HOW IRONIC...
I learned something today:
I've never sewn a button on with my machine...thought I'd try it, and I broke the needle. I knew it! I knew I would do that...BUT...when I was taking the needle out of the machine (what was left of it!), it just dropped right down through the feed dogs and into the machine! It disappeared!
I unplugged everything and after I couldn't see it with a light AND I couldn't get the metal plate off (because my screwdriver was too long and ...you know how all that goes)...so I turned the machine upside down. No rattle. No noise at all.
So, onto something different. I got the plastic plate off the machine (around where you drop the bobbin in). I took out the bobbin shuttle, and...
Again, this is my COMPUTERIZED machine, and that's why I started this thread to begin with--bc of magnets....
THE NEEDLE IS STUCK TO THE MAGNET THAT IS UNDER THE BOBBIN SHUTTLE! That's why there was no noise when I turned it up!
I'd never had it apart before. I got to clean it some while I was at it.
AND I got out the manual to see where it recommended the machine be oiled at...and it said NOT to oil the shuttle....and there is not a single place in the manual that says where, if at all, to oil the machine! I've looked in the appendix, glossary, intro, ??? I tried calling Brother, but all reps were busy, of course. I've e-mailed them before about seeing if they make a hat hoop for the thing or not! No response, of course!