Originally Posted by
quiltedsunshine
Could be the motor brushes. Unscrew the little cap, but hold it down so the spring doesn't fly out. There should be a carbon brush on the end of the spring. Don't want those to wear all the way off, or you'll damage the armature.
Try turning the motor pulley by hand. It would be easier to test if you can disengage the belt. Is the motor pulley turning freely? If not, there could be some thread tangled around the pulley or the shaft, or the bearings need some grease.
If it was at the shop, they would try a different foot control, to make sure that's not the problem.
Good Luck!
Boy you're not kidding! Had someone send me a photo of an armature that the brushes had worn right down on and it looked like someone had dug a couple of trenches in the metal.
Brushes should be changed at about 1/4" long. Their name is also misleading, they're a solid piece of carbon, not bristle like at all!
If you've had the machine for over a year and used it a fair bit, it's probably time to grease the motor. Comments like the pulley "turned stiffly" and "series of quilts and work projects" says it wants grease at the very least.
If you take the belt off to test the pulley and motor with no load, make sure when you put it back on that it's just tight enough that it doesn't slip. With the newer belts, I find that often means that the belt rests on that lower guide if the machine is not running. Too tight will cause the motor to overheat, to moan and groan before it starts and to run much slower than it should if at all.
Your manual is here, if you don't have a physical copy:
http://ismacs.net/singer_sewing_mach...e-manuals.html
It will explain greasing the motor.
I agree to with Annette and Miriam, the foot pedal is commonly an issue. Does your 127 have a 3 pin connector on the cord? You may be able to use it to check if it's the machine or the other pedal.