Thursday, January 2, 2014

Happy 2014 !!!

I totally missed wishing you all a Happy New Year.  I went to bed at 8 PM on 12/31 and slept in.  Then I sewed all day on the squeaky Viking Designer II.

It is a handsome machine and I do love the needle up and down feature.  But the sucker squeaks.  I took the bottom off.  OOPS.  Didn't need to do that.  Nothing really to get at there.  I took the back off and learned that I needed to take two of the bottom screws off again to get the back off.  I tried to gently drop some oil on somewhere nowhere near the computer boards.  I gave up.  Yes I GAVE UP.  I am taking it in to have it serviced.  Imagine that.  The squeak makes me nuts and I want to keep the machine.  It likely is the belt and likely needs to be serviced anyway.  But I hate spending money on servicing a machine.

Steven did remind me that I can't service this myself.

"Yes, I know." with tremors of trepidation in my voice.    I just can't let it go.  I did try, honestly I did.  I put up FOR SALE posters and I listed it on the web page.  We had someone interested.  I prepped it for sale and when it came right down to showing it, though, I just couldn't do it. 

I guess maybe I am in Phase 9 now.  http://sewing-machines.blogspot.com/2010/01/sometimes-you-gotta-let-go.html But I haven't bought a new electronic machine.  I just decided that I couldn't let this one go. 

So, that's it.  The blog is about My Sewing Machine Obsession and I guess that includes this one.  Sigh.


10 comments:

  1. Elizabeth, try putting a little bit of baby powder, baking soda, talcom powder or something like that on the belt if you think that is what it is, and see if it quiets down. I have done that, and it works!

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  2. Before I was aware that I was collecting, I tried to replace my Husqvarna with a Babylock thinking I would get rid of the Husqvarna. I prefer my treadles but I still can't let go of the others and I do use them from time to time. The most serious issue is that I have to take the fancy machines in to the shop because I can't service them myself. And isn't it just the best fun to poke around and solve a problem - can't do that with these.
    Lillian

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    1. Yes. I was hoping that squeak was just some needed Tri Flow somewhere. It could be the feed dogs. Today I will sew on the 201-2

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  3. Phase 9? You are emphatically stuck just before 5. When was the last time you looked at CL and eBay back to back "just because"? Yes, I thought so.
    No one is condemning you for it (yet); just sayin'.
    And I'll bet with a team the squeak can be isolated. Does this ring a bell?
    http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/7K3Oy8WnqC0OCMptwmw6dPWoZ_CkZcROm0atqhTACsw?feat=directlink

    I wouldn't for the life of me give up one side for the other. There's a tool for every job, and sometimes its just about the way it make YOU feel, not about the tool itself. I don't really think the Necchi is a better straight stitcher than the 201, but it makes me feel connected to the positive moments of my childhood. So I keep them both- adjacent to the Pfaff and a serger.

    FWIW I've had two Kennys that always squeaked at the belt. Turn up the Zydeco!!

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    1. FWIW = For What It's Worth The problem with being involved in on line groups. DH= Dear Husband. YMMV= YOur Mileage May Vary (which means that your experience may not be the same). TWSS = That's What She Said. I have no clue what that is referring to. But at least I always capitalize I when I mean me and I always spell out you when I mean you.

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  4. Unbelievable..
    I didn't think you knew any repairmen. I thought between you and Betsy you could do anything but solve world peace.

    Hopefully, it will be something wrong that you couldn't have solved on your own. How long has it been since you paid someone else to repair one of your babies??

    Roger

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    1. Which is why, dear Roger, I was going to sell it. Yesterday I sewed on my 201-2. I am much happier sewing on my 201-2. I am going to try Michele's suggestion before I schlep it to the repair shop. Who knows?

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  5. My friend who has a Viking, who has had it since 1999 and NEVER had it in the shop, or ever cleaned lint out of it, or anything else (raising eyebrows), says you NEVER have to oil a Viking. Me thinks it probably should have SOME kind of maintenance sometime, but then, if she finishes a project twice a year, that is about the extent of her sewing, so brag on dear friend whose machine is 14. I keep saying when she leaves our quilt group sometime, to go buy a soft drink, I'm going to dig into it and see how many socks I can knit from the lint, but so far, I have been a good girl and kept my hands off of it. ;)

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