Originally Posted by woody1229
I have a wonderful 70's era Bernina that has never given me any trouble, but I'm worried today. I whipped through a lap quilt that I need for a gift for a birthday party tonight, and I'm FMQing it with a quick vengeance. But my foot pedal has overheated so badly it's burning the bottom of my foot! I know I need to take some breaks to let it cool down, but I have a deadline goshdarnit!
Does anybody have any input on this?
Many of the old machines had pedals constructed so that they NEEDED breaks between stepping on the 'gas' to cool them down. That's why some older Singers have the 'button' foot controllers - the ones with the wierd square solid button next to the actuater. Many times when people 'gas' it (engage the actuater by depressing it)... their foot gets lazy or tired or something, and when they let up... they don't let up all the way. Kinda like when people drive with the foot on top of the brake pedal all the time. Don't do that.
The idea with those older Singer pedals was that the solid button was to rest your foot on, then you'd tip your foot sideways to run the machine... then tip back off of it when not running, in between seams, etc.
For newer machines. Just do this: Get into the habit of taking your foot all the way OFF the foot pedal when not stitching. Put your drive foot on the FLOOR when you're not actually stitching. Don't leave your foot partially on the thing, cause inside there... it's still 'on' and heating up... even if your needlebar is not moving. That will heat up, melt, overheat and start a fire...