Originally Posted by miriam

I'm thinking that too but sometimes oil works... Your's is something someone who knows those machines will have to look at no doubt. I always try for the easy fix... I have one with a bent stitch selector shaft - bums me out I have tried and tried to fix it. I've taken it apart and put it back but it just won't work. I could not see the bend until I took it all apart. I knew it was there though. I'm thinking one more try..... Maybe I need to hold my mouth just right.I wonder if you can find a picture of the inside of a 401 and then look and see if anything looks out of place. Look at the needle shaft and the pressure foot shaft too.