Thread Number: 5670
Bernina upright 		[Down to Last]

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Post# 62968   3/17/2009 at 20:16 (5,517 days old) by travstyles ()        

Hi everybody, I'm new again to the forum--had been posting once in awhile a few years back and then stopped.

I recently bought a Bernina 6500 upright, brand new in the box, for 175.00 from a dealership here in Phoenix. The store was kind of a time warp, he had brand-new Sharp uprights from at least 20 years ago for sale--with new stock in the back!

Anyway, my understanding is that the Bernina line was discontinued, and the production date on my machine was 2001-so it's no surprise that the belt installed was totally stretched out and no good. I have asked around and nobody knows what the machine is, but most recommend using a Panasonic UB8 belt--I have tried two of these and the machine goes through them in about a week.

This machine does not have the brushroll shutoff, but it does have an idler so that when the machine is upright, the brushroll stops. Is there any chance I am missing something? Could the brushroll need lubrication after sitting in a box for 8 years, and that's why it's burning belts? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Trav

Post# 62971 , Reply# 1   3/17/2009 at 20:31 (5,517 days old) by rugmaster37 ()        

I would suggest using a Simplicity 7000 Series belt or a Riccar 8000 series belt. It's wider and thicker than the Panasonic's, and should give you better service. I used to think that the Bernina was nothing more than a carbon copy of the old 7 Series anyway. In fact it may have even been built by Tacony. If he sold it to you with a warranty, you may want to be sure you even have one.

Same thing with the NOS Sharps. Sharp hasn't really been pushing their vacs for quite some time, and parts can be a problem. For me anyway.

I would also think consequently that the Simplicity 7000 or Riccar 8000 series bags would fit in place of the Bernina ones that were specially packaged for the vac.

Hope this helps, unless someone else wishes to give this a try?

Chad


Ann Arbor Michigan

Post# 62974 , Reply# 2   3/17/2009 at 20:51 (5,517 days old) by travstyles ()        

Chad,

Thanks, that's good advice. I will try that. Are these brushrolls something that need to be lubricated? I can only think that if the resistance was greater that may have caused the belts to go so early.

If so, what type of lubricant would you recommend and where should I put it?

Thanks for your reply
Travis

Post# 62975 , Reply# 3   3/17/2009 at 20:55 (5,517 days old) by kirbykid1 ()        

Travis the Berina designs were bought by a company called Steel City vacuum supply. This vacuum supplier is located near Pittsburg PA. They are now called the evolution. They make them in many different designs. Try calling Steel city vacuum supply. They will ship a belt to you. I wish you luck. I have heard they are good vacuums.

Post# 62991 , Reply# 4   3/17/2009 at 23:40 (5,517 days old) by travstyles ()        

Anyone know how to lubricate one of these ball-bearing steel brushrolls? Where would I put the lubricant and what would I use? Any help is appreciated.

Post# 62995 , Reply# 5   3/18/2009 at 01:32 (5,516 days old) by rugmaster37 ()        

Lubrication-

I'm almost SURE there is a way for you to dismantle the roller and get to the bearings. I use a product at my store called Zoom Oil. It's similar in properties to 3 in 1, BUT it does not smell horrid, and doesn't stain the rugs if any drips out.

Im not saying to saturate the bearing, but in your case you may need to give it an ample amount to free up the stuck balls in the bearing.

KirbyKid1 is correct on the newer versions being called the evolution. It's just rebadged from Bernina to Evolution. You shold be able to get the correct bags and belts by matching the look of your machine to the current line. If that doesnt work out for you the bags and belts that I have speciifed should work fine.

Let me know If i can be of any more help...


Chad

Post# 63813 , Reply# 6   3/24/2009 at 21:36 (5,510 days old) by ttuee2006 ()        
Oil in the Brushroll Bearings

 Too bad those bearings won't last till the water gets hot after being hit with that thin oil.

That's the quickest way to ruin a bearing under tension of a belt. If the bearings are bad, and they're ball bearings, either replace them, or pry out the seal and repack with grease! There is no other correct way to fix a ball bearing and expect any sort of life out of it. Especially in something that's got tension on it, vibrating on carpet, and whizzing around at several thousand RPM!

Post# 63843 , Reply# 7   3/25/2009 at 03:54 (5,509 days old) by travstyles ()        

Thanks everybody for your help. It ended up that the wheels were squeaky and not the brushroll, it was fine. I tried UB-1 and UB-8 Panasonic belts and it burned thru them. Next I got Simplicity belts as suggested and they gave excellent agitation (I could see dirt jump!) but didn't allow the clutch/idle pulley to work when the machine was upright.

The solution? Out of desperation I went to a local vac store and what did they have on the shelf? Bernina belts, 2 for 4.99. Not a bad price but I know they are at least 5 years old, but so far seem to work great! The packaging is opaque and airtight and seems to have shielded the rubber quite well.

This is a solid machine. Some suggested this machine is a Tacony/Riccar/Simplicity clone, however, I suspect it's more a hybrid that was reverse engineered and made in Taiwan to be branded for Bernina. Why do I say this? Newer Tacony uprights have rear wheels that are attached to the body of the machine and do not tuck under when the handle is lowered, i.e. Panasonic. The Bernina does.

Being a Taiwan built machine that sold for considerable $$ back in the day, I did a partial disassembly though and noticed that it had an Ametek motor, ball-bearing brushroll, and even replaceable 'stops' that hold the attachments in--if one wears out or snaps I presume it can be replaced, so all on board attachments are kept in place! Right now I'm using Panasonic bags by Filtrete that I got at Best Buy. It is a *solid* machine with strong suction.

I picked it up brand new for $175 bucks! It was in the box for at least 8 years, as the UPS label said 2001. Like I said, the seller had uprights from Sharp that were *at least* 20 years old as well as uprights branded "Jet-Flo" by Panasonic with metal handles--haven't seen "Jet-Flo" on a machine of theirs for a long time. The crazy part is he stocks most of the machines new! If he had the Bernina 6700 (TOL machine with variable power control) NIB I would have had it in a heartbeat, and may still get the floor model cause I think they are so cool :)

I know it has absolutely zero to do, manufacturing wise, with the solid Swiss sewing machines (my mom had a Bernina 801--over $800 in 1982 money, that I was always fascinated with). I find it interesting that the front says "Made For" Bernina and the back lists the Bernina corporate HQ in the US--Aurora, IL.

If anybody knows more about the story behind this vac, I'd love to know! I remember seeing them new around 2000 and thought they were beautiful but way out of my price range--did Bernina just want a "me too" product to combo with their machines at a Sew & Vac? I know the venture didn't last too long... Now they're sold as "Evolution" (not as pretty as 'Bernina,' lol), and then there is Cirrus, which looks like an evolution of the Evolution, evolved from this. Certainly one of the strangest uses of branding that I've seen.

With all that said though, it is a fun vacuum, tough as a tank, quiet, extreme suction, and for $175 dollars I don't think I could have done better, at all!


-Trav

Post# 63844 , Reply# 8   3/25/2009 at 03:54 (5,509 days old) by travstyles ()        
Bernina

 Back. Note the replaceable attachment clips and the super-stretchy hose!

Post# 63845 , Reply# 9   3/25/2009 at 03:55 (5,509 days old) by travstyles ()        
Bernina

 Underside-Ball bearing brushroll with stiff, replaceable brushes and an idler for when the machine is upright.

Post# 63846 , Reply# 10   3/25/2009 at 03:57 (5,509 days old) by travstyles ()        
Bernina

 Manual and OEM belts! The belt installed on the machine (it sat in a box stretched out for 8 years) was completely rigid.

Post# 63847 , Reply# 11   3/25/2009 at 03:57 (5,509 days old) by travstyles ()        
Bernina

 Stretchy!

Post# 63848 , Reply# 12   3/25/2009 at 03:58 (5,509 days old) by travstyles ()        
Bernina

 Notice how the wheels pivot under the machine--Simplicity/Riccar don't do this, only the earliest models that were sourced from Panasonic

Post# 63849 , Reply# 13   3/25/2009 at 03:59 (5,509 days old) by travstyles ()        
Bernina

 'Made for' Bernina--the Swiss were not about to take the fall if this was a bad product, lol (it's certainly not!)

Post# 63851 , Reply# 14   3/25/2009 at 04:00 (5,509 days old) by travstyles ()        
Bernina

 Branding/serial. Nowhere does it mention Buckeye vac supply. Thermal overload switch, too!

Post# 63853 , Reply# 15   3/25/2009 at 04:00 (5,509 days old) by travstyles ()        
Bernina

 If anybody wants one, he's got more, I'm sure :)

Post# 63913 , Reply# 16   3/25/2009 at 20:35 (5,509 days old) by turboace ()        

Look at the link. Bernina was sold to and is now Dustcare. Very good machines. Did you find the magnet that is in the clean out where the hose goes into the back of the machine? It will catch pins and needles so they don't pop the bag!

CLICK HERE TO GO TO turboace's LINK
Post# 63916 , Reply# 17   3/25/2009 at 20:39 (5,509 days old) by eurekaprince (Montreal, Canada)        
OMG! What's Dustcare doing selling Eureka/Sanitaire upri

 eurekaprince's profile picture
What has happened to my beloved Eureka Company? Their classic upright design is now being manufactured by everybody.....look at Dustcare's commercial line.

Post# 468280 , Reply# 18   12/25/2023 at 16:38 by panasonicvac (Northern Utah)        
Happy Holidays everyone!

 panasonicvac's profile picture
I had just gotten myself a 6500 in the red commercial version as a Christmas present. I've been after one of those for a very long time now and I'm super glad I have one finally. Still looking for the blue version one of these days.

Post# 468344 , Reply# 19   12/29/2023 at 05:14 by mark40511 (Lexington, KY)        

mark40511's profile picture
It's funny. Back in the early 2000s I had never even heard of Bernina...and now I think I essentially have a clone of one. A cirrus. And now after 5 years with it...The only thing I've had to replace on it was the handle...I really love this vacuum and how cheap it is to operate it (bags/belts/filters). It does go through belts. Someone on here told me if I buy a pack of belts to keep them in the fridge. I wrote down the last time I changed it and it was 1 yr 2 mos ago. I noticed it needs changing. This last pack of belts I bought are panasonic.

I would love a HIGH END vacuum but this will do..


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