J Miller

My last 500, same innards as the 401, required copious amounts of Hoppe's #9 gun cleaning solvent, denatured alcohol and Liquid Wrench Penetrating oil to clean the gummed up, solidified old oil out.
None of the aforementioned solvents hurt the paint in the least. Machine now sews and is realizing that when I get on it's case it WILL end up cooperating .... and it WILL like it.

Joe

MadCow333

+1 to what J Miller said in post #4. Look at the manual for it and do what they say regarding positioning one knob before trying to move the other. There are some combinations that just won't let one or the other budge. I have never seen one of the 401/403/500/503/600/603 with bent internals. But I have seen then pretty jammed up, lol.

miriam

I have one someone tried to use a hammer on. That shaft is bent. If you have to use chemicals use them outdoors. Most will clean up with out chemicals - unless you figure Tri-flow is a chemical.

Mizkaki

Yes, to what Joe said. Push in the outer 'brown' knob. Don't pull on it. And pull on the inner knob. It will never
loosen up if you are moving the knobs in the wrong direction.

Cathy

quiltjoey

Thanks everyone. Have oiled everything that moves or appears should move. The machine is extremely clean inside and underneath. Still can't get the knob to push in or turn. The one behind it moves freely. The cam turn-table (for lack of technical term) moves freely also. I went to the Arcane website but I don't dare remove things like she did. It can run fast and sews a beautiful seam but so far just can't get that brown knob to do anything. I will keep oiling and keep trying but am not going to hit it with a hammer though! I'm new at all this and learning from you all.

miriam

You will need to read ALL of the posts here on this link: http://www.quiltingboard.com/vintage...e-t216956.html