There's a Singer 227 near me for a good price. Are they a good model or are they one of the quirky models? Just curious before I reply to the CL ad.
Chris

Candace,
You got me curious about my wife's Bernina Record 930. So I popped the top off and took a gander. Happily, it has a steel cam stack in it :D , but sadly it has about 4 or 5 plastic gears :( . None of the gears has any lube what so ever, not even those plastic gears that run with metal ones.

So, I was thinking of putting some Tri-Flow grease on them. What is your opinion of doing that? This machine is in great shape and runs great too. I'm just wanting to keep it that way.

Joe

Joe, it's not the cams that are the issue, as the 830 and 730 series also have metal cams, it's the gear that drives them is nylon and they do periodically need replacing(every 35 years or so). My 830 model is the model that came out before the 930(older). I replaced this nylon camstack gear and shaft in mine. The whole shebang has to come out-all cams and shaft. Of course putting a new one back in messes with all the internal components and it needs adjustment. Putting any grease on nylon gears is a bit controversial. Some will say it leads to attracting dirt and dust and others say it's fine. It's up to you. Personally, I only grease metal on metal gears. I know some of the lubricant does eventually make it to the nylon gears, but I don't put it there on purpose. If the nylon gear was making a noise or causing problems, it would probably not hurt to grease it, but I would probably just oil it as the manual states. You can ask Cathy what her opinion of this is, but I follow this same logic with my Elnas and leave well enough alone.

I've posted this machine before, when I received it, but it's now working fully. I had to send it to a local service repair and he spent 12 hours working on it over a span of 2 months, to just get it to zig zag and straight stitch. The embroidery unit was still un-operational. With the help of a kind soul on the vintage yahoo group, I was able to fix the embroidery unit and put it through it's paces today. It's an amazing machine. Pfaffs and other European machines are truly like fine watches. But, one little part out of adjustment can wreck havoc and cause considerable headaches! This machine looks almost brand new inside and out and has all attachments, case etc. Not only does it do beautiful embroidery stitches it FMQs like a DREAM. This is another one I won't let go! What's neat about this model is it has a stopmatic feature that automatically raises the needle up out of the fabric.

Candace,

Thanks for the advice on the Bernina. I think I'll just clean it and oil the oily places and leave it at that.
The gears that are in there look really great and the machine runs great too. No signs of wear or damage or cracking that I can see. Cross my fingers. If this machine dies It's far to complex for my skills and it will have to go to a Bernina mechanic.

That Paff is a sweet looking machine. I've seen a couple of them or something similar on GW. Never did bid on any, at least not yet.

Joe

Where has Charlee been???

I'm here, off and on Miriam... and now that I know what's going on, I can share why I haven't been around much lately.

When we went to the coast in July, it seems that I had a bit of a heart attack. Finally got into the cardiologist yesterday, where I underwent a nuclear stress test and echogram. Good news and bad... had another minor heart attack on the treadmill for the stress test, but no damage, and none from the one in July either. :)
Bad news...I have aortic valve stenosis, or a hardening of the aortic heart valve causing it to malfunction under exertion. I also have stress induced asthma, which doesn't help with the heart thing!
Ending with good news...they are going to try to control the problem with medication! :) Some of the side effects aren't exactly pleasant, but I think I can deal with those better than I can these episodes! :)

Not sure how much I'll be around...have been trying to spend more time with the spousal unit...and more time sewing....but I do check in everyday and at least read about what's happening!! :)

Charlee,

Take care of yourself. You are the only you you got.

Joe

hmph Charlee - you gotta stick around - too boring if you don't

:) Thanks! I'll be here...and there....and here again....and there... :D