I have a question regarding my 40 year old Elna sewing machine bought in 1969. V/NV/21, Type: 21cF347986?

Question

It is a white machine with a grey top.

Would it be possible for me to buy a walking foot and quilting guide for this machine?

This machine has always worked very well for me, but lately the belt has started slipping (at least that's what I think it is) It whines and goes nowhere. Can I fix this myself do you think? TIA

Regards

Chris

Answer 1

Stop over at the yahoo group "wefixit" with your question about fixing the belt yourself.   If it hasn't been given a good professional cleaning in a large number years, I'd be inclined to take it in to a good shop and have them deal with the belt issue, too.... unless you're really going to strip the machine down completely and do a very thorough cleaning and regreasing, you're only applying a bandaid.  If you take it in for a COA, swapping in a new belt shouldn't be all that outrageously expensive.

And yes, walking feet and quilt guides should be pretty easy to find, though Elna did have a disastrous fire a few years back and lost much of their backlog parts, iirc.  Still, you should be able to find generics or genuine Elna parts on the secondary market pretty easily.  

Answer 2

Take the band off and buy a new one..Be sure it is not set for bobbin fill.If the band is tight, you may not need a new one.the attachments come in short shank and long shank.Check at a sewing shop for the size you need.

Answer 3

No-find the elna agent near you and take it in for a full service.

Answer 4

As a sewing machine technician I can tell you most certainly you can get a walking foot (generic) for your machine, just remember a low shank walking foot, its kind of important that the feet on the walking foot matches the feeddogs ( the part under the needle that moves the fabric) on the machine. An Elna SU I imagine. Also quilting guides are pretty generic.

As far as your belt, its probably got a bit of oil on it or it needs to be adjusted tighter. You can do this by removing the cover over the belt, clean the belt and pulley good from any oil (Q-tip with alcohol). Then look at how its adjusted. Probably loosen a s***w and move the pulley slightly then tighten. The motor belt most likely adjusts by loosening the motor some and moving it a bit until the belt is tighter then tighten down the motor. Too tight though may result in too much strain on the motor so just get it good enough that it works well. Some have an eccentric nut or s***w (oblong shape) that when turned tightens the belt.

Good luck. You can do it.