When your machine's time is up.

[lendube]

I get a daily digest of postings from the Yahoo message board for my particular machine. I don't participate (yet) but I do gleen bits of information. Recently it's been brought up that since my machine came on the market 20 years ago come 2014 the mother board will no longer be available at that time. The moderator said that in her communications with Viking she's been told that it's no longer available now.

Luckily my machine is running beautifully (knock on wood) but I am a little concerned about what my options are should my board go out. What am I supposed to do? Run out and buy the new equivalent model at a cool $7000.00??? I think not! That's just obscene! Buy a used one for parts? I'm assuming that there are plenty of boards floating around out there in private and business hands and there should be for a while I'd think. Dh suggested checking into buying a board to keep on hand if the price is somewhat reasonable. That sounds like a good plan.

Have any of you dealt with your machine's time running out? I love my machine and haven't even THOUGHT of getting a different one and HATE the thought of being forced into doing so.

[LeapFrog Libby]

I agree, Lennie... That is obscene.. My Machine is coming up on 20 yrs old very soon, but it is not an embroidery machine.. I sure hope it is good for at least 10 or 15 more years simce i'm now 75 and sure don't want to buy another machine.. When I bought my Singer 221 in 1957 they were giving a lifetime guarantee on Singers.. Mine is ;now 51 years in my posession and it was used when I bought it.. (Yes, they gave a new machine guarantee with it) Its never been in the shop but once when DS was a baby and unscrewsed the tension pieces and I could not figure out how to put it back together.. Of course, My Janome MC 4000 is just the same.. (only problems were caused by user) I still love both of them.. If I was 50 or so I might buy an emb. machine, buy cannot afford one now, anyway..I have friends who do that when I need it..

[HeyJudee]

My mother bought a Pfaff in 1976 and she used it until she passed away in 1985. Then my father used it to hem pants a few times over the years. In 1997 it stopped working and I took it to a Pfaff dealer here in Ottawa and it couldn't be repaired as they didn't make the mother board any longer. So I have the machine sitting in a corner of the basement...just can't seem to get up the courage to throw it out. So 20 years is about how long they continue to make parts for the various machines now a days.

[MartySews2]

Judy, on my old Kenmore which had a 30 year warranty, I couldn't get parts from Sears after 15 years. That was before I had a computer. Now, there are websites where one can get advice on repairing machines & order parts that are no longer available thru retail stores. With so many companies merging, it is amazing that different machines are being made. I expect to have my machines for a long while. I did keep & use my Kenmore for 30 years until the housing was broken. Now, I have older machines plus a few new computerized models. Didn't ever see myself as a collector but I've gotten interested in the older machines. Lennie, buying a circuit board sounds like a good idea. The only thing is that when the time comes to replace the circuit, will there be someone available that knows how to install it in your particular machine since the companies are no longer supporting the model? Something to think about.
Marty

[MTL79]

Dear Lennie,

Since the addition of the computer chip sewers have faced the problem of computer boards dieing and machines needing replacement because part are no longer available. Since it sounds like you love your sewing machine (which I do not blame you, finding a good sewing machine is harder than finding love.) I would recommend getting an extra board, if you can find one at a good price, just in case. However if that the only part that is going wrong your machine?

Some sewing machines are like cars. At a certain age things go bad and the sewer have to choice whether to spend money of repairs or on a new machine. I am not a Viking expect (nor do I know your model) but I know that the Singer Touch and Sews from the 70s did eventually run their course and are now in landfills.

Have you talked with your local Viking Dealer? What have they seen happen to machine like yours?

No matter what just enjoy the time you have with your machine! Vikings are great machines and last a long time.

Who knows you computer board may never go out.

Michael

[Mom of Six]

Welcome Michael.
Just 1 more reason for me to be happy with what I have & not get a computerized machine. Really no money is the reason.

[lendube]

Thanks, everyone. My machine is the Viking #1+. I've had it 5 years now (it had only been used a handful of times when I got it) and never have had a problem. I've taken it in for a tune up each year and need to go soon again since I do use it probably 5 out of 7 days a week. I'll check around and see where boards are available and how much they're going for. I'd imagine the price will go up as they become harder to find. Other parts not being available is a very good point too. Sewing machines have become computers and have taken the same route. They got 'cha.

Michael, how about posting in the "Introduce Yourself" forum so we can all welcome you? From your posts I get the impression you're in the sewing machine business. What capacity? Sounds like you might have some experience we could all benefit from as well as us giving you input from which you could benefit.

[Shellymoon]

My husband knows how to repair circuit boards when they go fritz. It's usually a simple soldering project or replacing one of the parts on the machine. If yours goes out you might try to find someone who knows how to work with electronics (usually a tv repairman) to work on the board. They can test it and tell you if the circuit board is bad. DH says they don't repair things down to the component level like that anymore because it's cheaper and faster to replace the whole board.

I have a 23-year-old Brother that bit the dust this year. The electronic display went out and the foot pedal went on the fritz at the same time. DH could fix the display, and I could buy a new foot pedal, but the parts that make the specialty stitches (they used to be called cams, not sure what they are called) are worn down around the edges. And the plastic part that you slide off to make the free arm is broken.

The new foot and free arm replacement would cost more than the machine is worth sadly.
I can't bear to part with it though. It was a gift from DH the first year we were married.

[bridesmom]

I still have my mom's old Pfaff and my MIL had the same one, but her's died, so I have it JIC, though, if the board goes on it, I can still get another one, but for a hefty price. I may check and see if I can get one somewhere, cause I do like this old workhorse. The new one is great, but I"m partial to my Pfaff.