Kenmore C877.15 Instruction Manual

To Insert the Needle

Turn the Balance Wheel towards you until the Needle Bar (Fig. 1 A) is at its highest point, then loosen the Needle Clamp Screw (Fig. 1 B). Hold the needle with the point down and insert the needle with the flat surface to the right into the needle clamp as far as it will go. Then tighten the Needle Clamp Screw.

Diagram Description (Fig. 1): Shows the needle bar with a clamp screw labeled 'A' and 'B'. A needle is shown inserted into the clamp with its flat side oriented to the right.

To Remove the Bobbin Case

Turn the Balance Wheel towards you until the needle bar is at its highest point. Draw the bed slide open to the left with the thumb and forefinger of the left hand. Open the bobbin case latch and remove the bobbin case. As long as the latch remains open, the bobbin will stay in the bobbin case. Release the latch, turn the open end of the bobbin case downwards, and the bobbin will drop out.

Diagram Description (Fig. 2): Illustrates the bobbin case area with the bed slide open, showing the bobbin case and its latch.

To Wind the Bobbin

Loosen the Balance Wheel Stop-Motion Screw (Fig. 3 A) towards you, allowing the balance wheel to run free. Place a spool of thread on the spool pin (Fig. 4 A) at the foot of the machine. Pass the thread through the tension bracket (Fig. 4 B) and up to the thread pressing lever (Fig. 4 C). Wind thread from inside outwards several times around the bobbin, which had been placed on the left end pin of the rubber ring (Fig. 4 D). Be sure that the bobbin is pressed to the end of the spindle. Press down the bobbin, and the bobbin winder latch will drop down and hold the bobbin winder ring against the balance wheel. Then operate the machine as if sewing.

The bobbin winder is automatically released when sufficient thread has been wound on the bobbin.

Diagram Description (Fig. 3): Shows the bobbin winder with a stop-motion screw labeled 'A'.

Diagram Description (Fig. 4): Shows the upper part of the machine with the spool pin 'A', tension bracket 'B', thread pressing lever 'C', and the bobbin on the winder spindle 'D'.

Threading the Bobbin Case

Hold the bobbin between your thumb and forefinger (see Fig. 5, 6, 7) and pull out 2 to 3 inches of thread. Guide the thread into the cross slot in the edge of the bobbin case. Pull the thread under the tension spring towards you into the eye.

Diagram Description (Fig. 5, 6, 7): Illustrates the process of threading the bobbin case, showing how to hold the bobbin, insert the thread into the slot, and pull it through the tension spring and eye.

To Insert Bobbin Case

After turning the Balance Wheel until the needle bar is at its highest point, insert the bobbin into the bed of the machine and place it so that the center stud of the bobbin case holder fits into the slot of the race. The hole in the bobbin case must be on top (as shown in Figure 8). Press the bobbin case gently into the bobbin case holder, releasing the latch at the same time until the stud of the bobbin case holder snaps into the latch. At least 3 to 4 inches of thread should hang freely from the bobbin case. Close the bed slide.

Diagram Description (Fig. 8): Shows the bobbin case correctly inserted into the machine, with its center stud in the race and the hole facing upwards.

Upper Threading

Turn the Balance Wheel towards you until the take-up lever is raised to its highest point. Place the spool of thread on the spool pin of the machine arm. Pass the thread over and through the thread guide (Fig. 10 A) at the top corner of the face-plate, down and over the back to front between the tension disc (Fig. 10 B), up to the thread guard (Fig. 10 C), down into the hook of the take-up spring (Fig. 10 D), and over back to front through the hole in the end of the thread take-up-lever (Fig. 10 E). Then down into the eyelet of the face-plate (Fig. 10 F), into the lower wire-thread guide (Fig. 10 G), and finally from left to right through the eye of the needle (Fig. 10 H).

Draw about 2 inches of thread through the eye of the needle with which to commence sewing. Hold the needle thread in your left hand, turn the balance wheel towards you until the needle moves up and down, and up again to its highest point, catching the bobbin thread, which will be brought up through the hole in the thread plate.

Diagram Description (Fig. 10 A-H): A detailed diagram illustrating the path of the upper thread through various guides, tension discs, levers, and finally the needle eye.

To Regulate the Pressure

For darning and embroidering, release the pressure by pressing down the automatic darning lever 'A' (Figure 9). Make sure the presser foot is down when releasing the pressure.

For ordinary sewing, reset the pressure by pressing down on 'B' (Figure 9).

To increase the pressure, press down on 'B' (Figure 9) until the desired pressure is obtained. There should be just enough pressure on the foot to allow the fabric to move easily and to prevent it from rising with the needle.

Diagram Description (Fig. 9): Shows a hand adjusting the pressure on the presser foot assembly using a screw labeled 'B'. The automatic darning lever is labeled 'A'.

Regulating the Thread Tension

If the upper tension is too loose, the under thread draws the upper thread down, thus forming a small knot or loops (as shown in Fig. 11 A). If the upper tension is too tight, the under thread is drawn up (as shown in Fig. 11 B). Fig. 11 C illustrates how the threads lock in the center of the material when tension is properly set.

The tension on the needle thread should be regulated only when the presser foot is down. Having lowered the presser foot, turn the small thumb screw (Fig. 11 D) at the front of the tension discs towards you to increase the tension. To decrease the tension, turn the thumb nut away from you.

The tension on the bobbin thread is regulated by the screw (Fig. 11 E) in the bobbin case tension spring. To increase the tension, turn this screw over to the right. To decrease the tension, turn the screw over to the left.

When the tension on the bobbin thread has been properly adjusted, it is seldom necessary to change it, as a correct stitch can usually be obtained by varying the tension on the needle thread.

Diagram Description (Fig. 11 A, B, C): Shows examples of incorrect (too loose, too tight) and correct thread tension. Fig. 11 D shows the upper tension adjustment screw. Fig. 11 E shows the bobbin case tension adjustment screw.

Regulating the Length of the Stitch

The length of the stitch is regulated by the stitch regulator and thumb-screw in the slot in front of the arm (Fig. 12 A). Loosen the screw and move the regulator downwards, and the stitches will become longer. If the regulator is moved in the opposite direction (upwards), the stitches become shorter. After determining the correct position of the regulator, re-tighten the screw immediately so the position will not be altered.

To Sew in Reverse

Loosen the screw and move the lever above the center line (Fig. 12 C). You can now adjust for the desired length of reverse stitch. Then tighten the screw, and it will lock the stitch. The machine now sews in reverse.

Diagram Description (Fig. 12): Shows the stitch length regulator and thumb-screw on the machine arm (A), and the reverse sewing lever (C).

Snap-Out Race

The Snap-Out Race (Fig. 13) is designed to facilitate cleaning of the shuttle body. Turn the lever down and swing the case open. You now have easy access to cleaning the shuttle body. After cleaning, it is essential that all parts be put back correctly in their original place. Before resuming sewing, make sure that the race is closed.

Diagram Description (Fig. 13): Shows the snap-out race mechanism (a) and its component parts (b).

Drop-Feed

For darning and mending. With the single turning of the button, your feed mechanism drops so as to enable the material to glide easily without interference. This is especially designed for your machine for the purpose of darning, monogramming, and embroidering. Before turning your drop feed button, make sure to turn the balance wheel and bring the needle to its highest point.