1980s Kenmore 16951 Zigzag Sewing Machine Owner's Manual (P/N 650800012)

The Sears Canada owner's handbook for the 1980s Kenmore 16951 zigzag sewing machine covers setup, sewing, routine maintenance, and parts identification. This 385-series publication carries Part No. 650800012 and was originally printed in Taiwan.

• Threading and controls: Bobbin winding with the push-pull clutch, upper and bobbin threading, needle installation, presser-foot changes, and pressure regulator adjustment.

• Needle and fabric selection: Needle, thread, and fabric compatibility chart, plus illustrated tension checks and stitch-length guidance for different materials.

• Utility and stretch stitches: Buttonholes, blind hems, decorative stitching, zipper application, fabric repair, and stretch stitch balance adjustment.

• Troubleshooting: Performance charts connect irregular or skipped stitches, needle and thread breakage, puckering, feeding problems, and shuttle jams with causes and corrections.

• Routine maintenance: Feed dog and shuttle cleaning, shuttle removal and refitting, sewing-light bulb replacement, and illustrated oiling points.

• Parts identification: Numbered accessory illustrations and a parts list covering needles, presser feet, the bobbin box, motor belt, and foot control.

The explanations of threading, controls, and routine care make this handbook suitable for home sewers learning to use and maintain the machine.

Sewing Setup and Stitch Applications

Setup covers the extension table, conversion to free-arm sewing, the presser foot lever, and foot-control operation. Bobbin-winding views and top-threading diagrams show the thread path, while stitch-formation illustrations compare balanced, tight, and loose top tension.

The fabric chart matches needles and threads to materials ranging from lightweight batiste to heavy upholstery and canvas. The sewing sections relate stitch length and tension to fabric thickness, seam construction, and the selected stitch.

Utility and stretch work: Instructions cover blind hemming, shell stitching, box stitching, and fagoting. Satin stitching and appliqueing include advice on fabric support and tension, while the stretch sections illustrate smocking stretch, rick-rack stretch, and herringbone stretch.

Zippers and fabric repair: Regular zipper insertion, mending, darning with the darning plate, and button sewing are covered. Invisible zipper and cording work calls for Low Bar Sewing Machine Zipper Foot 6757, identified in the parts list as an optional accessory.

Performance Problems and Machine Care

The performance charts help separate threading, needle, and presser-foot problems from thread trapped in the shuttle. This supports fault isolation when investigating poor stitch formation or a machine that jams or knocks.

The charts connect pulled fabric and a loose presser foot with broken needles; burrs around the needle-plate opening can also break the upper thread.

Cleaning and lubrication: Shuttle drawings explain removal and refitting, including the seating and alignment references. Separate oiling illustrations identify access beneath the arm cover, bottom covers, and face cover.

The parts list supplies original numbers for component identification during repair. Maintenance coverage centers on cleaning, lubrication, bulb replacement, and basic fault checks; internal motor repair and machine-timing adjustment are outside the handbook's scope.

Disconnect the machine from power before maintenance or bulb replacement; the bulb may remain hot.

A Preview of Tension and Stitch-Width Settings

These examples are a small selection of the operating settings included in the handbook.

For straight stitching, the illustrated top-thread tension range is 3 to 6; shell stitching on nylon tricot uses a range of 4 to 9. Final tension adjustment depends on the fabric and stitch formation.

For blind hemming, the stitch-width control is shown at 2 to 3. All of these figures refer to numbered control settings.

PDF Search, Navigation, and Included Pages

Text search and navigation: The PDF has a partially usable OCR text layer; some table entries and diagram labels are missed or misread. There are no embedded PDF bookmarks. The printed contents page provides page references.

Supplied as one printable, 56-page PDF in English. The total includes 48 numbered reference pages, the front cover and introduction (2 pages), one supplementary page, three memo pages, one original warranty page, and the back cover.