When I opened the foot pedal the plate was almost falling off so I did turn the screw a little just enough to hold the plate on. I recall you mentioned not to tightened it too much so I was very careful not to put it too tight. Pedal works great now.

Excellent!! Great job then! :)

Going to check it again as it is better to be safe than sorry. Thank you for your response.

Typically, you'll know fairly fast if it's too tight. Degrees of too tight:
First the machine may groan a little and the pedal will get noticeably warm.
Then it may start to run without touching the pedal.
The hissing and crackling noises will start shortly after that and the pedal will be starting to get downright hot,
then... uh well I don't know because that's where I unplug them and take the pedal and run for the kitchen sink or stove so any resulting fire is contained. ;)

Also, the pedal shouldn't generate heat when the pedal hasn't been pressed. That's one way I test them. I plug the pedal into the machine and the wall and leave it sit like that when I'm cleaning the machine. If it starts warming my toes when I touch it or a cat sidles up to it and cuddles up, I know it has to be adjusted.

Did check it again and the nut that is on the screw is loose but I did turn the screw to loosen it some more. it is very loose and the plate isn't really tight. I am going to do the other test you mentioned and leave it plugged in so I can see if it gets hot. I was afreaid to use it so glad you sent another message so I can check it out further.

Joanne

These pedals do get warm with use, but they should never get warm without use, or really hot with use. Those are warning signs.

The tightness of the plate is less important than its relationship to the "lip" of the ceramic piece. It should be just below the lip for good graduation of speed. The nut should be tightened down so that the screw can't back off. Dave McCallm even suggests a little nail polish. Loctite is probably preferable if you have it but nail polish will lock the nut in place too.

And at least nail polish is reversable!

That sounds like experience talking! :) There are several strengths of loctite, and for some reason most of us discover the harder than steel version first. ;)

Joanne congrats on getting fixed. Certainly not the Ridgefield I was thinking of then. My wife grew up in RI so depending on which part of MA, she wasn't too far from you. I've been back with her twice now. I like it back there. Pretty, but in a different way than here.
Rodney

I think I am go to go. Nut is snug and the plate is below the ceramic piece. Thanks for all your help. I think I have taken it apart five times so I feel like a pro.

Joanne