Although my mom took good care of her machine as far as storing it in the house and keeping the outside immaculately clean and unmarred, she didn't know a thing about maintenance. She once called me at work because her 301A was giving her problems. I did my basic machine-doesn't-stitch-right go to's. I asked her when she had last changed her needle, she couldn't remember. Okay, do that. She doesn't have another needle. Go get one. Then I asked when was the last time she cleaned under the throat plate. Again she couldn't remember. Okay, do that. Walked thru it and hung up. She called me that night to tell me that the machine was working so well now (of course it was. The poor thing was finally clean). Then she told me that under the throat plate there was a "little pad of felt stuff". OMG, I was amazed the poor machine worked at all. After that, I took it in for her and had it professionally cleaned and oiled. I have it now and it's a great little machine. Just needed a little TLC.