miriam

I have a black Kenmore 15 clone - pretty generic. The whole thing was seized up when I got it. Wilbur, Lovie and I worked and worked on getting it some T-F and lots of clean up. I had to take off the pressure foot bar, clean it of dried up oil and re-assemble it to get it to move. Still after heat, T-F and a purchase of Kroil and a soaking with Kroil - the machine still didn't move. The needle bar seemed to be the issue more heat, oil, kroil... After considerable work, I removed that needle bar - never force it get a big hammer. Yes, I broke some parts. Yes I had donor parts. BUT when I re-assembled it the needle bar still doesn't move very freely. (With the needle bar out it turns very sweet.) Could be possible that the needle shafts don't quite line up on? It feels way too tight when I put it in. It also feels like I have to kind of push the needle bar forward to get it in. It is clean inside and out and has new oil. It is a 'new' needle bar off a donor. I'm wondering if the bottom shaft can be reamed out? HOW? Could that make it too loose? If it is off - it is likely only slightly off since it does install... How would you ever get it lined up? Do those shafts the needle bar goes through need to be tight or could the bottom one be loosened up? Nah - then it could be sloppy below about like Wilbur holding the pencil like a screwdriver from the top and trying to write. It turns very nice with out the needle bar, but could it be possible it has a bent place up where the needlebar attaches to the drive shaft? It is possible that I bent something trying to get that needlebar out. How do you know which way it is out? if it is out? It just doesn't move with real ease like most of the other clones. There is so much I don't know. I haven't timed it yet - I'm thinking something feels off. Then I worked on a nearly identical Mercury clone - talk about running quiet & slick...