Originally Posted by BoJangles

I am excited! I have a riding clinic this morning, then I pick up my mocha 301 this afternoon from Cathy, then on to Girls Night Out! What a nice day this will be! Cathy, I am planning on using the 301 tonight - at least to play with her! Do they take the same low shank foot as the feather weight. I have an extra 1/4" foot I will bring to use. Also I think they use the same bobbins? This will be my first 301!

Nancy

Originally Posted by miriam

Doesn't anybody just wind the bobbins as they sew? If you have two spindles you can you know.

Originally Posted by Whigrose

Hi all,
I know, I know, Charlee got you all to wondering what's new in my world but I already spilled the beans in the title.

We have a local 'rag' called Uncle Henry's (UH) that is similar to Craigslist where folks buy, trade and sell. My dh's brother called yesterday to say he saw a 'White' treadle for sale in New Hampshire. Not that I need another machine but something made me hop onto the UH's website - btw, if you're not a subscriber, you only get to view some of the posts. I spied this machine. HOLY HANNAH!! I don't know much yet about A & V machines but I knew this machine doesn't come a dime a dozen (please pardon the cliche). I tried getting hold of my not-so-local mentor for her opinion and advice but imagine, she probably has a life :-) So a quick drive by the ATM for cash and we're off. The seller's asking price was $85. He was thrilled to hear I would be using her and not reselling it. The price agreed upon by the men left enough to pay our entrance into the dance last night - can you imagine?! I would have paid the $85 and split town so fast before the seller had a chance or wanted to renig.

She's a darling little thing and I can't wait to try her out. Dh found a length of belt (so I can skip the too-skinny pantyhose idea) so the only thing left to do is to get her slide plates opened and change the bobbin winder ring. We have her setting with some lub along the plate edges. If you have any suggestions, please, let me know. We have tried a dowel and rubber mallet and tapping in the finger groove but she's fairly locked in. The shuttle is in place. With the exception of the marring on the front slide plate she looks pretty darn good. Her table will need some work come spring time. The seller says there was a 'box of attachments and stuff' that is in the attic. He promised to try and locate it and call me with seven days. What a guy!

Enjoy!

And a huge 'Thank you and a hug' to my west coast friend, who wrote back 'OMG!! GO GET IT!!!!!!!!!!!

best,
d

Originally Posted by BoJangles

Miriam, I have a question for you. I have been using my 401a, and I can't seem to figure out how to get it to use the cams? It just wants to sew with the decorative stitches that are built in? How do I disengage the machine's stitches and get it to just use the cam? Even when I use the "special" setting it still doesn't do the stitch on the cam? It is like it does not recognize the external cam?

Nancy

I am leaning more and more to my Rocketeer 503a! That machine only does the cam that I insert because there is nothing else it can do!

Originally Posted by Mizkaki

Candace,

As I said, I'm not really knowledgeable in FM. I have only used 2 styles of FM feet and only to try them out (playing around only). I don't know if this button foot will be a usable technique in the long run. Twas only an idea, but when using the button foot there is no additional noise or bouncing, as the foot doesn't move it just keeps the fabric from lifting.
Cathy

Originally Posted by BoJangles

Did you try putting your slide plate on from the needle side? Some slide plates go on from the needle side and not from the left toward the bed - but from the needle side toward the outside.

Nancy

Originally Posted by miriam

I'm with you on the 403 or the 503 - much easier beast to tame...

The lid to the machine should say how to use the disks. I'm thinking the bottom (or right hand gauge goes on S - can't remember the other but it should say) Put your selectors in the configuration for special then make sure the disk is in right. I'm sure you already did that or looked in the manual... So here is what I would look at after making sure I already read the manual or the lid.
Is the stitch selector moving all the way to the top and locking in it's spots? Those stitch selectors tend to get gummy after a couple weeks of setting around. You have to go easy on oil but you have to have oil. If the oil has dried in the posts or in any little place you have to clean it out and re-oil. While you are in there clean out the zig zag pin - it is next to the cam stack and under the rectangle thingy the readers ride on. Take off the lid - then open up the nose door and push on the needle bar you can see it the zig zag pin thiny move side to side next to the needle bar.... follow that bar with your eyes to the readers - it's under there - when you push on the needle bar you will see it go in and out - it needs cleaning and oiling once in a while - so does the 503 and the 403...