Hi Cuties I have a Designer 1 Viking Embroidery machine I brought in 1998 (old) but still stitches beautiful. The bobbin winder wouldn't release. Took it to be fixed and was told parts are not available any more. The machine wouldn't allow me do anything took it to another dealer they wouldn't even look at it . I told them all it needed was for the bobbin to release. Not happy at this time, went home got a couple of tools out and forced it to release and removed the parts turned the machine on and got it to work. Went back the next day and told them I fixed the machine myself all they want to do is sell you a new machine. I hope this may help someone else. I will have to find another way to make bobbins. I was wondering if that bobbin winder from JO ANNE's works with the plastic bobbins or if anyone else has any advice. Thank You.
4823
Not being able to repair older machines because they don't make the part any more seems to be the trend. I dread having anything in my sewing machine fail. I'm thinking about buying an used machine just to keep for parts.
A little pin in my shift lever on my car broke...and they didn't mfg that part any more either. I had to buy an entire new steering column to replace the tiny little pin that snapped.
1 comment
by de105
05 Jul 2019
Sorry to hear of your problem with the car. Customer Service is a thing of the past . The new moto is buy new. They think your made of money. Thank you!
33641I have a Designer Diamond that uses the green bobbins and I was told the portable bobbin winder wouldn't do the green bobbins, but I found that I just turn them upside down and it winds the thread on the correct way. I use mine all the time for my Viking, Brother and Elna bobbins.
It isn't from Joanne's though, as I'm in Australia, mine is pictured below, it was very cheap.
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4 comments
by pennyhal2
03 Jul 2019
"Not mfg the part any more" seems to be the trend with everything mechanical nowadays. I'm thinking about buying an used sewing machine just to keep for parts.
by meganne
edited 04 Jul 2019
I found this one advertised 4 sale on Aus Ebay so I checked out USA Ebay and found
https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_...
You can copy and paste the whole link into your web browser address bar, making sure there are no spaces or just search for Portable bobbin winder. Some were very cheap.
by meganne
04 Jul 2019
Actually the linked worked but it's showing postage to Aus in the listings, so best you just log in where you are and search if you really want one. I've had mine for years.
122864I also think it is a shame that a 20-YO machine cannot be repaired. My first sewing machine was a 20-YO Necchi Elna that ran great for another 30 years--until I decided I wanted to "upgrade." Now, as older machines are traded in for the newest models, maybe these unavailable parts will become available.
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7208i gave my daughter m(y 1998 Designer1 when I bought the Ruby. It is still being used, mostly for costumes for a theater group, at least 6 dozens a year.
It did not particularly like prewounds (neither does the Ruby) - they seem to bounce a bit in the bobbin holder. The papersided ones are worse than the more expensive plastic ones and, unlike the green ones, the latter can be wound on a very old machine I have.
I hope you'll find a solution to the winder problem!
2 comments
by AuntAnnie
02 Jul 2019
My Ruby does fine with prewound plastic bobbins. I purchase them by the gross from ThreadArt.
145304I bought the little Sidewinder from Joann's and used it for many bobbins and reused a sturdier prewound bobbin to wind bobbins for my Designer. It would not do the green Designer bobbins. Then I got the bigger version of the Sidewinder (of a fantastic sale) and it came with different posts to use to wind diff bobbins including the green Viking ones.
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5277At one time, the problem with those winders was the HV bobbins had to be put on upside down in order to wind correctly for our HV machines. Then I believe they cam out with a version that would accommodate the green HV bobbins. Also I think there was a "fix" for the original bobbin winder that allowed placing HV bobbins on right side up. Perhaps if you google you can find some info as it has been a number of years since I tried one. Good luck. Nan
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11927I've often read, that people wind their bobbins for the embroidery machine on the sewing machine. May be this works for you also.
Glad that you could repair your machine yourself.
2 comments
by airyfairy
01 Jul 2019
I have done this before and it works but my machines are the same make. I now only use prewound bobbins, they are fantastic
by de105
05 Jul 2019
I tried that and it doesn't work on my other machines but I will try putting them upside down and see if that works.
Thank You!
393If you don't have any luck with the bobbin winders when I had a Designer I used the Nebs Brand prewound bobbins and they worked great. Of course that will be more expensive but save buying a new machine. If you shop around you can find them fairly priced and a box of 144 lasted me a couple of years and I sew almost every day.
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8230Not a fan of the plastic bobbin winder at JoAnn's...I took it back...I ended up getting one on e-bay for under $35 and works great...it can also be mounted to a board or table if you choose....
1 comment
by de105
05 Jul 2019
The one I brought was Singer at Walmart $26.44 but it didn't wind the green plastic bobbins so it will be returned today. Thank You!
318509Have you tried ringing Husqvarna head office in your country, because they may know of a repairer who keeps parts from old machines .
I broke a part in a machine which was old & discontinued ,it took the repairer about a month to track down the part needed & it was still working until the mother board died.It wasn't even the brand of machine that he sold.
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25212I have an HV designer SE and it will only wind bobbins made for it, so I couldn't reuse the prewound bobbins until I discovered an old machine I had would wind them. If you have other machines, check to see if they will wind your bobbins. Good luck. If not, maybe you could just use prewound bobbins.
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11506Glad you managed to fix your machine. I don't know anything about your machine but I have a Janome Embroidery machine and Janome regular machine and the bobbins are the same. I always wind my bobbins on the regular machine for both. I tried a bobbin winder when they first came out and sent it back. That was all the way from Aust to America so you can see how disappointed I was. Others may like it but I didn't.
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