Some of the touch & sews have plastic gears & one may have broken when it jammed. It could have jumped time but he should have known that. Gears are available but this guy sounds like he is not familiar with the type of machine. We may have to start taking our old singers to a nursing home to find soneone who still knows how to repair them. Good luck finding someone because, I too, hate to have to bury one.

It's a little pricey to replace a gear but not nearly $800. Sounds like he's just trying to sell you a new machine. I belong to a few groups at Yahoo clubs. Join all these groups and they'll tell you exactly what's wrong, if it's worth fixing and maybe they can walk you thru fixing it yourself. I belong to the "Singer", "singermachines", "singerslantsewing" and "wefixit" clubs.
Another thing, you can get another Touch and Sew on Ebay for well under $100. I'd go that route before I put out $800. (This site won't let me post this link so google Yahoo groups for the link).

I had that happen to me once with one of machines.Sorry i can't remember which one.Anyway,what i ended up doing after trying everything else was to take the needle out,if it jammed in the down position,then i removed the bobbin case and played around turning the hand wheel.Once i got that moving,i cleaned and oiled everything real well,put it back together and it worked like a charm.HTH
Kathi

Did you purchase the touch-and-sew and the Athena new or used? I wonder because anyone that has had a machine that long knows their machines inside and out, can fix any problem that comes up including a jammed machine, and knows when it's time to throw the wrench in and call the repairman because all the fixes aren't working.

I did a bit of research for you for features and prices. What the repairman quoted you is the correct price. It seems to me you can get a better sewing machine with more features like automatic needle threader (love that thing), do so much more, and more feet included or a combination sewing and embroidery machine for the Necchi price. I would rethink any Necchi purchase because you don't get too much for the price.

Since you have an Athena, I would get the manual out, do a little preventive maintenance like clean and grease, and practice that machine. You might form a stronger bond with the machine since you never form a really strong bond with a new machine until you really use it for a while.

Here is a link that might be useful: Necchi Machines

Thanks to all for the comments. Stitchntime9, Yes both machines were purchased new. The T&S was a wedding gift from my husband 39 yrs. ago. It is a great machine and it is my favorite for basic sewing. The Athena was purchased new about 30 yrs. ago as a gift from my in laws. I keep both machines tuned up, oiled and cleaned just so I have a back up for situations like this one.

I tried to work on the T&S when it jammed, taking apart the bobbin case etc. But i couldn't get it going. I don't really like to fool around with things I am not totally familiar with on the inside.

So I found another repair shop, a retired Singer guy, who is going to replace all the gears for 85.00. I thought that was a fair price. Those plastic gears were really chewed up. I had been working on Halloween costumes since May and was on my last one, sewing on fur when it gave out. So for the time being I'm happy.

If I were to purchase a new machine, given that I have two already, which would you purchase? After our kitchen remodel this winter, I may consider asking for a new sewing machine but can't do it now.

Thanks for the help. Kathie

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Sounds like you have your problem solved. The Athenas were the first electronics on the market, expensive at the time, and really quite a machine so I wouldn't give up on that machine yet. At least you can finish your last costume on the Athena while your "baby" is in the shop.

Who says you don't need a back up machine??

I wouldn't trust any repairman that comes to your house. It's great that someone still does, don't get me wrong. He had you cornered, and hoping you would listen to him - pressure. If there are any other repair shops, go and see what they say. Our repair shop here gives free estimates on repairs. Then go looking for yourself at new machines all over and look for the features you need and want. Don't feel pressured by a salesman to buy what he recommends. There are sewing machines that sell for less, for more, and sewing machines that cost that much but are on sale for half price.

PS. I had a Touch & Sew - my very first sewing machine I bought with my own money. I loved it. You may find one if you look.

"I wouldn't trust any repairman that comes to your house."

Why not? They're usually the best and most trustworthy ones. It's the newer ones that only want to sell you their new machines that you can't trust, IMO.

I just got an Athena 2000 from my mother in law. I can not figure out how to wind a bobbin. I do not have a manual, but got some good info off the net. I am having a problem w/ step 3, "Draw needle thread back, under left side of presser foot, then up and around and into thread retainer." what is the thread retainer? Help!

Here ya go try this site,it shows you exactly what to do.

http://www.sewusa.com/Threading_Diagrams/Threading_Pages/Singer_Sewing_Machine_Threading/singer_2000_athena_threading_diagram.htm

Kathi

Well! I've read this with great interest, since I just inabled my 626 Touch & Sew. Boy, do I feel foolish. It was a perfect-working machine, until I tried to sew too many layers of upholstery fabric...then I guess I threw the timing out of whack. Needle won't pick up the bobbin thread, needle doesn't go quite all the way down. Anyway, it doesn't sew and I'm sorry! I love this machine. My mother bought it new, however many yrs ago, and I've only gotten it from her several months ago...and now, I've inabled it. Whoa is I. The repairman says he won't just fix the timing; says the gears have to taken out, or something like that; says it'll cost $80, cause he has to "service" it also. Maybe it's worth that; I don't know. What I'd rather try first is to see if there's information available that will allow me to fix it myself. Anyone know where I can find such info; or if you think it's possible - or not - that I fix it myself? Thanks!

This is JMO,i'd spend the 80.00 to have it fixed.There is no way i'd fool around with the timing on the machine,you may get more problems than you really want.80.00 isn't all that much money for repair,when you factor in the fact that someone who knows what they're doing will be working on it,and most repairs come with at least a 30 day warranty.Compare that to the cost of a new machine and you're getting off cheap.As i said,it's JMO and i've been sewing over 50 years.
Kathi

Hi, Karin, I am the OP. Funny thing, after having the gears replaced in my T&S I didn't sew much over the holidays. Then when I started working on another project the timing went out on the machine after a jam. So the same repair man fixed it for nothing for me. The money I spent covered two repairs basically. So far so good. I'd get your machine fixed if I were you. It is worth it.

I have a 600 T&S that I would kill you over. So I say spend the 80.00 and get it fixed.

Mother has several of the T&S machines and a dear friend of mine has the 628? The Golden T&S. My machine actually says "auto reel" instead of T&S, but she's a T&S. I learned how to sew on one 31/32 yrs ago and bought my own with money from my savings actt 31 yrs ago.
Susan

I too say repair it. I had my old T&S cleaned and tuned up about a year ago and paid $60.00 just for that. No repairs and the timing was fine.......the repairman told me I had a well looked after machine and it would outlast me.....so for $80.00 you got a bargain. IMHO. Budster