Billy's thread is under this heading.
http://www.quiltingboard.com/virtual...jsp?vsnum=1013
I gave you the main link as there are tutorials to help you clean and wire your machine if necessary.
Just in case that link doesn't work as I have added it to my virtual section, and you probably haven't, try this one:
http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-43881-1.htm but go under his profile to see his tutorials.
Also, about the Schmetz needles, I would ask Billy, the wiz. When I called Singer before I knew that Billy existed on this board, they told me NOT to use Schmetz as they were too long for the Singer machines.
I would go with whatever Billy says as he deals with this all the time, and who knows how much knowledge the clerk on the Singer website actually had.
Congratulations on your featherweight, I would love one of them.