Intro Me and my Bernina KL117
01-13-2020, 06:06 PM
#1
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Join Date: Jan 2020
Location: Greendale Vic. Australia
Posts: 30
Intro Me and my Bernina KL117
You'd call this a 'barnfind' I think. (Ashamed to say it was in my own barn!!!)
I shall be restoring it. Seems to be complete apart from the hardware beneath the foot plate, -bobbin and bobbin holder,which I'll have to find.
It's rotating if a little stiffly. I have the motor and footpiece. I'd love to hear of anyone else who's familiar with this machine. Ta.
I shall be restoring it. Seems to be complete apart from the hardware beneath the foot plate, -bobbin and bobbin holder,which I'll have to find.
It's rotating if a little stiffly. I have the motor and footpiece. I'd love to hear of anyone else who's familiar with this machine. Ta.
01-14-2020, 11:03 AM
#5
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Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Waterford Michigan
Posts: 7,241
This is a beauty! I have never work with this machine but I am sure you will get it going and it will sing f or you. Welcome to the QB from SE Michigan. There are so many vintage enthusiast here some one should be able to help you along.
01-14-2020, 06:15 PM
#6
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Join Date: Jan 2020
Location: Greendale Vic. Australia
Posts: 30
Jools' Bernina KL117 resto'
Thanks very much for all your welcome messages, and encouragement.
But there's no getting out of it easily!
With a bit of detective-work and searching through boxes of bits, I've found a few missing parts and it looks like the only part missing now is the bobbin case. I've thrown together a little montage to show the arrangement, -hopefully some wise guru will be able to tell me if anything else is missing. See my photo of the underside of bobbin area, and illustrations from the handbook (Thanks very much to for putting a downloadable manual online).
(Yes Leon it's a zig-zagger)
Cheers, Jools
But there's no getting out of it easily!
With a bit of detective-work and searching through boxes of bits, I've found a few missing parts and it looks like the only part missing now is the bobbin case. I've thrown together a little montage to show the arrangement, -hopefully some wise guru will be able to tell me if anything else is missing. See my photo of the underside of bobbin area, and illustrations from the handbook (Thanks very much to for putting a downloadable manual online).
(Yes Leon it's a zig-zagger)
Cheers, Jools
Last edited by QuiltnNan; 01-15-2020 at 04:18 AM. Reason: shouting/all caps
01-14-2020, 07:36 PM
#8
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Join Date: Jan 2020
Location: Greendale Vic. Australia
Posts: 30
The machine now turns over beautifully, - light and silky. I used CRC spray, and a hot air gun to soften ancient sticky oil.
Quite satisfying, since I could hardly turn it when I first rescued it.
Now, see in that photo of the underside, there's a flat disc at bottom left. I'm wondering if that attaches to the back of the bobbin case, as in that shot of the bobbin case on the left, could that disc near the arrow head be that same disc part?
There is a tiny screw with it, and there's a slight bend/chamfer on the disc.
That bobbin case is the part I need, plus a rubber drivebelt, but that should be pretty easy eh?
The motor is mounted on the back of the pillar, so it's just a short round x-section rubber belt.
Meanwhile I'll pull the motor apart as it's rather noisy - bearings I'm sure.
Quite satisfying, since I could hardly turn it when I first rescued it.
Now, see in that photo of the underside, there's a flat disc at bottom left. I'm wondering if that attaches to the back of the bobbin case, as in that shot of the bobbin case on the left, could that disc near the arrow head be that same disc part?
There is a tiny screw with it, and there's a slight bend/chamfer on the disc.
That bobbin case is the part I need, plus a rubber drivebelt, but that should be pretty easy eh?
The motor is mounted on the back of the pillar, so it's just a short round x-section rubber belt.
Meanwhile I'll pull the motor apart as it's rather noisy - bearings I'm sure.
01-15-2020, 03:38 PM
#9
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Join Date: Jan 2020
Location: Greendale Vic. Australia
Posts: 30
Excuse my lack of knowledge, but...
Do I need to get a 'Rotary Hook' as well as a bobbin case? (Refer photos above to see what I'm missing). I'm just unsure as to the parts needed to fit the bobbin.
Do I need to get a 'Rotary Hook' as well as a bobbin case? (Refer photos above to see what I'm missing). I'm just unsure as to the parts needed to fit the bobbin.
01-15-2020, 03:57 PM
#10
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Join Date: Sep 2015
Posts: 1,963
I'm totally envious of your machine. I think that's about the only machine that would replace my cast iron 201, maybe along with one or two of of the old cast iron zigzagger models. I have been looking for a 117 to turn up localy for a couple of years now.
I don't know about replacement hook and race on your machine. It looks like it takes the same bobbin and bobbin case as the later rotary flatbeds like 540 and 740, but I can't see any info on other parts. I can't make sense of the photo, but you would notice when the race and hook is missing, it is the circular (moving) metal part with a hook that picks up the upper thread and brings it around the bobbin thread; interlocking them and making a stitch.
The parts are problably similar to these. Seller lists 117 as compatible model, but hard to know for sure until you get the parts.
I don't know about replacement hook and race on your machine. It looks like it takes the same bobbin and bobbin case as the later rotary flatbeds like 540 and 740, but I can't see any info on other parts. I can't make sense of the photo, but you would notice when the race and hook is missing, it is the circular (moving) metal part with a hook that picks up the upper thread and brings it around the bobbin thread; interlocking them and making a stitch.
The parts are problably similar to these. Seller lists 117 as compatible model, but hard to know for sure until you get the parts.
Last edited by Mickey2; 01-15-2020 at 04:02 PM.
