Here's a picture of a bobbin winder clutch. It's on the handwheel of this old Kenmore. First, loosen the small screw on the center knob. You don't have to take it all the way out, just loosen it. Then twist the center knob to the left (righty-tighty, lefty-loosey) until it comes off. This is a picture of what you'll see under the knob. Can you see the metal ring that's sitting on the center shaft? Remove it.
You may need to take the top lid and/or the side panel off to allow the handwheel to move in and out. If you're not sure you can get the belt back on correctly, you don't need to take the belt off, just loosen the outer panels so you can move the handwheel on it's shaft, like this...
Can you see how the center shaft has moved back inside, as I push the handwheel out? Use some "solvent" (WD-40) to remove the old, gummy oil on the shaft. Squirt it inside the hole and work the handwheel around until the gum is dissolved. Then wipe out as much of the solvent as you can. If you have a can of air, you can blow it out -- we use an air compressor at the shop. Also use the solvent to wipe the old oil off of the metal ring and center knob.
Put 2 drops of oil on the shaft and put the machine back together.
The metal ring under the knob will have 2 or 3 raised nubs on the inside.
Run the machine and see if it's doing what it's supposed to do.
If the machine isn't working well with the ring in its current position, turn it counter-clock-wise one position. Screw the center knob back on and tighten the little screw.
That should take care of it!
Thank you so much for this post! I'm a bit of a dunderhead when it comes to mechanical things, but I was able to fix my sewing machine, although it took two days for me to get the center knob off. It was almost as though it had been glued on!
ReplyDeleteHow did you finally get centre knob off. I am having the same issue.
DeleteI finally shifted mine by taking out the tiny screw and threading a narrow piece of packing tape through the hole till I could catch the other end of the tape, and then using the tape to pull the knob around whilst holding the outer one. Gave me a bit more torque.
DeleteYay thank you!
ReplyDeleteYou saved the day for us. There was no gunk on the shaft, but we put some oil on it regardless. When we took off the top, we discovered that the bobbin shaft was frozen. We put WD-40 and then oil on it and rotated it with a wrench until it loosened. Now everything works fine. Thank you very much.
ReplyDeleteI purchased a used kenmore 12 model #385.1284180. The metal ring under the knob & clutch stop screw were both missing. Do you know where I might find to purchase them? Don't know part numbers. Any help appreciated.
ReplyDeleteIf you’re a thrift store shopper, you can probably find a whole machine for about $10 – $15. The parts aren’t available from Brewer, so I don’t have a part number for you. It’s a great machine, and worth fixing. There are a couple on Ebay right now, but the price is kinda high if you just need parts.
ReplyDeleteWhen someone comes to the shop asking for parts like that, we have a bunch of loose screws and other parts, and we just try them on the machine until we find one that fits.
You can call the Sears repair department, to find a part number--they may even have the parts. There’s a Yahoo Group for owners of old Kenmores. There are some nice people there, who have a lot of resources. They would be your next best option for finding a part number.
Thank you so very much for this information especially that the "nubs" need to face out. I was able to fix my Kenmore 148.19370 and she runs beautifully now.
ReplyDeleteThanks this fixed the problem on my mid-90s Janome where the knob and wheel were stuck together. Turns out there was a bunch of thread wrapped around the spindle. I took out the small screw then moved the knob back and forth to get it off. After a quick clean up my stuck clutch was all better. Thanks so much.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad that the info was helpful.
ReplyDeleteThank you! This worked on my Kenmore 148 15600 (model 1560) from the mid seventies. It also gave me the confidence to take it apart, which I was previously afraid to do!
ReplyDeleteCan't get centre knob off when unscrewed.
ReplyDeleteHi Carolyn,
ReplyDeleteHere’s how I got a very stuck handwheel off. http://shesasewingmachinemechanic.blogspot.com/2013/04/the-wrong-oil.html
Heat also helps. Try using a blow dryer on it as you work with it. You want to be careful not to bend the shaft, or break the handwheel.
I have a 2010 xl brother and my bobbin hand wheel has been stuck for years I have taken it apart before but only put a little oil in it and put it back on and it worked for about a week til I finished my project and got stuck again. So I just continue to wind my bobbin while watching the needle goes up and down. I figure as long as it winds my bobbin don't worry about it because it't wrapping thread on it like it should. Maybe one day when I get the nerve up to take it off again instead of just oiling it, I'll check everything you just mentioned. I don't like messing with things I know nothing about. I thought I had tighten it to tight and got it stuck. Now I know what to look for and what to do. Thank you for all of your inspiring information on maintence for our sewing machines. Very, very helpful advice.
ReplyDeleteI have a 2010 xl brother and my bobbin hand wheel has been stuck for years I have taken it apart before but only put a little oil in it and put it back on and it worked for about a week til I finished my project and got stuck again. So I just continue to wind my bobbin while watching the needle goes up and down. I figure as long as it winds my bobbin don't worry about it because it't wrapping thread on it like it should. Maybe one day when I get the nerve up to take it off again instead of just oiling it, I'll check everything you just mentioned. I don't like messing with things I know nothing about. I thought I had tighten it to tight and got it stuck. Now I know what to look for and what to do. Thank you for all of your inspiring information on maintence for our sewing machines. Very, very helpful advice.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Pookyab! One of these days you just need to get in there with some WD-40.
ReplyDeleteDo you have any tips on how to get the bobbin shaft itself "unstuck"? I got an old (50's?) Dressmaker machine that was locked up everywhere (old lubricants, not used in forever) and I've been able to get everything in great working order except the bobbin winder. I've doused it in WD40...maybe I just need to give it some time to loosen up?
ReplyDeleteHi Jessi,
ReplyDeleteIf WD-40 doesn’t work, apply heat. A hairdryer or soldering gun (put only on the metal parts) are your next options.
Thank you! A combination of WD-40, heat, and my husband's strong grip finally got it loosened. Now if I can just remember how it goes back together...
DeleteHi everyone!
ReplyDeleteIt's good to read some success stories about fixing old sewing machines.
I have the same issue that the hand wheel is stuck to the shaft on an old BERNINA 710. Everything else is working so well on such an old beauty that I feel I absolutely need to fix its unique default. I'm in love with the mechanics of this machine. It's probably not really needed as Pookyab noted, I can wind the bobbin with the needle moving, no big deal. But I want to see the clutch working so bad! I can't help it.
As I write this message, I am trying some penetrating oil on it, I will also add later some WD40. My problem is that I cannot get a strong grip on it, I can't find a place to put a wrench. Cannot get a proper leaver...
Does anyone has a suggestion?
This thing is REALLY stuck.
Buy some shelf liner with rubber bumps on it. It opens stuck jars, I use it for many things
DeleteHi Richie,
ReplyDeleteI find that I can get a better grip when I push the machine up against the back of the counter. That way I can get my whole weight into it. Rubber mechanic gloves help me get the best grip. Or you can try strap wrenches. You don’t want to pry. I’ve seen some upper shafts that have been bent, and that really ruins a machine. I have used a hammer to tap the handwheel, from its back side, as close to the shaft as you can get. Just be really careful not to break the handwheel. If you hammer with a brass tapper against the handwheel, that won’t cause as much damage as smacking it with a screwdriver or some other steel tool.
Also, try heating it with a blow dryer.
Best site I've found to help with my sewing machine problems. Awesome! Thank you! I'm going to try it now.
ReplyDeleteWhat is it for that's what I need to know.
ReplyDeleteThe center knob is a clutch that when loosened, will allow the bobbin winder to run, without running the sewing machine. When you're done winding the bobbin, tighten the center knob, to allow the needle to move up and down again.
ReplyDeleteI succeeded in getting my centre knob loosened and the bobbin winder worked great. Now, I can't seem to get the clutch back to normal position so that the needle goes up and down! When I turn the clutch knob to the right to tighten it it just turns the whole sewing mechanism, making the needle go up and down. Hope you can help. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteHi Ginny,
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like you need to turn the inside ring to the correct position. Find the last picture, and follow the last part of the above post. Remove the knob and ring and put them back in the correct position. Remember that the nubs go toward the outside. If the first position doesn't work, try another position.
Ok, I did that, but in the process I discovered there was no tiny screw in the hole of the inner knob, so I found a screw that fit from an old broken coffee maker I had. When I put it back together and tightened the little screw, it was still doing the same thing. So I decided to try again. Now, I can't get the little screw out of the hole at all. It seems to be loosened all the way out with the screwdriver, but it just won't come out the whole way. I tried tipping the whole machine on its side to see if the screw would fall out with gravity, but to no avail. I now cannot get the inner knob to come off. Sigh!
ReplyDeleteUpdate!! It's fixed! Yayyyy! I was able to get my makeshift screw out by turning the handwheel so there was a little resistance on the screw as I turned it with the screwdriver. Then I was able to get the knob off, re-position the clutch, put it back together, tighten the little screw again, and voila!! Now I can loosen the clutch knob for the bobbin winder and then tighten it again for sewing! Thank you soooo much for this excellent instruction page!
ReplyDeleteYay!!! I’m so glad you got your machine sewing and winding bobbins!
ReplyDeleteHappy Sewing!
Thank you for the post on the position of the little ring in the clutch wheel. I had it flipped backwards. Works fine now.
ReplyDeleteI have a 1341 Kenmore and it wont sew. The motor is running but the thing just keeps making noise with no action.
ReplyDeleteMy first guess is that the belt is loose.
DeleteSecond guess is the old oil has turned to tar and you need to remove the old oil, before you can get it moving. Some WD-40 or Tri-Flow in all the right places, would get that going.
Third guess there's a central pulley that's between the motor and the handwheel, that's notorious for freezing up. That takes some work to get both belts off before you can pull that pulley apart. Then you'd clean it up with WD-40 or Tri-Flow.
I hope you can get that machine sewing. It's a good one!
I have a 158.1561281 with 2 belts. I looked inside and could see how the belts were arranged but I could not figure out a graceful way to remove them, everything has to go together at once, and adjust the mid-pulley with the side cover in place. Whose idea was that? I took out the motor and used a wood dowel to drive the mid-pulley up toward the wheel enough to get it off...then I had to figure out how to put it back. My pulley mounts on a slider that kinda needs to be tight so it doesn't wobble but really should float to balance the belt tensions. Another version mounts the pulley on a lever that moves freely to accomplish this. I ended up carefully filing any burrs off the pieces so they would slide, putting locktite on the screw, and tightening just enough to support the pulley but allow it slide when I tightened the motor. The belt slips a little but it works pretty well most of the time. If I make it any tighter it binds/drags...
ReplyDeleteHi Dave,
DeleteYou've got to take the side panel off with the handwheel. The center pulley on those will freeze-up. But you can take it apart and clean it, and the machine should run as good as new. That side panel is a mystery to me. I can push and pull and pry that thing, but it comes off all by itself when it gets in the right position. Just don't ask me what that position is.
When you put it back together, get the belts in their correct order and onto the center pulley. Then the lower belt goes on the motor. I can't remember for sure, but I think the center pulley has some play, but you need to tighten the screw (There's a nut hiding on the other end of the screw. And I think the screw has a section that doesn't have threads, that has to be in the correct position). Then you put the handwheel into the side panel, put the belt onto the handwheel, then put the side panel on at the bottom. Put the handwheel onto its shaft, as you close the side panel. Put the handwheel and clutch together. Then tighten the motor mount last.
I wonder if you sprayed the whole thing with WD-40, it might behave better. We've gone to using Tri-flow in the can, more than WD-40. But you've got to put the Tri-flow right where it will do some good. With the WD-40, you spray everything and work it in real good. But then, you've got to remove it all, and re-oil, too.
We had a Singer Featherweight in a class at the store last week. She had ordered a belt online, and it was a little too big. She ran that machine until it burned the motor up. You've got to be careful running a belt that's too loose, because it makes the motor work harder.
Good Luck with your Kenmore!
All this doesn't apply to a Kenmore 158.10691 ... What I was looking for.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry SDBerry. Do you have a specific question about your machine?
DeleteI'm very grateful to have come upon this extremely helpful post! Last fall I found a Kenmore 13450 at a Habitat for Humanity Restore for $35 and bought it without any prior knowledge of it--except that I could tell its weight was about the same as my wonderful Pfaff from the same era. I trusted that :). I've used the Kenmore a couple times since then, but needed to wind my bobbin with the needle still moving up-and-down because the clutch knob was stuck tight. No longer! After reading all the replies above, I removed the little screw (maybe unnecessarily?), set my flathead screwdriver against a groove in the clutch knob and tapped it with a rubber mallet. I did that in 4 spots. Then I pushed my machine against the back of the counter for better leverage, and the knob unscrewed on the first try. Thank you, everyone. And thank you, Annette, for keeping this comment string going!
ReplyDeleteYay! I'm glad you fixed your machine!
DeleteEXCELLENT! I think this will allow me to get 'er done. Because we are not mechanically minded it would be helpful if there was a little red arrow pointing to where you mean to "put WD40 in the hole" or "two drops of oil on the shaft" because even though we think we know what you mean by that (it's pretty obvious to us and very obvious to you, haha) we are generally very insecure out here, and the though of putting oil in the wrong place can shut us down. THANKS SO MUCH for you informative post and for taking the time to share your expertise with the rest of us!!
ReplyDeleteGreat idea! I'll see if I can figure out how to add arrows. I have Gimp now, instead of PhotoShop, and need to learn how to do that. Thanks for the suggestion!
DeleteHappy Sewing!
I also am trying to unfreeze my clutch on my Kenmore 117-959. My question: does it unscrew clockwise or counterclockwise since it's a rotary? Other than the frozen clutch mechanism, it runs smooth as silk. I don't want to break something trying to force it the wrong direction. Any help would be appreciated.
ReplyDeleteIt unscrews counter-clockwise. Righty Tighty, Lefty Loosey. I don't think you can break anything on that beast. Give it everything you've got!
DeleteHow to get needle to engage when lubricating cluth
ReplyDeleteI have a brother model vx970. The clutch release knob won’t budge. My machine does not have the same type of clutch knob as shown . No screw to remove appears to be one solid unit .any ideas would be appreciated
ReplyDeleteHi Dar,
DeleteI can't find a picture of the handwheel or even a user manual. Sometimes the handwheel just pulls off, sometimes there's a plastic plug or a stiff sticker that covers the screw.
Could you send a picture to a.rose.sewsatgmail.com?
This was so helpful!! Worked PERFECTLY! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteThank you. This fix saved my wife from buying a new sewing machine. The bobbin winder shaft was frozen and the WD40 did the trick!
ReplyDeleteHello, my clutch starts squeaking when winding a bobbin with the clutch disengaged so the needle bar doesnt move. Does it just need oil?
ReplyDeleteHello, i have a Kenmore 158.13511, the clutch on the side was frozen. With your help i have cleaned inside the machine, used compressed air and the re-oiled, etc. Now the clutch knob turns, but still having trouble with needle going up and down while trying to wind bobbin. Also, bobbin will not wind when clutch is released. Bobbin will only wind when clutch is titghtened back to “sewing position.” The needle gors uo and down, no matter what…..any suggestions? Thank you
ReplyDelete