Originally Posted by Honchey
Hi, Is there any hope for this machine???
Apparently someone dropped it and the bottom part of the case cracked in many pieces. The metal parts on the outside are rusting. The handwheel turns and the needlebar does move but I haven't turned it a full cycle. It's not sitting in the case correctly because of all the cracks. It's also missing the rubber from the bobbin winder, bobbin case and slide plate.
What should I use to clean the rust spots on the outside of the machine...???
It's still sitting in the trunk of my car....Our town is having Bulk Pick Up next week and I found it in a trash pile. It does have a few attachments but the cardboard box they came in was so moldy the mold puffed all over the place when I open it up..I had to throw it away...it practically disintegrated! I don't know where to start :(
Start with research... My sister has a couple of those pretty cool little Singer 185 machines. If it is a 285 throw it out. Parts are available. It looks like it has a drop in bobbin - no bobbin case needed. You can buy the tires from Sew - Classic and she has good bobbins. There is a nice tutorial on here by Muv. She put together some real good videos. Here is a link to one.
http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-155695-1.htm There are other resources on this board as well. That machine does not need an all out strip down to be made to work. Watch Muv's videos and if you still have questions I would be glad to answer. Her machine is not identical by any means but the principles are absolutely the same. There are a couple other resources available as well.
Here is one you can print out.
http://www.tfsr.org/publications/tec...achine_manual/ I've learned a lot from them. And here is another.
http://vssmb.blogspot.com/ very good information - if you can sew and follow a pattern you can restore that machine. You really don't have anything to lose so why not try?