Kenmore sewing machine # 385.17626 feed dogs not advancing fabric. Appear to move up and down, but not forward to back.

It will have something to do with your stitch length regulator.....when you adjust from Zero and watch the feeddogs, you should see them move as the number increases even when not sewing.......I have known many old Singers whose feeddogs move back and forth but do not rise......broken gears the cause, but as to the opposite scenario, without looking at it, very difficult to diagnose.

As to the idea of oiling sewing machines............on these pages are literally litres of stories of machines playing up and folk "oiling" them...........it is NOT a cure all, and a very little occasionally at the junctions of the moving parts (mostly inside the casing and unseen by users) is all that is necessary, ........so proactive rather than reactive.

A regular service by a qualified technician every couple of years (more often if frequently used or quilting) will ident potential problems and keep things moving smoothly.......we all take our cars to be serviced fairly regularly..these machines need the same attention to work well for years.


It will have something to do with your stitch length regulator.....when you adjust from Zero and watch the feeddogs, you should see them move as the number increases even when not sewing.......I have known many old Singers whose feeddogs move back and forth but do not rise......broken gears the cause, but as to the opposite scenario, without looking at it, very difficult to diagnose.

As to the idea of oiling sewing machines............on these pages are literally litres of stories of machines playing up and folk "oiling" them...........it is NOT a cure all, and a very little occasionally at the junctions of the moving parts (mostly inside the casing and unseen by users) is all that is necessary, ........so proactive rather than reactive.

A regular service by a qualified technician every couple of years (more often if frequently used or quilting) will ident potential problems and keep things moving smoothly.......we all take our cars to be serviced fairly regularly..these machines need the same attention to work well for years.