Am I out of it?
I've been sewing for 50+ years, always on vintage mechanical machines. A few years ago I got my first "new" machine, a Singer 4452 Heavy Duty. Also mechanical, not computerized. When I got it, I noticed no holes for oiling. I called the CS number and they confirmed, it does not need to be oiled. I understand, on newer machines they have plastic gears etc.
Today I read the manual and there is nothing about cleaning the machine. I have always done all my own maintenance and am used to periodically cleaning and oiling. It has been getting noisy. I took off the plate to access the bobbin area. Used my seam ripper and tweezers to take out a ton of lint, put a few drops of oil around the race (which is still metal) - and oh my goodness, so much quieter!!
So am I out of it, are we not meant to do simple maintenance on our machines anymore, but just take them in for service? I still do not see any good way to open up the top but since it is so nice and quiet now, maybe I don't need to.