I have an old Bernina 530-2 with knee operation (no foot pedal). One day it started to go on its own and I could smell burning so I pulled the plug out. Now it blows the plug fuse every time I replace it.

The burnt smell is coming from the cylinder on top of the motor - suppressor?? I asked a local repair man to have a look at it and he initially said the suppressor could be removed as it was not necessary nowadays, but then he told me that as there was a wire going into the motor he couldn't do that. Can anyone confirm that is the case?

There are four wires from the suppressor, two go to the contact points just above where the power lead goes, one goes to the square white bakelite (?) object on top of the motor and the other appears to be soldered to the top of the motor.

I would be really grateful if anyone can help me with this.

Eileen, May 2008

I have had the same problem. Yesterday the condenser on my Bernina 530 - 2 shorted out with sparks and smoke. Having discovered this forum, I removed the condenser after disconnecting the wiring. including the wire soldered on to the motor. My machine now works fine. Many thanks. Barry

Barry Taylor, February 2022

I just want to thank you for the help on this page. We have had the same problem and have removed the blown suppressor and my machine works again and no smoke! This machine was bought my dad in 1963 before he died, far too young aged 39 in 1965. I am so pleased that in the year he would have been 90, we have managed to keep the wonderful old thing going.

Meg in Devon, England, November 2015

Hi the capacitor on the motor has burnt out 0.1uf not a major but not easy to get take it into a Bernina sewing center to get repaired. from westcoastsewingmachines.com

westcoastsewingmachines.com, December 2011

Thank you so much!!!!, I solv my problem with Bernina 530

sailor Greece, January 2011

Hi !
excuse me I'm French and not speeking english…
This is a condensator, you can keep it away, i'm doing it sometimes with the motors and foot pedals
regards
ge+

ge+, October 2008

drivewithken, Thank you very much for replying and giving me the courage to do it. It worked! My son thought the wire soldered to the motor was an earth - but I was afraid to believe him.

Eileen, May 2008

Hello Eileen,
Yes he is right about a blown suppressor and they can be discarded, unusual for a wire to go into the motor, if it was me I would disconnect the wires that you can and with the wire that goes into the motor I would snip it, the machine is not working anyway and you cannot do anymore damage to the machine, if the wire is soldered to the top of the motor chances are it is just an earth wire because there would not be a live wire soldered to the motor, if you take the suppressor out make sure the plug is out first and loosen the stop motion so that when you do plug the machine in there is not danger of the machine running.

drivewithken@blueyonder.co.uk, May 2008