Sears 116 Deluxe Precision Automatic
 

Anyone have one of these? Are the "cams" (not really cams but that is only name I can figure to use) that control the automatic stitches nylon? I ask because some of the vintage all metal machines (Like Necchi Lydia) have a nylon one (whatever it is called) and once crack hard to replace. http://www.ebay.com/itm/Rare-Pink-Se...item2ed55b2643

Hard to say for sure, but I would imagine that a machine of that vintage would be all metal inside.

The camstack "likely" is metal, however I've had a few around this age that do have the nylon camstacks:< I've got a Morse and a Brother near that age that have cracked camstacks, so it's good you're asking. I would ask the seller to open it up and take a few photos so you can see the inside of the machine.

Camstack! That is the word I wanted. I love, love, love the Necchi Lydia; both looks and feel and sound and my, oh, my, the stitch! But two with cracked camstacks has cautious.

Some of the most amazing machines do have nylon or plastic camstacks. I've been working on an old White with a perfectly good camstack - the machine is metal otherwise. I love the machine - it has 3 needle positions and a nice variety of stitches. The camstack was meant to be changed out but I don't know where you would find a different camstack for it. It has a door in the back of the machine for the cam stack to come out. Then on the front it has a removable/changeable stitch design chart. Makes me think you could change it out if you had a different camstack. It has some kind of electronic box on the bottom of the machine for the foot control. I don't understand that one but the machine works just great.

Oh, I would love to see pic of your machine. Last night I was looking at pics of machines on ebay and sites and DH calls from the bedroom, "Honey, quit doing your sewing machine porn and come to bed!"

I do wish sellers of Kenmore and other Sears machines would include the entire model number. Much is left to guesswork when they don't.

That Kenmore looks to be similar to my Aldens in vintage and execution. And as good as my Aldens is it has a plastic cam stack. There are other plastic parts inside too. It works just fine, but I no longer like to use it. If any of that plastic breaks the machine is junk. No idea in the world where to find replacement parts.

Joe