Thanks Cari but I checked the foot already. It does have a spring. It's a pivoting darning foot but it doesn't squeak. Darn.....
Susie - my reply must have posted at the same time as yours. I was actually replying to tessagin. I did run my machine (I was trying like the dickens to finish the FMQ project). I don't think I had the guts to keep going for 20 minutes. I was afraid I was ruining my machine. You say it worked for you?? Interesting....