Hi all. This is a great site and I have gotten a lot of helpful information. Just haven't had much time to make introductions. With 3 preteens life tends to be crazy.

Anyways I just got from my MIL a singer 404. It seems to run great. It needs the rubber dohicky for the bobbin and a new bulb. I've been trying to play around on it and I can't seem to get the stitch length regulator to stay at a continuous setting. I'll set it for 8 stitches/in and it starts out fine but the lever moves itself up to the fine position and just doesn't move the fabric forward. I am going to hit the singer store tomorrow to get the thing for the bobbin winder and a bulb as well as a darning foot. (My main hope with this machine is to be able to FMQ on it) I have been trying on my singer 6416 (millennium series) and it works ok for a bit and then it just skips stitches or breaks the thread. I am hoping that the 404 will work better for that. I really don't want to bring it to the dealer for service unless I have to. (trying to keep costs down and $90 for a service is not what I want to do if its something I can fix on my own.) Plus its in a basic case so I would have to take it out of that for servicing.

I have tried searching the internet and found the manual but it doesn't have trouble shooting information. Not sure where to turn from here so I figured I ask all of you knowledgeable people.

TIA

I also acquired a 404 - and I was going to "move it on" - until I talked to a sewing machine repair man. He said it was one of the better Singers - even if it was "only" a straight stitch machine.

My "mechanically impaired" son loves using it.

Usually there is a screw mechanism on the stitch length regulator lever, just tighten it when you get the stitch length you like.

I have tightened it as much as I could but it still creeps up. Was trying to see if there is some other adjustment that needed to be made. Just not sure where to look.

Don't own a 404, but wanted to say welcome.

Do you have a manual for the machine so that it can help will possible trouble-shooting?

You're saying that when you set the stitch length regulator to 8, then you turn the knob at the end of the lever clockwise as tight as it will go, right?