Posting this letter here just might be your answer to the problem. How would Singer like to know that the WHOLE world, so to speak, just read this letter. Won't sell to many machines would it ? But to give you a new machine or pay shipping would put them a better light with the a group of sewing machine buying women. Just mention what you have done and see if it works. My father did that with a set of very expensive tires and ended up with a new and better set of tires. GOOD news travels just as fast as Bad news sometimes. Good luck.