Kenmore finally runs forward!! Model 157.17741
#1
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Franklin, TX
Posts: 124
Kenmore finally runs forward!! Model 157.17741
My first successful attempt at vintage machine repair. This machine belongs to my girlfriend who has just finished her first quilt top. The machine was frozen up. Finally got the wheel to turn, and found it was running backwards. With three days of oil and heat, I was able to get the reverse switch to stay unstuck. Then when I tried to wind a bobbin, the spindle wouldn't turn. A couple more days of oil and heat, and it is now working like a champ.
#5
Super Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Tri-Cities, WA
Posts: 1,063
Yay! I worked on a Singer that only ran in reverse (a plastic one). Just kept oiling and trying. Currently the straight and zig-zag stitches plus 8 or so of the fancy stitches work properly. The rest still run in reverse! Guess I'll oil it again next time I see it. It's our church SM.
#7
Super Member
Join Date: Sep 2015
Posts: 1,963
It's a very solid looking machine. I hope you get all the dirt and grime out of the knobs and dials, and oil should eventually seep in to all places. It often takes a bit of effort to get them good again, I have oiled and cleaned for more than a week before old oil and grime gets replaced by clean and fresh oil. Is it a model powered by brute force or is it more refined and fine tuned?
#8
Super Member
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Centralia, WA, USA
Posts: 4,890
Congrats on getting it to work! The older Kenmores were built with pretty close tolerances. They're very nice working machines when everything is right but dried oil and running in reverse seem to be common issues with them.
Rodney
Rodney
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
quiltedsunshine
For Vintage & Antique Machine Enthusiasts
3
12-19-2019 09:36 PM
MamaHen
For Vintage & Antique Machine Enthusiasts
18
11-03-2016 12:04 PM
Champanier
For Vintage & Antique Machine Enthusiasts
11
09-06-2015 03:01 PM
areinn
For Vintage & Antique Machine Enthusiasts
44
09-14-2013 06:01 PM