At Fixya.com, our trusted experts are meticulously vetted and possess extensive experience in their respective fields. Backed by a community of knowledgeable professionals, our platform ensures that the solutions provided are thoroughly researched and validated.
How can I open the top cover of the kenmore model 158.17741 to oil the mechanisms. The manual shows a picture of it open but no instructions on how it got that way
Re: How can I open the top cover of the kenmore model...
There is between two and four screws on top of the machine. Remove them. Pay attention to the bobbin winder. You may need to move it in order to get the plate to be released.
- If you need clarification, ask it in the comment box above.
- Better answers use proper spelling and grammar.
- Provide details, support with references or personal experience.
Tell us some more! Your answer needs to include more details to help people.You can't post answers that contain an email address.Please enter a valid email address.The email address entered is already associated to an account.Login to postPlease use English characters only.
Tip: The max point reward for answering a question is 15.
Do NOT oil the motor unless the manual instructs you to do so. (Sears carries manuals for most of their machines.)
Your machine appears to be an older mechanical machine. As such, oiling would be necessary for the moving metal parts. The following may be helpful to keep your mechanical machine happily operating. (Although the following is for machines that have seized due to lack of oil, following the procedure is helpful in preventing the machine from seizing.)
Sears carries many manuals for Kenmore. That's probably the best place to check--unfortunately, they generally are not free.
The sewing machine could probably use a good cleaning and oiling. These old (but great!) mechanicals need 1-2 drops of fresh, good quality sewing machine oil (Tri-Flow Synthetic Oil works great!) every place that metal rubs against metal. NO oil on plastic, nylon, rubber, or belts!!! Simply open the machine's top, left side, and free arm cover (if not a free arm, you'll need to access the underneath of the machine). Gently hand rotate the handwheel toward you and apply a couple drops every place metal rubs metal. Don't forget the lever & dial mechanisms too. Probably, in your case, the bobbin winder mechanism (do NOT oil the rubber tire!). Then you can apply hot air from a handheld hairdryer into the mechanism to help free it up.
I believe your Kenmore is an older mechanical machine. If so, how long has it been since you've given it a good cleaning and oiling? Mechanical machines need frequent TLC, otherwise the old oil turns into a glue-like substance and starts sticking things together, including your selector levers and dials. Give your machine's bobbin area a good cleaning with a soft brush to remove dust and lint.
Then, use ONLY fresh good quality sewing machine oil. Open the case top and free arm cover (if it has one--if it is a flat bed, tilt the machine back so you can access the moving parts under the sewing surface), gently handrotate the handwheel toward you, watch where metal rubs metal and apply 1-2 drops of oil. (Your owner's manual may have instructions for oiling and your machine may also have oil ports--little holes-- where oil should be applied.) Do not skip the feed dog moving parts. Also, there is usually an oil port behind the bobbin mechanism next to the case. Put a single drop of oil on the bobbin race. Do NOT oil plastic, rubber, or belts! Be sure to move the selector levers and dials and, if possible, apply a couple of drops to their moving parts as well. To help loosen things quicker, direct hot air from a handheld hairdryer into the internal mechanics of the machine. Repeat the oil/heat process until things are moving freely.
In the future, be sure to give your machine a thorough cleaning and oiling after about 40 hours of sewing use. A drop of oil on the bobbin race is good every 8 hours. If your machine sets unused, oil every six months to keep it operating.
if you have a instruction manual look in it for oiling instructions and if you don't have a manual or it doesn't say anything about oiling,, then go to the website of janome and contact their customer service and ask them if you can oil the machine.. some machine can be oiled and some can not..
Remove the top and bottom covers. Turn the wheel and put a drop of oil anyplace that moves and rubs.Also at the ends of each shaft. Open the side cover and oil the needle bar and all the parts inside that move and rub.Put a drop of oil on the hook.Do not put a good piece of fabric in the machine right after you've oiled it. Sew it off on some scraps that you can throw away. sewman7
Sorry couldn't find a free manual - check here though, they are only $10;
http://www.sewusa.com/Sewing_Machine_Manuals/kenmore_Sewing_Machines_385.htm
although they dont have the exact manual for your model, the oiling instructions should be the same for all the 385 models.
it is a good site - you can contact them direct for more info and you might get lucky;
http://www.sewusa.com/index.htm
These guys are also worth a try;
http://www.sew4less.com/manuals.php
They claim to offer a manual for your exact model, but the picture shows a generic manual which they say will offer the same info
Hope this helps, good luck, please post again if you need more help :)
×