I opened up one of my Kenmore 117s, the connecting rod from the main upper shaft to the needle bar does not appear omnidirectional. Based on how you have that connecting rod in your picture with the rod circled in red, turn it around, keeping the dimple next to the 800 up and towards the machine.
When you tighten the two screws holding the face plate on, you have to have a needle in and presser foot on, there is some room to move these before tightening the two screws and you want to have them positioned correctly.