I haven't had any luck finding a free manual for my Universal, but the Yahoo site for Japanese machines has a link for several for sale in the $10-$17 range. It looks to me like your stitch length adjustment is in the big knob with the R on it. I see numbers embossed in the metal behind it. I'm thinking the top right is the ZZ width. Those are often stuck so lots of oil and a little heat inside may loosen it.

Only did a bit of junkin' today, as the spousal unit and I both had doctor's appointments.

Did spot a Singer 66 at the local GW, $90, nothing with it, top of case gone, no rust, but huge chunks of the finish gone. They also had a pretty blue Morse 15 clone for $40, and a Dressmaker for $15. They all stayed there.
St. Vinnie's had some goodies, but not a lot. Spent $5 and got an old Singer oil can (green, white and red, rectangular, marked 30 cents, never opened!), a box of bobbins with a zipper foot for my Janome, a couple of slant shank attachments, screwdriver, light bulb, and 2 packs of needles in a baggie, a new package of HeathBond Lite for applique, a Singer Professional buttonholer (I know...I didn't need it, but it was $1.50 before my senior discount!) , and the best for last....a baggie that held 9 muslin blocks with hand appliqued butterflies, done in vintage fabrics. I'll be putting those into a wall hanging, I think... :)

I've had worse days junkin'!! :)

I won't buy sewing machines from parking lots etc. anymore. If the seller doesn't want me to come to their house, the deal is off. I know people are scared of being murdered, robbed etc. but the one time I bought a machine in a parking lot is the one time I got royally screwed. Now, I insist that if I'm paying for a working machine I pick it up and have the ability to test it out beforehand. Otherwise, I consider it a 'parts' machine.

I bet your seller sold it to someone else for more. What a stinker.

I answered an ad on CL one time and I couldn't believe this. The seller texted me that he had someone coming over in a hour that wanted to buy it, but that if I were to get there before the buyer and pay him a few $ more for it, he'd sell it to me. What about the poor guy that was already on the road and would show up to find it sold out from underneath him?? How rude! I refused to do business with someone with those morals:<

[[email protected];5319234]Since all of you people are so good at problem solving, maybe you can tell me where I can download a free manual for this new $5.00 machine I just picked up at a Church Garage Sale. I took it over to my daughters today to try it out. It works great and the motor is so quiet. It's a Japaneese clone and weights a TON! It didn't come with any feet other than what wa on the machine. Yet for the dollars, it was worth it. She wants Mom to teach her how to quilt. I never thought I would hear that from the gal who just never had time. LOL Any help would make me happy. Thanks a lot. This sight is great. Seeing all your machines and finds. The refurbishing and all the great instructions. I even ordered Tri-flow for oiling. It seems like your becoming part of my family. LOL
Thank You, Claudia

Hi Claudia, Try the Yahoo Vintage Japan Sewing Machines Group, they have two manuals for Universal machines, don't know if they are for the model you have.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/vintag...guid=190490383

No i was paying cash so i didnt get taken for money or anyejust 3 hours driving and half a tank of gas. They stopped responding to me. Traded 20 emails today so its not like we didnt have extensive communication regarding meeting. So frustrating and i wanted my featherweight!!!

I'd be willing to bet after all the e-mails with you they got a better offer and took it without a second thought to you. People can be so thoughtless and rude. But, on the other hand they could have had an accident or some emergency came up that was way more important to them than selling that machine! Things do happen!

Nancy

Craigslist has lots of unsavory characters in it. An FW would make good "bait". Be careful, bring along someone. I must admit I've had good experiences with CL but I never chased high demand items.

Jon

Claudia, did you sew with it the way it is threaded in the photo? If so, it probably sewed but you don't have the thread going under that bar next to the tension disk like it should. The thread goes from the tension check spring -then under that bar on the left side of the tension - up to the take up lever thread guide.

Nancy

geez I'm doing a parking lot meet up tomorrow morning ...then off to pick up another ol junker..

so by mid afternoon these will be sitting in my front room... unless there just to dirty..

It's been 30 yrs waiting to get thie 16 -188

The la V whatever it is comes in a Dome top case, but it's the one with ribbed end and the trick decal


http://i922.photobucket.com/albums/a...rl777/0021.jpg


http://i922.photobucket.com/albums/a...rl777/0011.jpg

http://i922.photobucket.com/albums/a...rl777/1908.jpg

I go to very public visable locations and i go armed :) either myself or hubby are always carrying whenever we go meet strangers and where we are going is crystal clear to the other should something happen.