I have a old Viking Husqvarna 6000 series. It doesn't stitch going forward, it goes the other way, like backwards.
By Kathleen
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I sew and teach with vintage (electric and non-electric) and modern Singers so have very little experience with Huskies, but what you are describing is universal to sewing machines-it's either a blockage of lint caught in the gear that shifts the direction of stitching, or the gear is broken.
I got the impression from your post that your machine is a vintage machine (more than 15-20 years old) so it's more than likely that the gear needs to be replaced, and that really is a job for a professional no matter how old your machine is.
First of all the pro will have better and less expensive sources for replacement parts, and second (most importantly) he or she will have the know-how including tech drawings to assist diagnoses, repair, and the all-important task of putting the machine back together correctly.
Look in your phone book to find a repairman or 'Net search using a search phrase that includes the name-model of your sewing machine and the words 'repair', 'service', 'refurbishment', and the area you live in.
One thing about many vintage machines is that when the gears start breaking, you need to be aware that for many models new parts are no longer being milled - the repairman may have to use a salvaged part and he/she may have no clue as to how many sewing hours that salvaged part may have on it.
Which means that salvaged part may fail sooner or later (usually sooner, ask me how I know). It is very important if you sew a lot to be sure to ask the repairman if he used a salvaged part so that you are prepared for the inevitable.
A new part of course can be expected to provide you with many sewing hours, and some parts for vintage electrics are still being milled with several of them interchangeable from manufacturer to manufacturer. Be sure you know what's on yours when you get it back from the repairman.
While it's sadly true that vintage electric machines are a joy to use, often having sentimental value (it was the first machine you bought, or it was Mum's, Gran's, etc), and most have unique features with gorgeous stitches you don't get on modern machines, parts are hard to come by for these machines. Especially if those parts are on a machine built in the late 60s forward when plastic and silicone parts began to be made-plastic and silicone have a 'shelf life' far shorter than metal, and will fail with time and sewing hours.
I had to give up on two absolutely fabulous Singers (513s, sniffle, what a beautiful straight and zig-zag stitch those produced!) because finding replacement parts became so difficult. The one plastic gear on them kept 'dying' due to age, usually right in the middle of a class or special project.
I now sew primarily with an inexpensive modern Singer Talent, and use the treadles and hand crank machines for heavy duty work (leather, wax cotton, etc) - I sold off my vintage electric collection; students come to me to learn how to use their vintage machine and I have no trouble teaching them, but I do stress to them the potential disappointment of using an electric vintage as the primary sewing machine.
In the States, a good repairman will charge up to $100USD to fix your machine (this will include finding the part, plus a cleaning, oiling, check for other problems, etc-be sure you know what he/she is going to do for the price charged). Very rarely will the cost of the work be under $50USD.
Good luck, I hope you'll update once you either retire the machine or have it fixed.
This has happened to me with a couple of vintage sewing machines, both Vikings. Since I wasn't going to invest in them further by spending money for repair, I had nothing to lose. So, after carefully opening the back and looking inside the first one, I saw a hard plastic cam stack with old slightly hardened greasy lubricant on it. After figuring out which area might be causing the machine to be stuck in sewing one direction, I heated it slightly with a hair dryer, and changed sewing directions a few times (with the machine unplugged, just turning by hand to make it stitch, and pushing the button to make it change directions) and before long, it 'let go' and started sewing in the appropriate direction. After replacing the machine's back, I plugged it in and sewed with it for quite some time, in both directions, changing often to keep it moving.
In the years since, I've found that if one doesn't use such a machine often, leaving it stored away, it'll do it again, but this kept both of my old machines running just fine and didn't cost me anything. I seem to remember buying some white lithium grease someplace once, also, to put on the cams. It was a mess to use and you have to use only a very small amount, but if nothing else works, might help.
If you are brave and want to try it, it helps to look around on the web to fine pictures of how to open the back of your particular model. It's usually very easy, though possibly not obvious at first. There's also a yahoo group devoted to fixing sewing machines on your own called "wefixit", where members are quite nice about answering questions on how to solve common sewing machine problems. Much can be learned from the posts there, it's saved several of my sewing machines over time and so far, have never had to take any of my machines in to be repaired. (That's not because I am against it, it's just that it's expensive to do and if I can do it myself, it is the only way to keep SEWING.)
Hi, I went to wefixit and looked everywhere how to become a member with this group but couldn't fin it. Please advised.
Thank you very much,
Nancy Thomas
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