I have a Montgomery Ward Signature 285 sewing machine, from the 1970s maybe. The stitch regulator works fine in reverse, but going forward I can't get any variety in stitch length at all, and it is too small for most of what I want to do. I can't see how to get in and fix anything on that part of the machine. Ideas?
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The problem with your MW machine (your very vintage MW machine!) is that one or more of the silicone bits (aka gear teeth) have worn, crumbled, and fallen off the mount - this is NOT a repair job for the home handyperson, you really need to take this machine to a trained professional repair tech.
Look for someone adverting they have experience with White, NewHome, Brother, Jones, or Janome machines. The MW machines were usually one of the five rebranded to MW and anyone who can work on one of those can fix your machine. He/she will also have the right tools, and access to the vintage parts needed to get your machine back to sewing.
I do vintage repairs and refurbs for my sewing students here in Scotland. Tbh, I usually try to steer them to a comparable new modern machine - one with a warranty, owner guide, all the intended attachments, and oh hey BONUS - no previous owner's dodgy sewing hours on the machine.
I'm usually willing to go the extra mile (I use a lot of salvage parts but those don't come with any real reliability so be sure to be wary of the tech using those on your machine) but only if the machine has extreme sentimental value and/or repair parts are being new-milled (because those DO come with a bit of a guarantee), or if the student is skint (on a really tight budget) or isn't sure he/she even really likes sewing.
If you can possibly afford it, buy a new machine - one with new parts, and a warranty - polish up your MW vintage and display it in the sewing room but try not to fall into the money pit a dying vintage machine becomes. Once you start replacing parts (especially if the replacements have to be salvage parts) on a vintage the age of yours, it becomes a very real money pit. Please believe me.
I have Montgomery Ward model 1960 sewing machine stitch regulator works on reverse not on forward sewing and straight stitches are too tiny how do I fix the problem.
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