Mrs. SewNSew

I am working on a 128 with the vibrating shuttle and it has an empty little hole under the front slide plate. I found info on-line that claims it's for an oil felt wick and should have a tiny hole in the bottom for it to drain. I can't see or feel a hole at all. I stuck a q-tip in there with liquid wrench and nothing ever drained and I still can't find a hole. Should I still make a felt wick and add some oil?

Christy

miriam

I cut a spool felt then fold it up and stuff it in the hole - it works for a Singer 99 or 66 bobbin wick, too. Then add oil.
I've not seen the hole either - I just did it anyway. The second picture makes my eyes hurt.
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ThayerRags

You really should find the hole and clean it out. They get hidden with a layer of dried oil and dirt. Without the hole being opened back up, the oil on the wick won't get to the shuttle. Bend the tip on the end of a small paperclip with a pair of pliers, and use it as a probe down inside the hole where the felt goes. Probe gently and sometimes you can feel the hole from the inside, and push the dirt out from the inside with the paperclip.

CD in Oklahoma

Mrs. SewNSew

CD, is the hole that big? I tried with a sewing pin but wasn't finding anything. I thought soaking with the liquid wrench would melt any old gunk but I still wan't finding it. I'll give it another try...I need new batteries inmy flashlight so I can see in there better!

Mrs. SewNSew

Good idea for the felt. Silly me I went to Goodwill and bought a 100% wool red sweater that someone already ruined in the wash. I have enough wool felt to last forever!

ThayerRags

The hole is big enough for a small paperclip to feel it and go into it. The action of the shuttle sliding across the outside of the hole "glazes over" the hole to make it nearly disappear on the outside. Use your pin or needle inside of the hole (felt removed) if you want to, but a hook in a small wire (paperclip) may find the hole quicker. A bent pin might work too, but I usually use a small paperclip that I have on a shelf near my bench. You're just wanting to "feel" the indentation with a tool to zero in on it's location. Then, you can attack it from the outside to open it back up on the crusty ones.

CD in Oklahoma

Mrs. SewNSew

I found it! Duh, it's on the side. I was determined to find it on the bottom! Thank you! Something learned and something accomplished today. It's a good thing.

chessera2527

it is behind the spring and goes all the way thru to the spring steel strip