Originally Posted by Honchey
. . .there is a red piece of fabric that looks like a wick it's just to the right of the button you push to get the bobbin out of the case. It's attached to or inside a little metal ring of wire that looks like a spring. I removed some of it but I think it's supposed to be there .
Yep--that red piece of fabric is an oil wick. The first time I came across one (in a 285), I tried my best to pull all of it out, thinking it was lint. I've since heard many people try that!!