Originally Posted by
nanna-up-north
how you clean up the presser bar lever.... It has that heavy spring around it and it's hard to get to. What do you suggest?
Also, do you take everything apart? I haven't ever disconnected everything..... and can't always get to things as well as I'd like. The 128 is an example of what I'm talking about. When I moved that little chrome tag-looking plate on the front, the moving part inside looked like it needed more cleaning but I couldn't really get to it very well. What do you do?
Hi Jean - I know you're asking Miriam this but there might be a few different ways of doing it. As for the spring, if it's working and looks clean enough, I wouldn't touch it - but if it really needs cleaning my weapon of choice is a toothbrush. Kids ones are good. Also interdental toothbrushes are awesome but they are a little expensive here, not sure about in the US. I buy them because they literally grab all the stuff into their bristles so if you're scrubbing with them, you don't have to worry about pushing gunk or lint further into the machine. I like to use oil or metal polish where possible on japanned machines but if it's really gunky I use isopropyl alcohol and you have to cover all of the machine finish to protect it, especially if you're using it with a toothbrush because it's hard to control the spray. I think if you're really careful and patient then it's fine, but I have to put in the disclaimer that it's generally not recommended to use IA on any machine where you want to protect the finish - at the very least, to guard against accidental damage.
It's good to take everything that comes off easily with a screw, like that little tag on the 28. I went out and bought two sizes of screw driver that are better quality ones with nice, fine blades on them as the screws on older sewing machines often have a very skinny slot to put the blade of the screwdriver into. Just make sure you're not working on a decking or floorboards that have gaps between the boards, or near a floor vent....... just in case
I always just take photos if I'm taking something apart, step by step - or line up the parts in the order I took them off. I also use a container with little compartments (like a tackle box) to put the part and the screw(s) that go together in each compartment. I've learned so much taking things apart and putting them back together and it's been really fun!