Bideford Sewing Machines

14/03/2026

Overlocker troubles?

Customer came to me with a frozen overlocker...

Machine had basically locked up like a mini with nitrosoxide poured down the pistons & the linkages got pushed out of alignment.

Well to find the culprit to this I've had to undo the whole main shaft of every component linked to it... the feed, the knife, the needle bar stroke cam, both the upper & the lower looper....

After all that still a component was stuck... & then I saw a very minute screw had allowed a pivoting shaft to slightly wiggle free of which was probably cause of this machines failure...

Production staff had missed a minute screw that holds 1 of the loopers in situ.

So now I am currently having to reset the timing of this Janome overlocker to get her back stitching.. & then after conversation with it's owner she tells me the manual states all 4 thread tensions on 4,4,4,4.

Do you think the machine stitches nicely on all 4?.....

NO it does not.... machine is really stressed out & I'm turning this by hand.... not at full motor speed of which may cause damage.

In it's current state as I have the machine in;it is to the end user displaying itself to be stitching nicely on tension numbers 4,5,0,0.. not the 4's the manual states.

Again probably another reason machine decided to throw its hands up.

Have you got machine troubles?

Your not the only 1.

A quick look on forums tells me many folk have issues with brand new machines out of a box...

The box shifting shops don't check the product actually works correctly before selling it on.

I do.

If your machine is playing up & needs tlc please call me, don't throw it out just yet..

It maybe a really good machine but just needs setting up correctly.

I might take a while correcting machines problems & my lead times show that..! But atleast you'll get a machine back that works how it should do & that's why my customers keep coming back after a few years of using it trouble free. (A quick fix only prolongs it's main upset)

Got machine troubles

My number
07474103427

04/03/2026

Sewing machine blowing your fuse board?
Luckily your still here to read this post..

Take a look at these pictures & then grab your telephone to tell me about your machines troubles...

These pictures are from a Singer motor produced around 1940's ... over time the outer insulation degrades & as seen in today's pictures the internal wires become exposed & will cause a fatility or a burning building.

If your machine is working by itself or an electrical smell emanating from within... then do get in contact.

My number 07474103427

This motor is getting a rewire with today's British standard wiring & will then get PAT TESTED... your safety as well as mine

www.bidefordsewingmachines.com

09/02/2026

Good morning folks,

Well, I'm still here!

Had my head buried inside several sewing machines lately & have been off grid.

Take a look at this beauty

Singer 319K pale green.. this model has typewriter levers to give different patterns depending upon which combination is used, also bakerlight interchangeable pattern cam for dedicated pattern type..

Nice machine

My customer wanted machine fixed asap but it had severe damage to business end components & I was fixing this 1 all day Sunday.

It was seized in places, it had severe damage to bobbin case (of which on this machine is a dedicated bobbin case with a cutout groove to accept a key from the machine hook race); also thread bobbins had been smashed by needle..

Take a look at those minute little screws that hold the business end together.. look at the years of sticky brown gunge around the bobbin case area.. Sunday all day cleaning this 1.

Do you have a sewing machine in need?

Perhaps like this 1 .. & not been looked after or maintained for over 60 years.

Give your faithful a bit of tlc ..

My number is 07474103427

www.bidefordsewingmachines.com

09/12/2025

Dear Customers,

As 1 can not imagine or maybe you can I am not only upto my eyeballs in loose nuts n bolts that need re-tightning after years of neglect but it is also coming upto Christmas & some of us need a break..

Yes I am still taking in machines, yes I am getting to your machine IF you have left it with me & yes I have to unchain my self from the bench to get some fresh air once in a while!!!!

Many of you have left 2 or 3 machines with me which I am very grateful for but I am also playing fair with each of you & getting a machine back to you in my lead-time I gave you when they were left here!!! not including every1 elses & other variables of which like the butterfly effect are not in my control.

I wish you a Merry Christmas & see you all hopefully in the New Year!!

Terry

07474103427

27/11/2025

Hi all,

Well now that winter is close upon us all & the days are drawing darker before it's even 1700hrs not to mention the chilly temperature; I have now moved into a warmer setting to help you all stay creative out there!

Did you know - many retailers just box-shift... (That is term used when importing goods with-out in-house testing before moving the goods onto the consumer)

I test my products before I move them on & that also includes your machines - oh did I forget to mention " I also get you to test your machines for me too, when you get them back"

1 more thing I thought that I had better mention..

Have you heard of the repair cafés?
(The place where they repair items for free!.. well they get you to sign a disclaimer before your goods go in there!)

Remember me because the repair cafés state " they are not in competition with local businesses" but actually they do things for free which means no1 can compete with them!!!

Just remember that; even if you are rich or poor they will get you to sign the waiver, 1 repair cafe even asked me "How can I tell" How rude!

Repair businesses up & down the UK are closing down because of organisations like the 1 mentioned above & these organisations are fed money from Tax Payer ; with 1000's of volunteers unpaid doing the graft & a boss at top skimming £80,000.00 per year for himself... (I've got the tax returns)

If you don't use me - you will lose me..

Don't be a volunteer & don't treat your sewing machine like 1.

If you would like your sewing machine cared for & given the respect it deserves then get in contact with me.. cos the repair cafe came to me with a machine all in bits & left it unfixable & failed to let the customer know - I still have it!

Apparently not in competition but they don't point customers to businesses that need paying financially to stay on the high street & of whom actually have several employees that have rent & household bills to pay, let alone to pay to put food on the table...

Do you get any money for being a volunteer? Can you afford your rent/mortgage for being a volunteer?

Then why do it?.. volunteers should be paid.. full stop...

Think about it! & If you are a volunteer doing all the graft.... Just think about the boss at the top skimming £80,000.00 + while your possibly struggling to put the heating on, let alone food on the table..

This is why many repair businesses are slowly disappearing from UK...

Being undercut by organisations that state " they are not in competition with any local businesses"

Remember me next time you think of the repair cafés... & Not just me... Remember the tailors & seamstresses also... They rely on your custom to stay on the high street when you do actually need them... We can't all fix stuff for free when we ourselves are being taxed of which then feeds this mess that is causing us to raise our prices & make us look expensive...

Repair cafés (Not for profit apparently) someone is making lots of money.

Remember me .. I'll probably lose a few more followers for this statement but probably gain more customers.... Don't get me wrong some (some) charities have a decent cause ... But to undercut genuine businesses on the high street who have to pay business rates, insurance, employees wages & tax etc, etc which then finds it's way back to repair cafés bank accounts; who then financially undercut the same businesses who have just paid to stay on the high street. ( I've got the tax returns)

Remember me..I've got bills to pay

All the best

Terry
07474103427

02/11/2025

Overlocker stitching... Turned slowly by hand for you to witness it's miracle of lassoing threads to tie the most mischievous little stitches in a blink of an eye..

Clever little machines.

Machine troubles?

07474103427

02/11/2025

Hey folks,

Remember the little Bernina overlocker?

I've got her stitching... Yay....

Broken nylon gears, the tension dials not user friendly for the end user... Even I struggled to get her stitches looking half decent.. all 4 threads pulling on 1 another & it could have also been the timing... Soo much going on..

Came through in the end..

A video will follow...

Yes it has been on my bench for a week but in between I have been entertaining my 10 year old (back to school Monday) & my 2 Sprockers keeping me sane..

PAT test to follow & to wipe off my oily fingerprints.

Do you have a sewing machine in need of a rescue...

Overlockers, all kinds of other sewing machines, industrial machines too.

07474103427

30/10/2025

Wooahhhhh!

Overlocker craziness.. timing schedule.

Yesterday I disassembled an overlocker of which had a cracked / broken nylon gear.. a replacement was found thankfully to keep this Bernina O/L in good shape.

Last night the machine came to bits... I had my head in my hands.. but NO.

I've pulled the machine back together. Take a intricate look at the attached video.. please no comments about my Disney Princess wallpaper in the background.. it's a personal thing.

2 needles. 2 separate knitting needles below of which rotate independently (loopers), the feed (teeth that pull fabric through the machine) & all the bounces which enable the threads to become slack for a brief moment in history to allow the steel to collect the cotton's..

Yes the needles are being tweaked slightly ... But with tolerances less than thickness of human hair I've not got much room to play with.. but I will sort this out... Else I'll be back to square 1.. or even worse!.. shards of steel embedded in the ceiling.

View the video..

Have you a machine that requires attention?

I repair / service all kinds of machines.

Including industrials

Terry
07474103427

29/10/2025

Overlocker troubles?

Same here..

Customers Bernina Ol..

Broken nylon/plastic gear.

Local mechanic said he couldn't do it & told my customer to go 100 mile away.

My customer called me up.. I was only round the corner..

New gear ordered in & machine coming to bits..

Can I get it going?

Check in next week for the next episode.

Uh oh!

Motor is now out & wiring loom..

Need to remove all this to access the shaft for removal to replace with new nylon gear...

& then go give my self some serious telling off in the corner as I cry like a baby & wonder how in earth I am going to put the craziness of an overlocker back together to actually getting her stitching again.

As my uncle use to put it.. if a J*p can.

Got a machine giving you trouble?

All kinds of machines looked at & repaired/ fixed

Try me I'm in North Devon

Appledore

Terry
07474103427

24/10/2025

Time of year again... Brrrr! I'm moving into warmer place.

It turned briskly cold over last few days..

I've got an overlocker on my bench..

Complicated bits of components all held together with nut n bolts...

This little machine had damage to needle plate... Unfortunately needed new 1... Overlockers are ideal for seaming on inside & practically leaving an invisible stitch on outside..

Cushions, leggings, shirts.. almost any item that can create a soft feel for your skin when product is worn or held.

Here is a video of the machine on my bench.. turning mechanism very slowly to see movement...

The covers will be going on shortly

14/10/2025