The 401, 403, 404, 500 and 503, 600, 603, 604 machines are good. There are also some German models that look somewhat like those machines in the 400 series and are good - they have different numbers but the number is followed by a G. Out of all of those I have ever seen one had a timing issue. It was because someone tried to hem some carpet or sew something upholstered and bent the needle bar. Once the needlebar was replaced by a donor that machine ran perfectly. There are some good Singers that are white but not many. To me it seems like it is the plastic gears or the belt drive under the machine whether or not they are any good. The good news is that there are parts for most of the Singers if you stay away from computers. If the bottom belt is rotted, broken, missing, mis-sharpen or whatever, the machine could have a timing problem and/or you may have to come up with a belt. Some have rubber teeth feed dogs. As long as you can come up with some you might be ok as long as the plastic gears hold up - there are replacements out there and who knows you might like the machine. Usually those machines with plastic sit a long time on Craig's list they can usually be bought pretty cheap. They may be listed for an arm and a leg but after they sit ther could be had pretty cheap.
ETA any sewing machine can be set out of timing or abused out of timing. It is not unique to Singer. Abuse is abuse.
Last edited by miriam; 06-05-2016 at 02:57 AM.