Quilter101

As you can most likely tell, from my previous posts, I bought a sears kenmore for very very cheap(practically free) It has no cams, and what I was wondering was, how do you tell if it fits the machine, what they are for and how you use them.
My machine is a 158.17032 or just a 17032
Thanks!
Emily

Prism99

Have you checked eBay? There are often sellers with sets of cams for different machines. They usually specify which machine they are for.

The user's manual for the machine probably lists the cams and which ones to use to produce which stitches. Maybe someone with a user's manual for a machine that uses cams can verify that.

Cams were the old way to make a machine produce fancy stitches -- a mechanical way to do it. Now it is all done electronically.

Moonpi

Call Sears and get the product number for the cams. If I'm not mistaken, there were two different sizes. The one my old one used was the larger of the two. The top of the machine was hinged, and inside the smaller normal cam was set . You lifted it up (or teist and lifted). New one sets in the same pins, then checked to make sure it was seated properly, and adjust stitch length to very low.

Chances are, if you lift the top, you may find part numbers, but it would be faster just to call them. My machine had a big box of them, probably fifty, with a snap closure. If you have a freecycle or craigslist, you may be able to get some there. I imagine sewing machine repair shops would charge a lot, but you never know.

Since she is a vintage machine, you may want to set up an eBay alert to let you know what comes up for that one.

sewhappy57

Oh Emily that is so funny I bought one last summer and it came with all these cams I have no idea what to do with them. But...what I do have is the whole big book and booklets on how it all works. I will check to see if it'll help with your machine, I can make copies! :D :D :D
I know mine is a Kenmore too!

ChristineD

Emily,
The cams are used to create different stitches in the older machines. Mine is a different series Kenmore. My cams have a marking on them (molded into them) that show what stitch that cam creates.
Good luck with everything.
Christine

Baren*eh*ked_canadian

Mine too, lol!

I wonder if there's a place we can find a list of which ones are compatible with which machines...

Quilter101

Seems like everyone that has them doesn't know what to do with them, and vice versa ;)

june6995

Put those cams in the machine, one at a time and test them. Get some solid color cloth and do a test run. Number or mark each design so you have a coded model. Those were the were the Latest thing before the advent of computerized machines.

My daughter has the Brother machine with Cams that I bought in 1969 just before her sister was born. It has a lot of miles but still works fine.

Instead of pushing a button or turning a dial, you insert the cam. There should be a special post for that purpose. Do a Google search and find information on older machines.

Old machines can be fun and work as well as the day it was new.

What is it they say "everything Old is New again"

June

Baren*eh*ked_canadian

My cams are all marked, but I wish I had more of them. I only have about 10 of them, and they all work really well in my machine.

june6995

here is a site for those who might need cams for their machines...
and a lot of other sewing related items


http://www.gracefulbee.com/Crafts_sc...essories.shtml

June