I am glad my fellow members of the board are recommending not to take a machine completely apart to clean it. I have never had to take one apart. I use my machines so my goal is to clean them until the run quite and smooth. Miriam, Charlee and the Quiltdoctor Jan do wonders with these old machines. Listen to them and you will have a happy machine and you will not be pulling your hair out trying to put it back together. If your goal is to make bright and shiny and to look pretty remember if you use it as they were meant to be the parts will turn dark again very quickly by keeping it well oiled and use. Remember some of that varnish on the rods and such keep it from rusting. Happy sewing