Lever that lifts up the presser foot on a 66...
 

...is this part replaceable? My raffle win 66 red eye has a broken lever to lift up/down the presser foot. Not sure if she broke on my trip (I couldn't find it in the trunk so maybe when the bf rearranged the trunk before we went home?? Hmm) or if she was like that when she was submitted. She is worn but still turns. I can still lift the presser foot with the nub but it's sharp (which makes me think it's recently broken) but would like to know my options on fixing it. Is this a part I can find and replace (by hopefully unscrewing and resrewing a new one in? I'm also not opposed to some clever solution like soldering a pretty glass bead on a metal rod to it. While I'd love he to remain stock, her decals are pretty worn anyways and mayb one day will be a candidate for a repaint. So advice is welcome. :)

Looks like it's pretty simple to replace. If you take the face plate off and use the stub of the lever you should see the whole part. Looks like it's held by a screw at the pivot point.

I'm sure that part is available from used parts sources. And yes it can be removed and replaced fairly easily. It's only held in with one screw.
I'd suggest starting at Thayer Rags, the owner, CD is a member here and I've done business with him a couple times.
http://thayerrags.com/

Joe

I found this one on bonanza.com http://www.bonanza.com/listings/Sing...Screw/44081614

Thanks everyone! I cleaned her up and oiled her yesterday, she runs really well. Can't wait to get her functioning to test her.

Just be careful when you disassemble. That screw has probably never been removed, and it's probably obscenely tight. Make sure you have really good leverage on it, a properly fitting screwdriver, and push down as much or more than you turn to loosen... I tried once with the FW I stripped. When even with "good practices" the screw still wouldn't move, and the screwdriver slipped, marring the screw, I gave up. Not worth it for my project. I'll mask around it.

Richard (SouseandSew) is good. I've bought stuff from him before, and have a few things I'm planning on ordering this week from him.

Yeah I had to use some pliers to get the screw off the face plate off. The others had grease on em so a gentle push got them going. Haven't tried removing it yet since I don't have a replacement part yet. Someone went to town with the grease on her. So I'll need to clean her up and oil her again. I oiled her yesterday after untangling her bobbin area and she runs so much smoother now. She's going to be a total doll when I'm done. And I think I'm going to enjoy having a hand crank! I can plop it anywhere to sew. Including outside if the weather is nice! :)

I saw some on eBay. You might try just typing in vintage sewing machine parts. Many, many come up!

Did you put cloth under the pliers when you unscrewed? That will help not mar the screws.
I had DH take the 503A in a cabinet outside this summer so I could sew. :) Nothing's impossible with enough muscles. Preferably his, not mine in that case. :P

I've also found that with the curve of the screws, I like to use the rounded part of the pliers, not the very tip,.. tends to spread the force out some. Just a thought.

I didn't mar the screw but didn't put tape or cloth on it either. I guess the screw driver didn't give me the torque needed but the pliers did. Because it moved rather easily with them. So I didn't clamp down hard or anything. So when I get a working computer again I will go hunting for parts. I'm replying from my phone which is a tedious process.