Broken Kenmore? Fix or replace
 

I have a 40 year old Kenmore that could have sewn it last stitch. I replaced the belt thinking it was why the wheel turned so hard, but that wasn't the case. The needle operation is fine and actually the motor seems fine. Any ideas out there what could be wrong? Could there be something jammed or just broke. It's a heavy machine in a cabnet and taking it in and out is a challange. It's an oldie but goodie, but is it time to move on?

Have you taken off the handwheel and checked it out? This is a 70's machine? Could be that it just needs to be cleaned and re-oiled...
I wouldn't give up on her yet! :)

Sad to say by favorite Kenmore just wore out...........It was a sad day but It worked long and hard. I bought it in 1978 and used it until 2009. It was hard to turn the wheel to move the needle up and down, It would no longer do a zig zag stitch. They told me it was the head that went out. RIP Kenny

I've been dabbling in vintage sewing machine repairs for quite a few years and I have never heard of a "head going" The head I have heard of is the machine as a whole, as opposed to the machine and cabinet combination. I love those late 60's early 70's Kenmores. I've found most of them to be all steel and almost undestructable. I've had/passed on at least 10 of them and none needed more than cleaning and oiling. Did the dealer by any chance try to sell you a new machine?? Yes, I have a suspicious nature....plus I've heard this same scenario before.

I had an older all metal machine and it lived and did well until DD left it in the basement and it got wet and rusted. I still think it could have been saved but she threw it out! I could have killed her. Very nice machine, those older ones were so heavy and stitched through anything. I would try to fix it if only to have a good reliable backup.

I agree with Charlee, it could be something as simple as a good cleaning and oiling. It couldn't hurt to try, and you may have saved an old friend.

Pat

A gal at work recently took her Kenmore to Sears. They charged her $30 just to evaluate and proposed a $179 fix. She bought a gently used Janome instead.

I would have it checked out by a reputable repair person and listen to what the verdict is.

My bet is that this is the type of machine that has brushes in the motor. They are metal brushes that get worn and eventually need replacing. Someone familiar with motors and brushes would probably be able to diagnose and make the fix; however, it could get pricey if you have to pay someone to do it.

There are vintage sewing machine groups on Yahoo, and probably one specifically for Kenmores. Someone on one of those groups could explain how to figure out if it is the brushes.

I would probably keep the machine to try to figure out how to fix it. Meanwhile, though, I would buy another machine while figuring out if this one can be fixed. Never hurts to have two machines!

My old Kenmore, only 20 years old, stopped working. turns out the grease/oil had hardened and that stopped the machine, made all sorts of noise when it did. Cleaned and oiled and back on the job.

definitely worth the trip to the pro for a thorough cleaning, oiling and adjusting... there may be a part to be replaced, that will be a decision when he tells you how much or how little that will be....but the only way you will know is if you get it to a good, reliable repairperson... ask around...at classes, your friends, and fabric stores... find the right person and then trust them... all the rest of us are just guessing...

Thank you everyone for your responses. I oiled her this afternoon and let it set awhile, then called the repair shop where I have had it cleaned.. it could be "Gummed up" Either too much or not enough oil. That machine is a heavy sole, but after a trip in a snow storm she's in the fix-it shop. All of you seem to be hitting the nail on the head from what I was told. It will take a week of R&R for sure. I just started a quilt so need to be patient! It was my first purchase once I became employyed and on my own.. We'll see how it goes, any advice on something new and simple?

New and simple machine? or new and simple quilt? and if you end up buying a different machine, buy the heaviest one you can afford... the more metal IN it, the better it will last... balance this with the features you want and it's the best you can do...

I would have this same suspicion. The Kenmores of this era are going to be sewing in a hundred years.

Which model is it? There are a few of them which actually have more than one interior belt and if they replace only one, it might not be the belt that's causing the trouble.

I would guess that the motor could burn out with heavy use, but the mechanical parts? Nahhhhhh.... I wouldn't buy that. I don't think your repair person knows what they're talking about. Just the way he phrased it is odd.

Learning how to repair and maintain these machines is really fun and a lot easier than you might think. There are going to be some jobs that are too difficult to handle without proper tools (that dual belt pulling, for instance) but if you know what needs to be done, you can show the repair person where the problem is and they won't be as likely to try to take advantage of you if you act like you know your stuff. :)

As for a second machine - find a Singer 15-91 in a sturdy cabinet, spend $150 replacing the electrical components (wiring, control & light) and getting the motor cleaned and re-wired and you will have a FABULOUS piecing and FMQ machine. (Jenny at sew-classic.com does this motor refurbishment at a very reasonable price - less than $150 for ALL the electrical refurb and replacements.) Where are you going to find such a perfect sewing machine that will sew for another hundred years for $300? :D

I have a very old Kenmore myself... they are worth keeping! don't give up on her!!!!

I agree with Charlee and others, these old machines rarely have a fatal failure. I hope your repair person gets her back running. For a secondary machine, I would also get an inexpensive vintage machine. You can work on them yourself, don't have to worry about much happening to them when they sit neglected and unused. But you may get to like it so much, that you enjoy sewing on your second machine just as much. Watch Craig's list, free cycle or garage sales and pick one up for $20 or less. If you want more fancy stitches and zig zag, look for a mid century Singer 400, 500 series machine with cams. Will probably cost you a bit more but worth it if you want that capability also.

The big thing is no expensive electronics to wear out or have to replace with the old gals.

For a new machine, it really depends on (A) your budget, and (B) what you want.

If you want a lightweight machine to take to classes, then a Janome Jem can be a good purchase (lightweight, good for piecing, not good for quilting). If you want something for machine quilting that has a lot of bells and whistles, I think it's hard to beat the Janome 6600 (which I think are in the $1,000-1,500 range) because of its extra-big harp.

I would definitely have it checked out. I think the older machines are so much better than the new ones that are cheaply built. I have a 45 year old Singer that I can still get parts for cheaply, unlike a newer computerized machine that is no longer supported.