Need help with a Stretch Stitch
 

I have a Dayton Stretch Stitch that I bought at an auction. Everything looked great however it is not advancing as it sews. I can't really pull the fabric along. Any ideas on what to check? I have pictures but can't figure out how to upload them. I have a dropbox link to them with a video

Here's the dropbox
 

Welcome to the QuiltingBoard. My first thought is are the feed dogs dropped down. I can't see from your picture but there is likely a knob or two buttons on the front of the bed, right hand side, in front of the pillar. This will raise or lower the feed dogs.

Picture instructions for here:

Here are Janey's instructions for posting pictures:

We like pictures. In order to post pictures on Quilting Board, you will probably need to reduce or compress the picture to a file size that is smaller than 2MB. How to post images can be found at https://www.quiltingboard.com/attach...020-01-17-.pdf
Don't forget to scroll over to the far right to find and click on the "Upload" button. As shown at Standard Sewing Machine Co. Paragon

I have found that only the big red "Reply" button or "Quote" work to give me the paper clip icon to work for adding pictures.
https://www.quiltingboard.com/attach...p-location.jpg

Some additional info regarding reducing images at post #4 and images for the scroll and upload button can be found at #5 of quilt block ID?

Another way to post pictures can be found at 2021/2022, 2.5” Birthday Swap
And how to use an ipad to post pictures can be found at Uploading photos

Or simply - Make sure pictures are smaller than 2MB
Click on red "Reply" button
Click on the paper clip icon
Click browse - choose picture/s. (only 5 allowed per post)
Once they show up as being loaded, Scroll over to the right side and click on "Upload"
After the pictures show up as being attached, you can close that window and go back to the screen to finish posting your post.

Some additional notes -
The photos generally need to be reduced to less than 2MB in size. I have heard of people sending an email to themselves as it will ask if you want to reduce the size.

I have an android phone and when I tried to reply on Quilting Board while in mobile view None of the options for adding pictures was available. However, there is an option down at the bottom left of the page that is for Full Site when I tapped on "Full Site" It then looked like the way it looks on my lap top. So it would have the Red Reply and the Go Advanced options.

Do Not Preview post.

I had the presser foot down. The feed dogs were moving slightly up and down. I tried flipping the switches on the right side of the machine also. I have other vintage machines (featherweight and a singer 401a).

Welcome to Quilting Board and thank you for the pictures. I have a similar machine that I bought new in 1972, but is badged Alco. There is a manual, albeit not a great scan, for a Riccar that looks like our machines at https://www.manualslib.com/manual/54...8b.html#manual I have found that if I download the pdf and open on my computer it is a little easier to read when I zoom in

I believe that you want the switch on the side to be like this to be able to sew. https://www.quiltingboard.com/attach...g_4321-1-.jpeg
You should be able to see the feed dogs raise or lower when you move that switch. Sometimes they get stuck with old oil. See if you can see the path from the switch to the feed dogs, so that you can clean and oil to loosen it up to move the way they are supposed to move. The manual doesn't say which is which, but tells about it (with different imprints) at https://www.manualslib.com/manual/54...?page=9#manual

Are you trying to sew the stretch stitch? The stitch goes forward two stitches and then back one. That is what the dial is set for. If you just want to straight stitch, set the upper arm dial to "0".

I have been known to set the pressure to none on a sewing machine and then wonder why when the presser foot is down that it does not advance the fabric LOL The page that the manual tells about pressure is at https://www.manualslib.com/manual/54...?page=8#manual

I just noticed that the Riccar manual doesn't have all the stitches that yours has on the dial. If you put the dial with 0 at the 12 o'clock position the stitches in clockwise are what my manual calls Blind Stitch, Stretch Stitch (I call triple zigzag), Overlock Stitch, Overcasting Stitch, Elastic Tripple [sic] Stitch, and then the three butttonhole stitches. The numbers are for regular zigzag stitch, with 0 for straight stitch.

Hopefully, with the information that I have given, you will be able to get it sewing again.

Thanks so much! That manual helped and I can sew.