farm girl

I am looking at an estate sale that has Husqvarna Viking 705H Model 6440 up for bids. My machines have been Singer & Brother. Can someone give me suggestions if I should pursue getting this machine? Going tomorrow to look at sale items & need help as to what to look for.
Thanks in advance.

quiltedsunshine

That machine is likely to have a cracked camstack gear, and be frozen up with old oil. They were a great machine in their time, but claimed to be a non-oiling machine. If you can imagine a machine that didn't get oiled hardly at all, and the dried up tar that develops from it. I wouldn't buy it. I've seen too many in the shop with cracked camstack gears and that were too frozen up.

My go-to vintage machine is an old Kenmore with a front-loading oscillating bobbin/hook. They're just a tough workhorse machine. I can usually find them for less than $35.

Stitches23

I would be very leary to bid on or buy any used machine without trying it out first and/or talking to the owner. I would want to know that it was in good working order. Maybe find out when it was last serviced and how many hours are on the machine.

farm girl

Thank each of you for your warnings. The machine sold for $55. I did not bid after you shared with me what could happen. With these auctions you do not know who the owner is.

Synnove

You likely made the right choice by not buying the machine. I have a Viking 6000 SL model 6460 which likewise was promoted as not needing to be oiled. The machine was my mother's and had not been used in many years prior to her death. I took it to a repair shop and was told, "Throw it in the dumpster." I almost did, but thought better of it and took it for a second opinion at another shop. The man there cleaned and (yes!) oiled it. She's still a stiff old grandma, with a hand wheel that's difficult to turn, but she sews a beautiful seam and now is my dedicated string piecer. I love her, however had she not belonged to my mom I probably would have passed her up.