Kenmore sewing machine will no longer back stitch. Model #385.1695180?

Thanks to Chatterbug for info re 1664180. Thanks to you the Beer Fairy will continue to drop of beer.

Doyle
April 2020

I followed Debra's advice above to take the bottom and side off to see what the reverse button was clicking against and discovered it was touching the reverse lever but not moving it because the lever was stiff. I oiled the areas that looked like the would loosen the lever once I pressed hard enough on the reverse button and sure enough, it started working fine. Grateful for everyone's help on this site.

Jane
May 2018

Take the cover off the top with two screws, then remove bottom with several screws, then remove the side cover. This allows you to loosen the screws (right side and top of plate) to take off the front cover of the machine surrounding the reverse lever. On my machine, the reverse lever felt broken, like it was not attached to anything. After searching, I noticed a small screw visible just to the left of the reverse lever, and that it was loose. I lifted up and held the lever, then tightened the loose screw, and it works great now... no broken parts just a loose screw allowing the lever to not engage the reversing mechanism.

Debra
February 2017

I am not an expert on sewing machine repair. The reverse on my Kenmore 385-17628890 was not working. I thought it was broken and was looking for an answer on the web. I came across a video on Youtube that suggested to simply clean the machine in the area of the reverse switch mechanism. They took the top off and cleaned around the reverse mechanism from the top down. I couldn't get the cover off the top or the bottom off my machine, so I took a pipe cleaner and stuck it in beside the reverse switch lever on the front of the machine. I pulled out a lot of dust and lint. I tried all the sides around the leaver, and pulled out a lot of lint every time. I tested it using a decorative stitch with stitch length set between 0 and 1 and width set between 3 and 4. The machine worked perfectly in forward. When I reversed it, the reverse worked perfectly, too. I tried several different stitches and stitch lengths, and my machine worked in both forward and reverse every time. It may be too early to say, but I think my machine is fixed. I'll still need to get the bottom off to clean and oil it.

MizVixi
August 2016

Kenmore sewing machine will not back stitch. Model 385.81520

patricia
January 2016

My machine won't back stitch. How do I get the cover off to check the things described above?

Grateful
November 2012

Just wanted to thank everyone for this info!

Oct 2012

Melanie
October 2012

I also had this problem with a 385.17124

I followed Chatterbug's advice and removed the bottom cover (4 standard-size, easily accessible screws). It was immediately obvious which parts related to the reverse lever. All I did was jiggle the inside lever a bit to unstick it, and now it works fine!

arg
December 2007

We are having the same issue with our 385.1664180, it just won't reverse.

Jo Anne
September 2007

Mine was doing the same thing. In the bottom of my Kenmore (yes I had to take cover off to get to it). I had to follow the wire from the button to the gear that was supposed to slide right and left as you push the button in and out. I had to take the little screw off of the spring that was supposed to pull the gear into place when you pushed the button. There was a little grommit under it that was sticky... I took it off and put it back on with a little singer oil and now it engages smothly when I push the reverse button.

Chatterbug
July 2007

Hello Lori,
If you have the stitch length set about 4 and then move the lever to reverse there is no reason why it should not do it, providing the stitch length lever is working on all stitch lengths the only possible reason why it will not reverse is because it may need some oil or the existing oil that may have been on the machine for years has congealed, mechanically there is very little to go wrong with the stitch length control, if you try that and still have a problem don't hesitate to contact me .
drivewithken@blueyonder.co.uk
Ken

Ken Dourof
June 2007