Shall I try and get this machine?
#133
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Mableton, GA
Posts: 11,207
I am back from the trip and first thing tried the cam stacks. Now the formerly stuck back one moves great and the front one appears to have gotten stuck while we were gone! It was moving very freely before we left and I left it doused in Tri-Flow. I guess I'm going to have to start wiggling, jiggling, and heating all over again!!!
#134
The front one isn't just stuck because the back one is in a position that doesn't let it move? Try one of the "middle" positions and see if the front moves. The good news is that video works for the front selector too. It will look slightly different, but all 4 parts are still there to work and oil. Perhaps the front got jealous for attention....
#135
Power Poster
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Somewhere
Posts: 15,507
I am back from the trip and first thing tried the cam stacks. Now the formerly stuck back one moves great and the front one appears to have gotten stuck while we were gone! It was moving very freely before we left and I left it doused in Tri-Flow. I guess I'm going to have to start wiggling, jiggling, and heating all over again!!!
#136
Power Poster
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Somewhere
Posts: 15,507
The front one isn't just stuck because the back one is in a position that doesn't let it move? Try one of the "middle" positions and see if the front moves. The good news is that video works for the front selector too. It will look slightly different, but all 4 parts are still there to work and oil. Perhaps the front got jealous for attention....
#137
Member
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 46
Wow, this is even more info than you guys gave me a few weeks ago for the same problem. I still don't have my 401 going because I lost a very small screw that holds the entire top thread tension assembly together. Miriam, the part you sent me looks to be the correct one and I was ready to put it all together and found that the ***** cat had tipped over the cup with all the tiny pieces in it, and the screw is gone. I suspect I vacuumed it up, not realizing that the cup was upended. So now to search for a screw. I truly want to use this machine so will do whatever to get it together correctly, and all the support here has been a lifesaver.
#138
Oh yeah, I've been there. I think I periodically (as in once every 6 months) wash a screw down the drain when cleaning machines. I've done the hunt for screws on the floor too. A couple of hints:
I've also started keeping all parts in a plastic "tub", one of the so called disposables that Ziplock and Glad make or on a magnetic dish (like the ones I have in the garage for working on vehicles, but smaller). That way when I or the cats knock it over, I have a fighting chance of finding all the parts.
I think the reason we went so in depth for this one is because it took so long for Alyce's machine to give up fighting.
- They go way further than you think they can.
- You can look directly at them 5 times and not see them, especially the tiny ones
- With the help of furry 4 legged friend, they can travel even further.
- If you have a magnet, any kind of magnet but the stronger the better, wave it around the floor and see if it "sees" something you don't (I can't tell you how many times that's worked for me)
- I have been known to "root around" in the vacuum cleaner canister with the magnet, you never know.
- Sometimes they don't hit the floor... ledges, bookcases, chairs, under the machine, under that big stack of paper or fabric... I don't know -how- it happens, I just know I've found things in the weirdest places. My new setup is actually worse for hiding screws than my old one. So much for progress.
I've also started keeping all parts in a plastic "tub", one of the so called disposables that Ziplock and Glad make or on a magnetic dish (like the ones I have in the garage for working on vehicles, but smaller). That way when I or the cats knock it over, I have a fighting chance of finding all the parts.
I think the reason we went so in depth for this one is because it took so long for Alyce's machine to give up fighting.
Last edited by ArchaicArcane; 04-04-2013 at 11:06 AM.
#139
Power Poster
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Somewhere
Posts: 15,507
Oh yeah, I've been there. I think I periodically (as in once every 6 months) wash a screw down the drain when cleaning machines. I've done the hunt for screws on the floor too. A couple of hints:
I've also started keeping all parts in a plastic "tub", one of the so called disposables that Ziplock and Glad make or on a magnetic dish (like the ones I have in the garage for working on vehicles, but smaller). That way when I or the cats knock it over, I have a fighting chance of finding all the parts.
I think the reason we went so in depth for this one is because it took so long for Alyce's machine to give up fighting.
- They go way further than you think they can.
- You can look directly at them 5 times and not see them, especially the tiny ones
- With the help of furry 4 legged friend, they can travel even further.
- If you have a magnet, any kind of magnet but the stronger the better, wave it around the floor and see if it "sees" something you don't (I can't tell you how many times that's worked for me)
- I have been known to "root around" in the vacuum cleaner canister with the magnet, you never know.
- Sometimes they don't hit the floor... ledges, bookcases, chairs, under the machine, under that big stack of paper or fabric... I don't know -how- it happens, I just know I've found things in the weirdest places. My new setup is actually worse for hiding screws than my old one. So much for progress.
I've also started keeping all parts in a plastic "tub", one of the so called disposables that Ziplock and Glad make or on a magnetic dish (like the ones I have in the garage for working on vehicles, but smaller). That way when I or the cats knock it over, I have a fighting chance of finding all the parts.
I think the reason we went so in depth for this one is because it took so long for Alyce's machine to give up fighting.
#140
Power Poster
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Mableton, GA
Posts: 11,207
I will watch out for loose screws (not the ones in my head!).
Good news is that the machine is unstuck and stitching all the stitches with the built in cams near as I can tell. I only have one "top hat" cam, and haven't tried that yet.
Now my question concerns the cam stack. It is very dirty. Is there a way to clean it up or just leave it be? Based on Miriam's advice, I don't want to try and take it apart. I am still way too much of a novice.
And another question regarding the grease in the gears. How much is enough? Too much? I put in a dab about the size of a pea and then worked it in. Is that enough?
And a question regarding FMQ. I know the feed dogs don't drop, but I'm thinking just set the stitch length to zero, like I do on my dinky mechanical Brother, and if I glue baste, there won't be any pins or threads to get in the way. Advice??
Thanks again everyone for your wonderful support.
Good news is that the machine is unstuck and stitching all the stitches with the built in cams near as I can tell. I only have one "top hat" cam, and haven't tried that yet.
Now my question concerns the cam stack. It is very dirty. Is there a way to clean it up or just leave it be? Based on Miriam's advice, I don't want to try and take it apart. I am still way too much of a novice.
And another question regarding the grease in the gears. How much is enough? Too much? I put in a dab about the size of a pea and then worked it in. Is that enough?
And a question regarding FMQ. I know the feed dogs don't drop, but I'm thinking just set the stitch length to zero, like I do on my dinky mechanical Brother, and if I glue baste, there won't be any pins or threads to get in the way. Advice??
Thanks again everyone for your wonderful support.
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