OK I think I have it. It WAS a new needle but I changed from a Singer needle and went with a Schmetz and it seems better now. The timing is good. I have all the stitches working now except the buttonhole isn't lovely. That could be the machine or me.
I never did find a service manual or a place to adjust that needle Joe. I did see in another Singer service manual where you could adjust for a tiny space between the needle and hook through a eccentric under the bobbin area, but mine didn't have anything like that either.
I won't fret as long as I can get it up and running, but I really do like it best when I can adjust things just exactly the way I want them.