Looking to add a stitch regulator to a late 2000's Handy Quilter Sweet Sixteen
 

I went into a local shop today and they told me that there were extra parts that you need to add to the back of the machine etc in order to install a stitch regulator. Is this true? I've read mixed reviews on the stitch regulator and I'm curious if it is something that I should do because I have really been thinking about it lately.

I'm not up to date with improvements to the Sweet 16, so I don't know if there is some kind of new stitch regulator the shop associate was referring to. The original stitch regulator was very annoying and impractical, in my opinion, and was too much trouble to bother with. It wasn't something internal; rather, you had to move it along with your quilt while quilting, and it took over the foot pedal function. I found that I had much more trouble quilting designs when my foot wasn't involved in the process. I don't remember exactly what was involved in the set-up, but it wasn't difficult and any parts needed would surely come with the regulator if you bought one. Hopefully someone who uses the regulator will chime in here with better information.

Are you referring to a stand-up model or a sit down model?

Most people don't like the stitch regulator for the sit down Sweet 16. They've got a new model, Capri 18", that has the stitch regulator in the table. It looks pretty cool, but I haven't tried it yet.

If you want to get the Pro-Stitcher for a stand-up Sweet 16 on a frame, you might as well sell the one you have and buy a whole new set-up. You'd need to replace the carriage, change the track system, add track to the table, replace the "pods" on each side and the handlebars.

Here are pictures of my machine

That's a Simply Sixteen designed to go on a frame, such as the Little Foot frame. It's not a sit down machine.

Agree ... Simply Sixteen is the stand up version.
Sweet Sixteen is the sit down style.

The best way to get your question(s) answered would be to speak directly with the people at HandiQuilter. They will help you sort out which specific Simply Sixteen you have and what updates are possible.

I would hold off. This summer HandiQuilter is coming out with a table for the Sweet Sixteen with a built in stitch regulator like their new Capri model.

I bought the original stitch regulator for the Sweet Sixteen, and although it does have mixed reviews I find it useful for ruler work, especially ditch stitching. That said, it's usually priced around $995, and I would think the new table with built in regulator might not be too much more than that. I'm planning on purchasing the new table after test driving it.

Based on the photos in the original post, the machine is a Simply Sixteen, not a Sweet Sixteen. It is not designed to go in a sit-down table.

If I was to list it on eBay, how much do you guys think I could sell it for? Is there people who would jump on this particular model?

Do you have the frame that goes with it? If so, are you prepared to pay a fairly high shipping cost to sell it on eBay?

It needs the frame to be usable. You might be able to sell it more easily on CL or FB Marketplace since you won't have to deal with shipping. As to price - do the research on what just the head is selling for, used, if you don't have the frame. There are a fair number of them out there for sale that are complete.

Most folks are going to want to test drive a machine, and without the frame they won't be able to.

Sixteen with a 10' frame and stitch regulator seem to go in the $2500-3000 range. Without those? Hard to say how much someone might pay for the head alone.