Machine Care & Service Policy

Greg has over 45 years of experience on hand and has a master service technical training Award to go with it. Our in-house tech, Ming, has been trained by Greg and all Associated Australian companies, of which we are a dealer. For over 45 years, we have been the dealers for Necchi, Husqvarna Viking, Brother, Janome, Pfaff, Babylock, Toyota, Bernina and Juki, but we accept all makes and models in our service department.

Pricing:

• Minimum Bench Charge: $85.00
• Light Bulb Fitment: $10.00.
• Scissor sharpening: $15.00
• Computerised machines: from $175.00 to $200.00 service
• Domestic Sewing & Embroidery machine unit: $210.00 Base charge standard service
• Bernina servicing: from $225.00 Base charge standard service (excludes embroidery units)
• Bernina 7 & 8 series machines from $450.00
• Mechanical Machines: from $150.00 service
• Overlockers: $135 to $150.00 service
• Large Quilting machines: from $350.00
• Industrial Machines: $150 + GST per/hour and travelling time $130.00

A $85.00 non-refundable deposit upon dropping off the machine is required, which is included in the total price of your machine service seen above.

Non-refundable deposits constitute a charge for our time to investigate the issue with your machine and find the appropriate parts from our legacy stores or other suppliers whether we are repair your machine or not.

If more involved repairs are required, the service fee from a minor service will be adjusted to a major service. We will call and advise if there are parts required for your machine, our main in-house technician, Ming, or one of our staff will call or email you to advise you of the labour and parts total and if you wish to proceed. Once you give a go ahead we will order any parts required and repair your machine if further parts of a insignificant value are required we may elect to go ahead and order them in order to compete the repair of the machine in a timely manner.

SEW SIMPLE SERVICE PROCEEDURES

Sew Simple have been servicing domestic and industrial machine in the Canberra region for over 45 years. We have a strong reputation for quality servicing. So what exactly do we do when you bring in your beloved machine? This is the the initial checklist of every part of the machine we inspect. We only use Rasant thread of the highest quality to test your machine, new Schmetz needles are fitted during service.

First, our technicians place the machine on an anti-static mat and attach themselves to the mat with an anti-static wrist strap. This prevents any electrostatic discharge by safely grounding themselves while working on any electronic sewing machines.

• Remove all covers to get to all major components.
• Remove all lint, dust and old oil and hardened grease.
• Remove any thread wrapped around the hand wheel and take up lever, hook gears.
• Check top tension disks for excessive wear especially with embroidery machines using metallic threads, and quilting machines using monofilament threads. Remove lint build up from low quality threads. Check all thread paths/guides for thread erosion.
• Check timing belt/motor belt for belt correct tension. Look for any excess wear spots. This is especially important with embroidery units.
• For older machines: check motor brushes and make sure the motor is turning freely.
• Check all shafts for play and bearing wear.
• Check drives for the feed dog mechanism for binding and or wear.
• Check all gears that drive the machine especially the hook drive gears
• Check the clearance settings for the hook and the hook driver. Check for damage to the hook from needle strikes or binding from lack of oil.
• Check bobbin winder operation.
• Check feed dog height alignment with the needle plate. Change in height can effect the way fabric is feeding through the machine.
• Depending on machine brand oil or grease the necessary moving parts of the machine. Some machines have sintered bearings that do not require oiling, these do require cleaning.
• Check for excessive play in needle bar drive mechanism. This is especially important on domestic embroidery machines as many have excessive stitch counts.
• Check that the needle is centering in the needle plate, both from side to side and front to back. The slightest bit off in any of the four directions can cause extra needle breakage when sewing extra wide stitches or heavy fabrics.
• Check needle and hook timing.
• Check that the presser foot alignment to the feed dogs and is at the proper height, this is especially with more advanced machines as this effects stitch and embroidery quality.
• Time the feed dog movement to the machine needle movement.
• Calibrate bobbin case tension.
• Check and clean bobbin case of any excess build up of lint.
• Check foot control’s electronic contacts, cord, cord end and look for any cuts in the cord. Older machines may need new power cords fitted to support current electrical standards.
• Testing and fine tuning of your machine

Once all the areas of the machine have been completely checked, oiled and adjusted, it’s time to see how it stitches.

Our technicians are looking for a smooth, running sound, balanced tension, even needle swing, centered needle position, proper feed dog movement/balance of stitches that stitch forward and reverse. They use a high quality polyester thread and also insert a new 80/12 needle. Embroidery machines undergo substantial running to ensure a quality result, this can take up to 2 hours.

Overlockers/Coverstitch machines receive extra care as our technicians check looper timing for both the upper and lower loopers, feed dogs, cutting knifes and needles. These machines run at higher speeds than a normal machine so escape is taken to ensure the machines are not binding and are working at full speed. These must have precision clearances or else they will not work well.

Embroidery machine units require special checking of all sensors, belt tension and X/Y movement. They are cleaned of any lint and oiled. When sewing out an embroidery test pattern, they look for precise alignment of outlines and proper tension.

All Sew Simple technical work is covered by a 3-month Guarantee on the work performed.

What our 3-month service Warranty Does NOT cover:

• Misuse of your machine
• Malicious Damage to your machine
• Operator error
• Incorrect Threading

What is covered in the Guarantee:

• Parts replaced during your service
• Labour performed during the service
• Mechanical faults during normal operation that arise from work performed by Sew Simple on your machine.

If work is carried out during /or under the Manufacturer’s Warranty of the Machine.

Sew Simple prides itself on our quality of service to Canberra and the south coast region. If there is an issue and the machine is Brand New or under the Warranty period, we will fix it free of charge, providing that:

• The machine is used correctly.
• The machine has been threaded correctly.
• There is no evidence of thread caught up in the gears, take-up mechanisms, motors or any other mechanical or electrical component.
• The machine has not been tampered with by the owner or another individual.
• The machine was purchased from Sew Simple either on our site or in our store.

Any brand-new machine found to have an issue that has nothing to do with the mechanical or electrical normal operation of the machine will incur a minimum bench charge fee. Machines brought to Sew Simple that have been purchased else where will be repaired in accordance with our supported brands warranty terms and conditions which excludes our labour. Any Machine left at Sew Simple for a term that is longer than 3 months following service or repairs and without prior notification incurs storage fees. Should the machine not be picked up after 6 months, Sew Simple Reserves the right to sell or Dispose of your machine to recover costs of storage and service work