Mine had screws in the top - 3 of them and then it comes off - I had to raise the keys and maneuver a bit until it came off What color did you find? I love the color of mine now that the gunk is off. I've worked on it enough to get the rest of the gunk off, move the zig zag but I haven't fooled with the tension other than to clean it a bit. I have a feeling it is going to be a never ending job cleaning up that machine - I keep finding more specks. I'm happy I got a good set of throat plates and accessories. Did I post a manual and a service manual on here?
http://parts.singerco.com/IPsvcManuals/306W25.pdf a link to a user's manual
and a repair manual - this covers all "swing needles" http://parts.singerco.com/IPsvcManuals/306W25.pdf

The stitch length regulator is really odd, part of it is UNDER the machine. I did get it cleaned up and it works slick as can be now!

You did a great service to an old veteran of the sewing wars. You gave it a new lease on life. How does it sew now?
Great thing you did.

I am waiting on an order from Sew Classic - I need the needle and a belt, etc

Wow! What a transformation. Underneath that layer of grime was a real beauty.

Lots of hard work and elbow grease but once you sit down to sew on it, you will
Forget the effort and just enjoy the outcome.

Bloomin' Iris came over today and we got Mr. Ed's tension apart and put back together. It took 5 tries to get the spring in the right place but we got it. Then we figured out the zig zag adjuster. I'm waiting on some needles from Sew-Classic - then I have to put the needle bar back together. It is made with some kind of little plug in the hole and I haven't quite figured that out yet. Anybody know much? Mr. Ed's cabinet front is really a door. Behind the door is a big hole on the left. To change the bobbin you reach in through the hole in the front and change it. I don't think it can be changed from the slide plate with out being an acrobat with a very small hand. I shot a pic of the tension off and then after we replaced it - let's see if it loads.

Miriam, you can change the bobbin by removing the plate. But, the paint will get chipped over time, doing it that way.

pictures are kind of blurry but we did get it on and the tension seems to do what it should do. Mr Ed still needs some fine clean up. So it will be q tip work for a while - lots of dirty little corners and such. There is still more gunk on the stitch selector slide - seems like even a few specks keep things from moving well.

I can see that it could knock off paint. The slide plate lifts at the round end - there is a little pin holding it in place - then it slides out. I've not seen anything like it. This machine came with 3 plates. A zigzag plate, a single hole and a free motion/darning plate!