Featherweight 11 117 needle clamp. Is there a wee block that goes with clamp and shaft to hold needle in. Recent answer from repair shop says it's needed. I think he is wrong.

You probably need to replace some parts. Check with your local sewing machine repair shop.

on the shaft that holds the needle you will find a clamp attached to a arm on a crank
if you undo that clamp it will slide up or down the shaft and that positions the needle
needle hook timing is on the start of the up stroke where the hook should be at are very near the eye of the needle
so position the shaft in the just up positing , undo the clamp and move the shaft ( not the crank) until the needle is correctly positioned and tighten the clamp

It sounds like you have lost the tread guide. When you press the clamp as far up as it will go, there should be a slot in the post underneath the clamp visible. You may need to use a mirror to see it. The thread guide snaps into that slot and keeps the clamp from falling down. Take it to any repair shop. It will not be expensive to repair.

I've done this, and it's a pain, but can be done. Let me also tell you that quite a few users have broken theirs and just used the machine without it, but others said that they had to replace theirs. First of all, the wire guide is held UNDERNEATH the needle clamp, and what you have to do is insert them back in one piece. That is, remove the clamp, insert the end of the guide, then push them together on the shaft as one unit. The end of the thread guide sticks up over the top of the clamp in the back. There is a very tiny screw there that's supposed to hold it, but most machines are produced without the end going underneath that screw--they just let the needle clamp hold it. That screw is VERY tiny and VERY difficult to access, and will come out completely after only a few turns. Worse yet, it serves as a "stop" for the end of your needle, so if you lose it, you'll have to use something like a toothpick to "stop" the end of the needle until you can replace it. ASK ME HOW I KNOW! It is easier to deal with if you put the machine on its side when you do this.

If the comment already posted did not answer your question, here is another thing to check. If the screw that attaches the foot and ankle to the presser foot bar is tight, and the foot can still be moved, it is likely that the presser foot bar has become loose within the lifting mechanism. You could save yourself some trouble by taking your machine to a sewing machine repair shop, but if you would rather avoid that expense, do the following. Remove the needle bar and take up mechanism cover on the left side of the machine. This is held on by a single phillips head screw on the back side of the machine, which, with the back of the machine facing you, should be on the top right side of the machine. Once this cover is removed you will be able to see two vertical metal shafts, one is attached to your needle clamp and needle, and should be in the front. The other is the presser foot bar, and will be behind the needle bar. There should be a small allen screw about halfway up that shaft that tightens onto the bar. With the presser foot properly positioned on the needle plate, tighten this allen screw. Don't tighten the screw too tightly, as this can damage the presser bar, just make sure it's nice and snug. Make sure the presser foot raises and lowers properly, and re-attach the needle bar cover.
Hope this helps.

Hi! Sewing machine needles have a flat side on the shaft. This flat side has to go in a specific direction, depending on your sewing machine. For example, on both my Kenmore and Brother machines, the flat side has to be at the back (facing away from me), but in my Singer Featherweight, the flat side goes to the left. Unless the flat side of the needle is in the correct place, the bobbin thread will not pick up and the needle may hit the bobbin case.

If you have the manual for your machine, check there to see how the needle should be inserted. If you don't, I suggest you try 'trial and error' to find where that flat side of the needle shaft goes.

Happy Sewing and let me know if this solves your problem!

Sounds like it is out of time. I recommend you take it to your local repair center.

Make sure the needle is not in backwards, the flat side goes to the rear. If that doesn't help it may be out of time and needs to go to the shop.
good luck!

needle hook timing is set when the needle in the full down position has the bobbing carrier hook approaching the needle
AS the needle starts to rise the hook is at or just about at the eye of the needle
The adjustment is on the needle cam lever at the end of the machine and on most , there is a clamp around the shaft that is loosened of , the clamp tapped up or down to achieve the correct setting and re-clamped

the needle/ hook timing is achieved when the needle is in the lowest position and just starting to come up and the shuttle hook is at or close to the needle eye
there is a clamp on the vertical shaft the the needle is attached to so loosing of the clamp and moving the needle arm up or down to achieve that desired position is required
retension the clamp
if you machine is belt driven between the needle operation and the shuttle operation and it keeps altering timing it is possible that that belt needs replacing as the tooth sections of the belt may be worn off and jumping the teeth of the drive sprockets
it may be advisable to find another repair and get quotes first now that you have some idea of how it works