emmah

My tensioner was balky so I took it apart to clean it and cannot get it back together right. I must have gotten the parts in the wrong order or flipped one in the wrong direction. Does anyone have a diagram for the right order and placement of the tension? I am really frustrated, have tried endless times to get it right. I use this machine all the time, and miss it. Thanks.

Moonpi

http://www.searspartsdirect.com/part...00031978/00003

Probably worth buying a new one - under $15 complete. Looks like it is not sold as individual parts.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/KENMORE-SEWI...#ht_3066wt_952

Great machine once you get her going!

PATTIESPEARL

I worked on my GD's kenmore 158 off anf on for a couple of weeks to no avail. I got on ebay and there was a dealer on there who had a new tensioner replacement for $8.00 he even sent directions of how to remove the old one and install the new one. The machine now sews like a new one.

thepolyparrot

There are dozens (maybe a couple hundred) different models of Kenmores with the 158 prefix - spanning a couple of decades, at least. There are current replacement parts available for some of them (maybe most of them) but not for others.

When you look at the model #, it should start with 117, 148, 158, 385 or 516, (these denote the manufacturer) then there'll be a period, then some numbers after that from which the common model name is taken. (i.e. - 158.18033 is an 1803, 516.890 is a model 89)

There is no rhyme or reason to Kenmore's numbering system. The 1702 was made before the 1802, but the 1703 might have been made after. The model number can use 2, 3, 4 or all five of the numbers that come after the period.

miriam

http://www.tfsr.org/publications/tec...achine_manual/ look at tension mechanism - they really aren't all that different

emmah

Thanks to all of you for trying to help. It seems crazy to me to have to buy a new tension assembly because there is no source available from Kenmore on the order of the pieces it is made up of. I have it back together and it is working now, just kept re-assembling it in different orders till I found one that worked. IT has a couple of extra little washers that don't exist in the vintage singers, but the diagrams helped. I wish every manufacturer would consider the consumer as competent to do minor repairs and include that in the owners manual. I would be MORE inclined to buy an appliance or machine that included a good trouble shooting section!