Feed Dogs Button Stuck on Kenmore Machine?

I just found a beautiful Kenmore 158.523 machine, but the button on the machine bed will not turn to lower the feed dogs. Any idea how I can get this to turn?

Thanks.

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gggd
Silver Answer Medal for All Time! 425 Answers

November 10, 20200 found this helpful

Best Answer

Sometimes, with a machine that has sat around a while, the grease/oil for the feed dogs and/or buttons/knobs, gets old and gummy. Try giving the machine a thorough cleaning and oiling as per owners manual. If you don't have a manual, here is a link to your kenmore machine's manual you can download for free: www.searspartsdirect.com/.../kenmore-158523-mechanical-sewing...
Give extra attention from top and from underneath at the feed dogs and knob/button...extra lubrication and trying to move the knob/button may free it up.

To get to the underside, you may have to remove part of the bottom of machine. Here is a link to info on stuck feed dogs: www.quiltingboard.com/.../stuck-feed-dog-knob-buttons-t250416... . Good luck and happy sewing.

gypsyred58

November 11, 20200 found this helpful

Thanks so much for the info and web site links I will give it a try

cybergrannie
Gold Feedback Medal for All Time! 949 Feedbacks

November 11, 20200 found this helpful

Best Answer

You may have to take it in for service but try this first:
Take a hair dryer and turn it on med/hot and aim heat toward the parts affected. Move it around for a few minutes just being sure the heat is hitting the problem area - around the button in this case.

Sometimes the gunk has built up and this may loosen it enough to be able to turn it. It may take a few minutes (let the button cool and do not burn yourself trying to move it too quickly).
Try it several times and if it moves at all you know it's gunk so keep trying.
If this works it's time to clean that area and reoil if necessary but do not use any type of oil but sewing machine oil - NO WD40 please.

Sine your machine is a Kenmore, Sears Service Center may be a good place to check for cleaning services. Ask for an estimate.
www.service-center-locator.com/.../sears-service-center.htm

poehere
Bronze Post Medal for All Time! 105 Posts

November 10, 20200 found this helpful

I have a machine that I allowed to sit a very long time and this has happened to me. I tried to add a bit of oil to the machine to see if I could get it working again or not. it did not help. I had t take my machine back to the repair shop and have it fixed again.

I think the piece froze or rusted in mine and it sounds like this has happened to your machine. My fix was not very expensive and yours should not be either.

Betty Bouboula

March 4, 20210 found this helpful

Dear GypsyRed58! Have you solved this mystery? It occurred to me that perhaps you have been only trying to turn the mechanism (as you indicated in your original question), rather than push the ring or pin down to change the feed dog pressure. My understanding from the manual for your machine, and from my own Kenmore (slightly different model but the same mechanism), is that these mechanisms do not turn. Instead, you must push down the outer ring of the presser foot knob on top of the machine to release pressure, or press down the inner pin to increase the pressure of the feed dogs. I hope you are "sewing free"!

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