I don't normally deal with plastic machines or machines with plastic parts. But I believe every sewing machine deserves a second chance. So when a machine becomes landfill-ready I will take it, metal and plastic alike.
The previous owner had taken it into a shop for repair but she was told it would take months to have it fixed. She ended up buying a new one (assumingly from the same shop) and this Kenmore was kept in the basement, in a corner, for 6 years.
This machine came to me in non-working condition. In fact, it was completely frozen. The motor worked but it couldn't get the shaft or gears going. The first thing I did was to remove the three generations of dust bunnies. Then I oiled every moving parts yet it was still not moving. Suddenly I saw it, white lithium grease in the camstack and gears! No wonder it was frozen. White lithium grease seemed to be commonly used in sewing machines made in the 70's and the early 80's but it tended to harden over time due to disuse. The grease in this machine was not concrete hard, but more like semi dried play dough. I managed to take it off, a bit at a time. Half and hour later I got limited movements. In another 15 minutes, it was finally free!
I threaded it up and plugged it in but the machine squeaked and stitches looked ugly. Now what? I checked the gears shaft and found years old threads trapped inside a joint near the tip of the gear shaft. Those were old and soaking in oil, tweezers couldn't get them out. I got a pair of long nose pliers and they worked. I silenced the machine but the stitches still looked wonky. Next step, a visit to the bobbin case and I adjusted the tension there. The needle looked a bit dull so a new one was put on. The upper tension needed just a bit of tweaking then voila! She's back to be a sewing machine again!
The Kenmore (8 stitch) 325.1254180 is not the best looking machine and she doesn't carry an European or Japanese heritage. There's a big label "made in Taiwan" on the back and she's a noisy girl. She comes with a burnt out bulb and an empty bobbin case. But hey, she sews and will make some beginners very happy. She will get a new light bulb, extra bobbins, new needles, a satin foot, a buttohhole foot, and other small accessories from me. When I print out the manual she will be re-homed to someone who can really love her.
It's another good day in my sewing machine world.
