by simply by unplugging and plugging them back in a few times. Just doing that can clean off the contacts and make things work again. Thanks for watching 😁
JoeKind1958 Thanks very much! I will try that! Any tips on how to remove the cfl bulb without damaging it? I’ve tried tugging on it gently but was afraid to pull too hard. Is there a lever?
Do you have an LED that can work on the even older Machines (like 1001-1031 machines) Not that it is expensive ($7) but I like using LED because it uses less power and doesn't heat up like regular ones do.
You are correct about the heat. It’s amazing how much light they put off and they only get warm. All of the bulbs I show in this video were purchased on eBay. For $7.00 you could most likely get well over 10 bulbs on eBay. Just find a 12 volt led that has the same socket type as your machine. It might not be listed on eBay as being for a sewing machine. Don’t be concerned about what it’s listed for as long as it’s a 12 volt bulb and it has the correct socket connection. The ones I show were listed as automotive interior and marker light bulbs. Since all cars run lights on 12 volts and they use the same different socket types as sewing machines, searching for 12volt automotive led bulbs is a good place to start your search. The more led chips on the bulb the brighter it will be. Try and get a style bulb that has some led chips facing down along with some on the sides so the light is spread out all around. Since these led lights are so inexpensive to purchase on sites like eBay and Amazon, I don’t sell them. Thanks for watching my video 😀 Bill
I need a brighter bulb for my bernina activa 130 which is a capsule I could not find one like on your video on CZcams can you send me a link to buy one. I also have a 1150 mda overlooked but that has a mini bayonette bulb. Thanks Angelique Knowles
Susan Mac I purchased all of the LED lights that I show on eBay. I am sure you can also find them on many other online selling sites like Amazon. You can also fine them at most any auto parts store though they will cost a lot more there. The led light is a T10 style bulb. So if you do a ebay search for “T10 LED” a bunch will show up in that search. There are many different bulb styles and even colors that the lights put off. You want one that puts off a white light. Some lights have more LED light chips on them than the one I show and those will be brighter. They only sell for a dollar or two on eBay usually with free shipping. So you could purchase a few different types for $5.00 or so and see witch one you like the best. Remember some with the flat plug end like the one in my video might need to be trimmed on the outside edges so it makes contact in the machines bulb outlet. All that information is in my video. Thanks for watching.
Tanya Townsend Firmware is the software that runs the machine. There are many different reasons for firmware updates. It might be a feature or function that was not working correctly and the update corrected the problem or it might be some feature or option that was added to the machine. Like the ability for a Bernina 200 to work with Berninas cutwork software. That extra feature was added through a firmware update.
Actually it is useful for 730 owners. The 730 has the same white plug outlet on it that is plugged into the fluorescent light. A small mounting bracket is not there on the 200 and 730 like it is on the 180 style machines that holds the white outlet plug. With a little bit of thought a mount can be made. That and a couple dollar LED light is sure a lot better than spending a ridiculous $250 for a replacement fluorescent light. But that’s your choice.
Thank you for the LED tip - what a difference! And while I was in there I cleaned the idler assembly by the flywheel. Yep, it was gunked up. My 180 is very happy now!
Glad my video helped you😁
The dangers of innocent oiling: got around to using my 180 and the bobbin thread would not pull up. I returned to your video and discovered the idler assembly had something to do with timing... With the machine unplugged and apart (again!) I played with the pulleys. Aligned the needle eye with the hook and on the uptake part of the stitch & gingerly inserted the idler wheel. Whew! It works, and no damage. Thanks again for your tips!
Thank so much for your information to all of us Bernina owners!
I just wished I lived closer so you could service my machine without the shipping charges.
Bonnie Bartlow Thank you Bonnie for your kind words! Yes if it would not be for shipping, I would have a great business servicing and repairing Berninas. With my Bernina eBay sales being very slow it would sure be a great way to keep me in business. Thanks for watching! Bill. (Joe Kind is just a user name)
Thanks to your tutorial, I just replaced the original, non-LED, light bulb on my 20 year old Artista 150QE with a 99 cent 6 LED panel from eBay (inc shipping) and it is really awesome. I considered investing in that fluorescent light when it came out many years ago, they were pricey. I love my machine and updating to LEDs really helps increase the light on the work area.
Thank you so much for this informative video. I have a Bernina 160 sewing machine. I was able to easily get a 12 v LED replacement bulb from the local Auto parts store! Worked perfectly no modifications needed. Sylvania 194
Perfect! It’s hard for some to wrap their head around the idea of getting a sewing light at a auto parts store. Glad you shared as it shows others that this can be done.
Thanks for watching 😁
That’s awesome....wish you lived closer to me!
What great idea with the light
Can you explain how to remove the U-shaped CFL on the 180/185? Many thanks!
You’re a marvel Bill,thanks so much for sharing your knowledge.❤️❤️❤️
You are welcome 😁
Thank you very much!!! It works great and was an easy fix for $10....
👍👍
Nice job! Awesome video! Thanks.
Thanks 😁
Nice Hacks! Thank for Sharing!
thank you so very much
Hi Joe, great video. Just bought two new bulbs, wish I had bought LED. I have a Activa 140 and the light has stopped working. I have checked fuses, wire, continuity and light not working. Any hints?
Thank you so much for all your information videos! You are much appreciated. I have a 770QE and my bulb just went out. I would love to know where you are, I would be up for a road trip or two to have someone knowledgeable work on my machine. Thanks Tee.
tee kinchius Hi tee, I am located near Reading Pennsylvania USA. Since I only service what I sell on eBay I don’t have a store. I am a independent repair person and my workshop is in my home. Guess you could say that because I am not a Bernina dealer, I don’t mind sharing information I have learned over my almost 20 years of servicing and selling only Bernina models. I usually don’t take in outside work unless someone is left with no other options and they don’t mind shipping me their machine.
Thanks for watching my videos 😁
Hi. I'm from Chile and I have a Bernina Artista 180 and the reverse button doesn't work. What I can do? .
I have a Bernina 1130 machine. Light doesn't work. It is a push-in 6 v 4w bulb. What type of LED light could I use?
i have a bernina activa 140 and want to convert my bulb.. would also appreciate a link
Wonderful suggestions! Please can you give me any advice on a Bernina Artista 180. I'm on the other side of the world, I'm good with electronics and my machine is intermittently restarting/resetting. I have replaced every capacitor in the machine and power supply - all voltages perfect and stable. But have no idea why it continues to cut out like this!! Please help!!
When exactly does it cut out? Guessing it might be while you are sewing? If so, for about how long were you sewing and does it seem like its running hotter than it should? If you turn the hand wheel of the machine does it not have much resistance as in the machine feels smooth and it takes little effort or does it feel a bit stiff like something is binding, especially after when the machine shuts down?
@@JoeKind1958 Thankyou sooooo much for your reply. It cuts out sometimes a few seconds after putting it on. Resets/restarts when in eco mode even. I have disconnected all the stepper motors and other sensors, and just left the yellow power connectors connected to the main board and it still resets. Something on the main board I'm guessing. Can't see dry solder joints. So it doesn't reset only while sewing, it resets randomly. The longer the machine is on it seems the more stable it becomes. One would assume that when it heats up it fails - but no. Everything works perfectly when it's not resetting randomly.
@@RCanning78 Sounds like you have ruled out a lot of the areas that could be causing a short. I would bet you have checked over the wiring to see if anything has been rubbed through that would cause a short. For a problem like this, since I have other machines where I could borrow another power board, I would give that a try to see what happens but you don’t have that option. I have had boards that were repaired by Bernina and most of those had wire “workarounds” to bypass areas of the board that were not making contact. So the board itself could have someplace that is barely making contact. Caps are the usual suspect in older boards but the resistors are known to fail as well on both of the boards. I would monitor the output of the power board voltage with the machine powered up to see if there is an intermittent quick loss of power coming out of the power board. That is sometimes hard to do with a digital volt meter because the voltage display does not respond fast enough sometimes. Thats where a regular volt gauge with the older style analog display is much better than a digital display. Between a power board and a main board, over the year’s I have replaced way more power boards then the main L print board. Any power board from a Bernina 165 up through the 730 model all use the same power board. I know there is a resistor near the glass fuse on the power board that is known for failing. That should give you a few things to think about. Oh one last thing, sometimes the female end of the wire cables, the metal part might be ever so slightly bent open and cause a bad or intermittent connection when plugged in.
@@JoeKind1958 I really do appreciate your time helping Bill. I have replaced the SMPS chips in the power supply as well. Checked the diodes and resistors. I did check the 5V power rail with a multimeter during a reset. The power did not move by even 0.1 of a volt. Have you ever had a problem with the SRAM chips going? Ram can cause resets if faulty I believe?? (Thinking of computers) Clutching at straws at the moment. So annoying. Perfectly working machine - with irritating resets. The machine can just be standing in eco mode doing nothing at all and will randomly reset.
@@RCanning78 You have mentioned eco mode a couple of times. I never ever used it. Do you have problems when you are not in the eco mode?
Where can I find the LED bulb?
My aunt and I each have these exact machines. Mine came with a standard bulb and my aunt’s came with the expensive cfl. Hers burnt out and as you said, the replacement was crazy expensive. So we ordered bulbs similar to those you show. The only difference is they are configured in a square instead of in a circle. I stuck it in my machine and it works like a champ-no shaving of the side needed. But when I tried it my aunt’s machine, nada. I switched it around different ways, pushed in the sides a bit to ensure contact, but no luck. Any thoughts on what the problem could be? I’d really appreciate any help.
The first thing I would check is to see if with the machine powered on, is there actually voltage (12 volts) at the white bulb socket. If not then that problem needs to be fixed. And if there is not voltage at the socket then chances are good that is why her cfl stopped working. Next thing to check would be the new bulb as it could be defected. Try it in your machine to see if it works. Also the metal contacts in the white bulb socked. Sometimes they need to be bent out slightly so they make contact with the contacts on the bulb. These Chinese led bulbs cone in many different shapes but all give off a nice bright white light.
One last thought. If you carefully remove the cfl light you could plug it into your machine to see if it works. If it works then that goes back to the possibility of the socket not having any power. The wiring of the socket goes back to a circuit board that it’s plugged into. That plug could be loose or is not making a good contact. Sometimes bad connections start working again by simply by unplugging and plugging them back in a few times. Just doing that can clean off the contacts and make things work again. Thanks for watching 😁
JoeKind1958 Thanks very much! I will try that! Any tips on how to remove the cfl bulb without damaging it? I’ve tried tugging on it gently but was afraid to pull too hard. Is there a lever?
Do you have an LED that can work on the even older Machines (like 1001-1031 machines) Not that it is expensive ($7) but I like using LED because it uses less power and doesn't heat up like regular ones do.
You are correct about the heat. It’s amazing how much light they put off and they only get warm.
All of the bulbs I show in this video were purchased on eBay. For $7.00 you could most likely get well over 10 bulbs on eBay. Just find a 12 volt led that has the same socket type as your machine. It might not be listed on eBay as being for a sewing machine. Don’t be concerned about what it’s listed for as long as it’s a 12 volt bulb and it has the correct socket connection. The ones I show were listed as automotive interior and marker light bulbs. Since all cars run lights on 12 volts and they use the same different socket types as sewing machines, searching for 12volt automotive led bulbs is a good place to start your search. The more led chips on the bulb the brighter it will be. Try and get a style bulb that has some led chips facing down along with some on the sides so the light is spread out all around.
Since these led lights are so inexpensive to purchase on sites like eBay and Amazon, I don’t sell them.
Thanks for watching my video 😀 Bill
Bernina 1000 series use twin 6v bulbs, so you'd need to find LED bulbs or panels that run OK on 6v.
Where are you located? I would like to change the bulb on my bernina 140
I need a brighter bulb for my bernina activa 130 which is a capsule I could not find one like on your video on CZcams can you send me a link to buy one. I also have a 1150 mda overlooked but that has a mini bayonette bulb. Thanks Angelique Knowles
Sorry I meant The Bernina 230pe bernina
Thanks Angelique5@tiscali.co.uk
Please tell me where I can buy that led light
Susan Mac I purchased all of the LED lights that I show on eBay. I am sure you can also find them on many other online selling sites like Amazon. You can also fine them at most any auto parts store though they will cost a lot more there. The led light is a T10 style bulb. So if you do a ebay search for “T10 LED” a bunch will show up in that search. There are many different bulb styles and even colors that the lights put off. You want one that puts off a white light. Some lights have more LED light chips on them than the one I show and those will be brighter. They only sell for a dollar or two on eBay usually with free shipping. So you could purchase a few different types for $5.00 or so and see witch one you like the best. Remember some with the flat plug end like the one in my video might need to be trimmed on the outside edges so it makes contact in the machines bulb outlet. All that information is in my video. Thanks for watching.
Could you tell me what is in a firmware update?
Tanya Townsend Firmware is the software that runs the machine. There are many different reasons for firmware updates. It might be a feature or function that was not working correctly and the update corrected the problem or it might be some feature or option that was added to the machine. Like the ability for a Bernina 200 to work with Berninas cutwork software. That extra feature was added through a firmware update.
Not useful at all! This is not for a Bernina 730!
Actually it is useful for 730 owners. The 730 has the same white plug outlet on it that is plugged into the fluorescent light. A small mounting bracket is not there on the 200 and 730 like it is on the 180 style machines that holds the white outlet plug. With a little bit of thought a mount can be made. That and a couple dollar LED light is sure a lot better than spending a ridiculous $250 for a replacement fluorescent light. But that’s your choice.