My machine has not been used for a few years and the needles seem to have become magnetised, thus the carriage will not go over them. Is there anything I can do?

Mrs. Cooper, October 2009

Way too late to help you probably, but as a total novice, I just bought a Zippy 90. The sponge does not have a metal or plastic bar - it has ribbon on each side of it and slots into a channel under the machine.

I couldn't get the carriage past the needles in the B position as some would stick up and get caught. The magnets are strong, but if the sponge is ok, it will stop the needles from sticking up.

The sponge was rotten and sticky and I could not get a replacement. After cleaning and oiling the machine, I used thin flat sponge cut to size (1 cm wide) and flanked it with tape, using Power Pritt Gel which is solvent free and does not affect the plastic.

A minor adjustment was needed to make the sponge lie flat all the way along the channel - I simply pulled both ends at the same time to flatten it, that's all!

Yes, it now works fine with a totally hand cut piece of sponge. Nothing complicated or fancy. No need to remove magnets which are necessary for the machine to work properly.

Hez, July 2011

Ive just taken my Zippy out of the attic after many years and discovered the needles keep jamming as if magnetised. I removed the magnets from under the carriage and it works perfectly. Hope this helps.

Kate, April 2011

Take out the magnet on the carriage, it will work as normally, I don't know why but thats what I did!

daisymay, November 2010

I have managed to replace the bar with a new one made from DIY foam tape /used originally to stop the draft from the windows/ and I've glued on both sides satin ribbon - WORKS like new one - problem solved

Mrs.Bedford, June 2010

Hi, I have just bought one of the same model and it has the same problem. Any help please anyone? I think this is because the sponge bar is old and the needles move freely, but what I am worried about is that mine has not got the original sponge bar - only a piece of sponge under the needles / can anyone confirm that there is a piece of i presume plastic with sponge under the needles or is yours just like mine? On how to replace a sponge bar see youtube - very helpful - i have managed to do it for my brother machine and i am completely beginner in all this

Mrs.Bedford, June 2010

It might well be static. It's worth attaching a piece of copper wire to your wrist and attaching it to the metal inderneath the machine.

Terri Jones, April 2010

Did you manage to make your Zippy 90 work? Mine has the same problem.

Pat Sweeney, November 2009

My Zippy 90 has the same fault. Is it magnetism or something missing in the machine. I haven't got a drawing of the machine. Has anyone ? (I live in Bournemouth.)

Louise Bell, November 2009

you can try a "tape head de magnetizer" if your sure it is because of magnetism.. and not static

jack, October 2009