Coronado Princess
 

Earlier this year I purchased a lovely Coronado Princess that needed some TLC and lots of oil. I cleaned it up and oiled like crazy and let her sit. Today I sat down to clean her up. Isn't she pretty?

I did run into some difficulties (who knew?? :D).

When one turns the dial to engage the zig-zag, the mechanism is fine. But it will not release. I have been oiling it all day, turning the dial. Sometimes it will release, sometimes not. I cannot determine why, or where the hangup is.

Good luck to you! I finally caved and took two machines into the shop. I still have 3 in the garage to look at!

It looks dirty enough inside that if it were my machine I'd be cleaning those innards with rubbing alcohol and a Qtip before I started oiling. If it's getting better with time and motion, just keep at it.

Cari

She's a lovely princess. I think my daughter would like that one just for the name.
Rodney

As Cari said, it needs to be cleaned thoroughly and then oiled. Just one little bit of dried up oil will make it do that. I have a Kenmore that likes to run in reverse - it has a little bit of dried up oil in there somewhere. Every once in a while I find what ever that sweet spot is for oil and it works then it dries up again and sews backwards again.

I've been watching information on the singer featherweight sites and the recommend White Kerosene for cleaning inside and out, I'm going to be getting some to help in cleaning my machines, this may help you too... Clean well, then oil.

For some reason the pictures appeared dirtier than the machine, but I did clean (again) and oiled (again). Haven't been able to pinpoint the actual cause of the problem, but the hang-up hasn't shown up yet today. I also cleaned (again) the zig-zag mechanism at the needle bar.

Oh, and it is a Coronado Countess, not Princess, so I think it is a little more stubborn. :p

Do you have a small mirror, like a dental mirror? I would put it on one side and use a light on the other you may find a big old piece of lint stuck in there and oil is collecting in it. If so, you may only need some floss or a very thin piece of fishing lure wire. Worth a shot before anyone says no. I have a dental mirror and a small led flashlight. Any light will do. Small mirror also.

Great idea - it may also identify where the "catch" may be.