There are two white plastic gears in the 500 to 700 series (I'm not quite sure of the early production 500s); the gear that turns the cam stack and I've noticed one under the top of the free arm in connection with the rod that turns the hook and race. They can get damanged, I have seen it, but I have aslo seen lots of old machines intact after half a century of average domestic use. These gear are available, I'm not sure how easy the repair is. The 800 and 900 series have even more plastic gears.
The all metal gear factor is why I so want an early zigzagger. There is a nice Husqvarna zigzag and there is the Pfaff 130, but I have my eye on Bernina ;- ) Is it as smoth as Singer 201?
Last edited by Mickey2; 11-19-2015 at 12:26 PM.