A few days ago I was busily working on a project, actually four projects which I was trying to finish while my father was visiting.
Disaster, with a CAPITAL D!
My machine would turn on, but not go.
Wouldn't go anywhere, didn't even hummmmmm.
I checked everything I knew how to do and could not figure out what I needed to do.
Now this is important because a bit earlier in the week the same thing happened and I ended up sabotaging an old machine for a new pedal. I figured my "wiring" had gone awry and I would need to pull the pedal all apart again and see where I had screwed up.
Just about that moment my Dad walks in and asks "what's up?"
"My machine is dead" I replied.
"What's it doing?"
"Turns on, no hummmmmm, no go" I replied.
A deep sigh and then...."let's see it."
We (you know I actually mean Dad) spent the entire morning pulling the machine apart. I helped, I handed over screwdrivers and pliers and even a hammer.
Dad told me the machine was not made to take apart, everything was put together inconveniently, and the inside wiring had some time of gizmo on it which made Dad turn red in the face as he worked on undoing it.
Finally, engine apart he says, "the brushes are gone".
I know I didn't leave any brushes in there...I had never even had it apart that far to leave a brush in it, so whoever left the brushes in there will you please tell me why you took them out?
Then Dad shows me a little tiny piece and says to me, "I don't know where you are going to get replacements, but this is what you need".
It is now lunch time so we take a break and think about...brushes.
Little tiny brushes which are actually a part of and inside the motor.
While we are munching he tells me the sewing machine repair guys don't replace motors/brushes, they tell you instead..."This is a nice model.."
And then you are stuck, buying an entirely new machine when all you need is a little tiny brush.
As we continue munching I ask, "do you think my old machine brush/motor might work?"
"Don't know, probably not."
Definitely not the answer I was looking for. You see, I have this thing about throwing out the old machine, I could use it in a pinch you know, and in fact I have on more than one occasion. So, I save them for that occasion.
After lunch I went down into the obstacle strewn basement and found the old machine which bore the same name but was a different style than the one upstairs. This even happened to be the same machine I had "scavenged" a pedal from earlier in the week.
I took it up and asked, "what do you think?"
"Won't know till we get inside of it"
And the remainder of the afternoon was spent tearing into an old machine hoping the brush/motor might look the same.
And guess what. It was.
Rest of the story short. Dad replaced the motor and it now works great, sounds a bit different (like when you get a new muffler on your car), but works. And I am smiling.
(I knew there was a real reason I keep my old machines).
