How to fix hqand wheel on singer simple 3116?

The hand wheel on my singer simple model # 3116 seems "tight". If I use the foot it will work slowly for a second then completely stop. I've had it for about a year and a half and put less than 4 hours on it. I've tried to open it myself but wasn't able to figure out how to open it all the way. I really want it to work. I even called a repair guy but he said it'd be about $59.95-$79.95 and the machine it self wasn't that much more so I can't rationalize it considering the time I put on the machine. Thank you

jt5
December 2009