Hello,
I am working on a Hermes 3000. I've taken off the carriage, body plates, bottom, etc and cleaned thoroughly with white spirit, compressed air, brushes, q-tips and lint free cloth. I was dreading putting the carriage back on, but luckily I was able to do it in about 10 minutes. I cleaned the machine mainly because I had just bought it and its innards were slick with grimy old oil, etc. However, I also paid close attention to cleaning the escapement and carriage rails because something on the carriage had sounded squeaky before the clean.

Before putting the carriage back on I was running the rails back and forth and they were smooth as butter - so I know it isn't the ball bearings/carriage rails. With the carriage back on, however, the squeak is still there and is most pronounced at slower carriage movement. It's not just a noise either; there is definitely some friction, something causing very slow stuttering when moving the carriage slowly with the carriage release engaged, almost as if the rails and ball bearings were made of rubber (note - there is no problem with advancing the carriage all the way to the left with either space bar or keys). Before replacing the carriage I oiled the escapement with at least 2 drops of sewing machine oil. Should I take of the carriage again and re-clean the escapement (I cleaned it well, twice!), or is something else here the matter?

Any advice or instruction would be greatly appreciated
Thanks!