1969 Kenmore 12493 Zigzag Sewing Machine Owner's Manual (P/N 648800071)

This owner's manual for the 1969 Kenmore 12493 zigzag sewing machine, P/N 648800071, covers operation, setup, routine care, and troubleshooting.

The file is a 104-page PDF in English, containing two identical 52-page copies.

• Threading and tension: Bobbin winding, bobbin-case threading, needle installation, upper and bobbin tension adjustments, and needle/thread/fabric matching.

• Stitch adjustments: Straight and zigzag setup, stretch-stitch balance, buttonhole density balancing, and presser-foot pressure adjustment.

• Shuttle and feed dogs: Shuttle removal and reinstallation for cleaning, feed-dog care, and illustrated lubrication points.

• Troubleshooting: Symptom/cause/correction charts for skipped or irregular stitches, thread breakage, puckering, poor feeding, machine jamming, and knocking noises.

• Sewing applications: Buttonholes, shell and satin stitching, blind hemming, zipper application, mending, darning, bar tacking, overcasting, and interfacing darts.

• Repair parts: Illustrated references and part numbers for the shuttle, bobbin case, bobbin-winder rubber ring, motor belts, and presser-foot attachments.

Written for home sewing-machine owners, the manual explains the controls and basic sewing setup before moving into adjustments and routine maintenance.

Machine Setup and Thread Control

The setup pages explain flat-bed and free-arm configurations, extension-table removal, presser-foot changes, and thread spool pin installation. Component views locate the clutch knob, bobbin winder, needle clamp screw, and reverse stitch control.

Separate instructions cover the speed control plug, light and power switch, foot control, and darning plate, supported by threading sequence views and bobbin winding diagrams.

Needle and fabric matching: The Needle, Thread and Fabric Chart relates fabric weight to color-coded Kenmore needles, thread selection, and recommended stitch lengths. Q NEEDLE and Q FOOT recommendations address knits and difficult synthetic fabrics.

Tension illustrations compare correct, tight, and loose upper-thread stitch formation. Bobbin-tension guidance explains balancing the upper and lower threads when seams pucker.

Stretch Stitches, Buttonholes, and Garment Work

Adjusting Stretch Stitch Balance explains matching forward and reverse stitch formation. Adjusting Buttonhole Stitch Balance addresses unequal density between the two sides, with control illustrations and comparison samples.

Straight stretch, overcast stretch, and serging or pine leaf stretch have dedicated sections. General balance illustrations also show rick-rack and smocking stretch, but their separate instruction pages, printed pages 24–25, are blank in both copies.

Presser-foot and control-setting illustrations accompany satin stitching, shell stitching, and blind hemming. The zipper section distinguishes regular and invisible zippers and identifies low-bar zipper foot 6757 for invisible-zipper and cording work.

Troubleshooting, Shuttle Care, and Repair Parts

Fault tracing: The Checking Performance Problems charts link skipped stitches to needle condition, needle placement, thread tension, and presser-foot pressure. These distinctions help owners narrow down setup problems before arranging a repair.

The needle-breakage chart identifies pulling fabric and incorrect needle installation as causes of a broken needle.

Cleaning and oiling: Parts of the Shuttle Assembly identifies the shuttle, race cover, and shuttle driver alongside cleaning and reassembly instructions. Oiling Under Arm Cover Plate, underside oiling, and face-cover oiling illustrations locate the lubrication points.

Always verify the machine is fully disconnected from its power supply before maintenance or replacing the sewing light.

Parts identification and scope: The parts list pairs 22 illustrated reference positions with part numbers, including motor belts 40164 and 33379. Coverage is limited to the listed service parts and accessories; internal timing procedures, motor repair, and electrical wiring diagrams are outside this owner's manual's scope.

File Format and Readability

Each 52-page copy contains a 45-page main section, including the two blank pages noted above, plus one front cover, one introductory letter, three memo pages, one rear service-information page, and one warranty page. All are already included in the total.

Text search: An embedded OCR layer supports partial text search, with substantial gaps in the needle/fabric and troubleshooting charts.

Navigation: No embedded PDF bookmarks or clickable contents links.

Readability: Small chart text benefits from zooming. One troubleshooting page is sideways, and text is clipped at some page margins, including the free-arm sewing page.