I have a Singer Merritt model # 2502c. My machine is broken and I need to find some kind of schematic or directions on how to fix it. The machine shifted somehow and the needle isn't aligned with the hole in the plate anymore. It just hits the plate. Anyone got any ideas how to fix it?

Might be just an adjustment issue. It could be a matter of just loosening up some screws that hold either the machine or the plate in place and then moving things around so that they line up.

Try changing your needle , it may just be bent. If this doesn't work take off the bobbin and the little gadget that holds it in and make sure no thread are hung up inside of it. Make sure you have the proper settings and are using the thread meant for those settings.

That's an excellent point about the needle maybe being bent!

Also, maybe a screw or screws are loose in the parts where the needle is held in place so that not everything is as tight as it should be and thus allows for a little bit of play because of the looseness.

I've tried several different needles. None of them are bent. In fact, I just bought a new set of needles to sew jeans with, and they don't go either. My husband tried to fix it, and he ended up breaking my presser foot in half and cracking the shank it attaches to. I tried taking off the plate and then tried to pull up the bobbin thread, and it won't even do that. Does anyone know where to get a free schematic for sewing machines? I'm sure that I can buy them, but money's tight right now, even though that's the route I may end up going. Thanks for the help.

Sewing Machine Troubleshooting to Solve Problems (http://sewing.about.com/od/sewingmachineindex/a/mtroubleshot.htm) this site may be of help to you, my sewing machine experience is very limited. Good luck

If you need parts, here is the link to parts http://www.parts.singerco.com/CPpartCharts/2_2999/2500.pdf
I notice the manual is available at https://www.sew4less.com/

Great searching for helpful links in the post above! I do hope that Kircaldi does return to take a look at further answers here, since Kircaldi posted this question on November 21, 2007. If not, then what you have posted might be of benefit to others who have similar types of questions.