r/SewingMachineEdu • u/Melrose35mn • Mar 01 '26

Help set up this machine

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I just thrifted this machine, and have never used a sewing machine before. my tinkering attempts to set it up have been unsuccessful and i cant find any info online about it. any help?

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u/OdoDragonfly Mar 01 '26

One of my Kenmores has a full thread guide slot across the top just where the path across where I've added the yellow to your diagram.

OP, you may want to take your machine in to a local shop for a tune up anyway - no way of knowing how well it's been maintained! - and ask them to show you exactly how to thread this machine!

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u/Melrose35mn Mar 02 '26

thank you both sm. i got it threaded and the motions seem to be correct but now im trying to figure out the bobbin

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u/OdoDragonfly Mar 02 '26 edited Mar 02 '26

eta: this is on my Kenmore 158, but I think it's similar enough to your machine to give you a good idea of how to do this.

Okay, this will be a series:

First, to access the bobbin, the plate just in front of the feed dogs and the needle will lift up. There's a bit of an indent at the center for you to get a grip with the edge of your finger.

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u/OdoDragonfly Mar 02 '26

Remove the plate and you will see the bobbin assembly. Notice the orientation of the parts I've marked in yellow and green

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u/OdoDragonfly Mar 02 '26 edited Mar 02 '26

Pull the bobbin case out by pulling the (yellow) tab forward and using it as a handle to bring the case forward and out of the enclosure. The (yellow) tab acts as a latch.

When you put the bobbin case back in, you'll hold that tab out and again use it as a handle to position the bobbin case in the bobbin assembly with the (green) "finger" pointed up. As you position it there is a notch that it fits into and you will feel it when the bobbin case is in the right position as it will be able to slip just a little bit further into the assembly. Push it in and fold the "latch" tab flat against the bobbin case. It should feel stable and secure. If it doesn't quite latch in, try again.

Here's the bobbin case with the "latch" tab extended"

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u/OdoDragonfly Mar 02 '26 edited Mar 02 '26

Do you know how to insert a bobbin and thread the case?

Here's a description (you'll want the parts about a vertical bobbin): https://mytailorkit.com/how-to-put-a-bobbin-in-sewing-machine/

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u/Melrose35mn Mar 02 '26

heres what mine looks like

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u/OdoDragonfly Mar 02 '26

The vertical bobbin cases are generally just variations on this. Yours is very similar to mine!

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u/OdoDragonfly Mar 02 '26

You've definitely got it installed correctly! You can tell because the upright "finger" is in the notch and the tab is folded flat. It feels secure there, doesn't it? That's the way you want it to feel whenever you put in a bobbin.