Squeaky walking foot-yikes!
 

Any ideas how to fix a very squeaky walking foot attachment? I ~think~ the noise is coming from the arm that goes around the needle-holder, if that makes sense! I'm afraid to use sewing machine oil for fear I will ruin the foot-it's a Bernina foot, and was pricey! The closest dealer is 45 miles away, and they aren't very friendly, or I would call them!

Does the arm squeak if you move it by hand (off the machine)? Is this a new or an old foot? And what model Bernina is it? I don't know for sure, but if this is a new walking foot I would definitely suspect that it is a defective foot. I have a Bernina 1230 and the walking foot for it (definitely expensive!) has never squeaked. I would be afraid that whatever is causing the squeak would be bad for my machine -- maybe rubbing against a part that will eventually give out. I did ruin one Bernina walking foot. The back of it caught a basting pin in a quilt and I didn't notice it until I started getting teeny tiny stitches. By that time it was too late; the pin had pulled so hard on the spring inside the walking foot that the spring was "sprung" and no longer had the right amount of give.

Anyway, if it's a new foot I would try to return it for another one. If it's an old foot, I would try to determine if the squeak is actually coming from the foot or if the squeak is coming from the foot rubbing against a machine part.

I have a Bernina 1260 and I oil the walking foot. Use a pipe cleaner and poke it in where you can to clean out any lint build up. Be sure and use sewing machine oil. I like Bernina oil in the pen dispenser. It dispenses oil one tiny drop at a time.

I saw a Bernina tech drench one in oil and then let it drain on a pad.

Yes, I oil my Bernina and other manufacturer made walking feet when they need it and start making noise.

I blow on the spring and put some oil on it and wipe off excess. This is good for any walking foot or FMQ foot. Noise probably means it is dry and rubbing metal against metal. Not a good thing.

I had a squeaky foot and decided to oil it. So in order to get the oil where needed I took it apart. DON'T DO THAT? I broke some of the parts and was never able to get it back together again. Mind you this was a generic foot so it wasn't a great loss. But still.

I guess that's why it's drenched in oil, not taken apart. A lot of the generic walking feet are plastic and oil won't help much.

I soaked my walking foot in oil also....helped for awhile. Need to do it again.