Can you post a pic?
Many of the old Singers are wonderful machines. I usually try to make sure that the machine will form a stitch before taking it apart to clean and oil. To do this, I thread the machine, use some scrap fabrics, and hand turn the wheel for awhile.
I recently posted about 5 cleaning and oiling steps I take with an old machine. If you click on my name and look at my recent posts, you should be able to find it.