Pressure Bar Wiggle Breaking Needles
 

Posted this ob the main board and was adives to post it here also.

Is there a way to tighten a pressure bar on vintage machines? I have a 117-959 Kenmore made in either 1947 or 1948. The pressure bar wiggles a little from left to right causing the needle to hit the then misaligned foot thus breaking the needle. Just wondering if there is a way to fix this easily or not.

I am not sure but someone will chime in I am sure. I cannot imagine that the pressure bar can move from side to side. Are you sure the foot is fastened tight? I would take the foot off and see if the bar itself is moving or if it is just the foot.

Sorry not much help.

When I grab the pressure bar itself, above the foot, and wiggle it moves right and left. It moves enough so that when I sew thicker fabric or quilt layers it moves out of position and the needle hits the foot causing breakage. I took it all apart to check it out and there is no tightening screw or anything to make it more solid. May have to toss the machine as I don't think this is fixable. I hate to do that because it is in it's original table and is wired for only this machine. All wires are attached to the cabinet.

Some times the best of us end up with a machine for parts - you might be able to find a Japanese 15 clone of a Singer 15 that will fit your table and the electric - too bad you don't live down the road - we could try one out. Too bad shipping would cost more than the machine. There is a lot of info on QB about the 15 clones and I will be posting more in a while. I don't know how good you are at searching but if you go to the top of this page there is a search place - type in Japanese 15 clone and see what you find. Here is a start. http://www.quiltingboard.com/picture...p-t164361.html fortunately the 15 clones are fairly inexpensive. They are a nice straight stitch machine. People love them for FM.