Well, the sewing machine doc said it's terminal-- or rather: it would cost at least $200 to repair so I may as well get a new one.
Given that, I took her home and took her apart. The problem is a broken plastic gear that drives the feeder. See 2nd photo: broken bits.
I took as much apart as I could (easily), and saw that to replace this little plastic gear, I would have to take more of the machine apart than I'm probably capable of.
Dang!!!
Good news: I have a neighbor who is willing to give her like-new Montgomery Ward (!) sewing machine away. That should be able to hold me over for awhile.
-- Jillaine
Open heart surgery
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Bits of the broken gear
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Look for "naked" (metal) gear-base under plastic gear; naked should be "wrapped" with a plastic over-gear
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