When I got the needle bar off that Kenmore I put a block of wood on the machine and under the needle bar plywood under that to protect the machine. Then I put an old hammer head between and banged on that with a big hammer to lever it up. Once it got up a little, I was able to pull the needle bar out with vice grips. The needle bar was not bent but I tried another one anyway it was visibly the shaft not lining up. When you get it off let us know what you find.