Kenmore finally runs forward!! Model 157.17741
 

My first successful attempt at vintage machine repair. This machine belongs to my girlfriend who has just finished her first quilt top. The machine was frozen up. Finally got the wheel to turn, and found it was running backwards. With three days of oil and heat, I was able to get the reverse switch to stay unstuck. Then when I tried to wind a bobbin, the spindle wouldn't turn. A couple more days of oil and heat, and it is now working like a champ.

Very nice machine!

thats a very beautiful kenmore.

Yay! I worked on a Singer that only ran in reverse (a plastic one). Just kept oiling and trying. Currently the straight and zig-zag stitches plus 8 or so of the fancy stitches work properly. The rest still run in reverse! Guess I'll oil it again next time I see it. It's our church SM.

I think I have 2 or 3 that still run in reverse.

It's a very solid looking machine. I hope you get all the dirt and grime out of the knobs and dials, and oil should eventually seep in to all places. It often takes a bit of effort to get them good again, I have oiled and cleaned for more than a week before old oil and grime gets replaced by clean and fresh oil. Is it a model powered by brute force or is it more refined and fine tuned?

Congrats on getting it to work! The older Kenmores were built with pretty close tolerances. They're very nice working machines when everything is right but dried oil and running in reverse seem to be common issues with them.
Rodney

This is a pretty machine. Glad you're getting it to work like it is supposed to.

Reminds me of the Kenmore 158.9411 that I struggled with this summer but I really liked it. Finally working fine after much help from people here and lots of labor and oil.