Then the meeting was adjourned and the COO and CEO changed out of the "suits" and into cover alls and headed to the shop.
We had two machines to pack for shipping. I thought we worked very well together. I just kept saying "OK Betsy." (I think marriage is good training for business partnership)
Once we had this all boxed up
I realized that I had not recently stitched with it and wanted to do so before we packed it. So we deferred packing that machine until it could be tested.
Instead we set to work on a 401A we had taken in to service and fix. It had a slapping sound when the motor started up.
It did, too. Very very noisy and "whop" every time we stepped on the foot controller.
I thought it might be the fiber gear. We took the hand wheel apart and found that the snap ring, which serves as a cushion for the fiber gear, was broken
I posted a question about this part and its availability on a Yahoo group and found that, likely it can be matched since it is a pretty common snap ring. We have yet to hear from the machine owner whether she wants it fixed or not. We also found it on eBay, our favorite parts supplier, ahem....
Betsy kept cleaning the hand wheel, even after we discovered this broken part. I had to keep reminding her that "time is money" and she would stop.
However, I must confess. After posting the question on the Yahoo group and getting a bit confused about what is what, I did clean up the hand wheel. I wanted it clean for a photo, should I need one.
It was pretty icky and rusty before I started. I figure that likely the ring broke because it was rusted in place and when the machine owner took the machine out to use (after a long hiatus, I imagine) the torque from the motor probably snapped the ring. Better that than the fiber gear, I guess.
