You should not have to dis-assemble the machine. Wear old clothes, work outside and protect your painted areas. Steve is right about letting the solvents dissolve the old oil. A gun cleaner or a brake cleaner for a car would dissolve it, too. Keep any solvents away from the top surface painted areas. You can kind of paint solvent on a small area at a time and wipe it clean so you contain the mess. Tooth picks or a wooden stick can be used to scrape off the accumulated oil. When you get done oil the places that were stuck with a good quality sewing machine oil. Do not use 3 - in - 1 oil it gums up when it dries.