Originally Posted by irishrose
I know a 301 and FW are not the same machine, but when my 301 arrived in January, her tension was good, then it became erratic. I threatened her with banishment to the corner with the Kenmore with the same problem. I oiled the machine excessively and kept sewing. The tension is now perfect and stays well balanced. She just finished her first quilt. Maybe the old girls just need to be used.
I have seen the same thing happen with the FW. Clean and oil like crazy and they will free up and move very nicely. I don't like a machine that races, but if you want a machine that can race and is powerful, Glenn is right it wouldn't be a FW. Those little girls sew beautifully, but the power is in the treadles - those old girls are way more powerful than any FW or for that matter any modern day machine! Although, not all treadles will race! My Free has one speed no matter how fast I treadle - that is slow, which is fine with me - much more accurate that way!
Nancy