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Member since 4/10/04
Posts: 1658
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Posted on: 4/23/10 9:32 PM ET
What the heck is wrong with this machine. I made a bad decision with this one. After spending hours with cleaning and oiling it, it just wants to sew in reverse. It's a Japanese made Keystone, also badged Stitchmaster. Also, the stitch selector is difficult to move to stitch settings. Any helpful suggestions will be appreciated. Many thanks, Cheryl
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Bernina 820, Bernina Artista 165, Pfaff Creative 7530, Janome 1600P
  
Member since 2/3/06
Posts: 2340
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Posted on: 4/23/10 10:11 PM ET
In reply to cherylwashere
Sounds like the reverse mechanism and stitch selector need more cleaning (I know that's probably not what you wanted to hear). One of my machines took a week of cleaning/oiling/heating/wiggling to get the stitch selector moving properly. The old stuff can really gunk up in the crevices. I ended up dripping kerosene onto the mechanism a few times and then re-oiling, heating with a hairdryer, re-oiling and working the stitch selector. Depending on your machine, the reverse mechanism may need similar treatment. Or it may be a spring that needs adjusting.

I quite often put the head (the machine's, not mine!!) in a pan and flood it with kerosene a few times, brushing it into every nook and cranny I can. It's amazing the junk you can get out of a machine that looks pretty clean to begin with. You need to be careful of decals on some of the older, black machines doing this, but it's fine for the insides of the machine.
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Melbourne
  
Member since 4/10/04
Posts: 1658
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Posted on: 4/23/10 10:21 PM ET
In reply to misschris
Hi Chris,
Many thanks for the information. Glad you're not sticking your head in kerosene. I had a feeling I would need to disassemble, I was using Qtips and toothpicks to remove the gunk from the gears. It will be a great machine, when and if I get it working properly.
Thanks again, Cheryl
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Bernina 820, Bernina Artista 165, Pfaff Creative 7530, Janome 1600P
  
Member since 5/9/05
Posts: 1471
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Posted on: 4/23/10 10:32 PM ET
Cheryl, I don't know that machine but it might be worth a check to see if there is a latch, catch or notch that holds reverse in place. On an older machine of mine if the stitch knob is pushed in and to the left it stays in reverse until you push it in and back to the right. Yours might have some variation of that???? Worth a thought anyway.

HTH
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She looks for wool and flax And works with her hands in delight. Proverbs 31:13 NAS
  
Member since 4/10/04
Posts: 1658
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Posted on: 4/23/10 11:35 PM ET
In reply to my horse
Thanks My Horse, I will give that a try.
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Bernina 820, Bernina Artista 165, Pfaff Creative 7530, Janome 1600P
  
Member since 4/17/09
Posts: 1678
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Posted on: 4/23/10 11:46 PM ET
In reply to cherylwashere
Try going to sew-classic.com and ask Jenny about this. She is a member of PR and refurbishs and sells old Singer sm. She is usually fast when replying. She knows these machines inside and out. It may be an easy fix as you pressing on something you werent' suppose it or by accident. It can't hurt. HTH
ETA: She also is familiar with their clones.

-- Edited on 4/23/10 11:48 PM --
  
Member since 4/22/04
Posts: 7282
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Posted on: 4/24/10 6:48 AM ET
In reply to cherylwashere
I don't know what kind of machine this is but..if it is the kind of machine that has a lever that you adjust up for reverse and down for the different stitch lengths..and it has a knob on the lever, the knob might be screwed tight to lock it into position. Maybe just try unscrewing the knob on the end of the lever a bit to see if it unlocks from reverse then move the lever down. You can turn the knob again to lock in the stitch setting you choose.
I do hope that you get it figured out.
  
Member since 4/10/04
Posts: 1658
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Posted on: 4/24/10 9:13 PM ET
Thanks everyone for all your helpful suggestions. I have decided to donate it to Goodwill. Disappointed again with this machine. The extra high presser foot lift is lacking the clearance for the type of sewing I will need it to do.
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Bernina 820, Bernina Artista 165, Pfaff Creative 7530, Janome 1600P
  
Member since 5/9/05
Posts: 1471
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Posted on: 4/24/10 11:47 PM ET
I'm sorry that you didn't have good success with this machine. Keep trying...there's a perfect machine out there for you!
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She looks for wool and flax And works with her hands in delight. Proverbs 31:13 NAS
  
Member since 9/3/06
Posts: 8552
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Posted on: 4/25/10 1:30 AM ET
In reply to cherylwashere
I'm sorry to hear that you are donating it..I was going to suggest Tri Flo for the hard moving levers..works like a charm and much easier than days spent trying to move them...

Better luck on your next machine..
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2009-113.25 yds
2010-115.5
2011-80.25+30+donated
2012 86.3 yds..
2013 21.0
Everyone who sews seriously has a stockpile of fabrics, because it is natural to purchase more than can be sewn in any one season" Singer, Timesaving Sewing, 1987

  
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