I was just so proud of myself for isolating the problem part. I actually feel like there's hope for this one. Right now the treadle spins almost silently, the machine...without the problem rod...spins perfectly...and the wheel does turn to the rear instead of the front like the other treadle...as someone here warned me...now, just to find a bobbin and bobbin case. I have my eye on a donor machine on CL...he he he. It's not as pretty as mine, but if it has the same innards, it could work, right?