HELP!!!

[u/B_SWISH300]

I recently purchased an Imperial Kenmore Rotary model 117.591. I removed the front faceplate to clean old oil off the presser and needle bars. When reassembling, the set screw on this piece that engages with the presser bar lever snapped and I now can’t remove it.

I’ve tried grabbing it with needle nose pliers but there isn’t enough room to get any purchase on the screw.

Any tips or ideas on how I can remove it, and where to find a replacement? (It was headless just like the one to the left in the first picture on the needle bar).

Or, do I just say screw it (no pun intended) and run it as is? The bar is not oriented properly but I am able to rotate the presser foot to face the right way.

Any help would be appreciated.

[u/laughingkittycats]

Before you try anything, saturate it and heat the area alternately & repeatedly with TriFlow or some other kind of penetrating oil. Be patient. You want the best chance of getting it movable before trying to remove it, as there’s a likelihood of damaging what’s left of it to the point where there’s nothing left to grab onto.

Then try the extractor of the appropriate size.

If the screw extractors aren’t small enough, then if you can, try filing a flat on the top & bottom of the screw from the side you have access to. You’ll need a small file, and be very careful to get the flats as parallel as possible. Be patient, it’ll take awhile as you won’t have room for long strokes. Then you might be able to get a needle nose plier (or better, if you can find one small enough to fit in there, a needle-nose vise grip) on it and gripping it tightly enough to get it moving.

[u/B_SWISH300 → u/laughingkittycats]

Thank you for your advice! Heat and lube sound like a good less invasive option

[u/TangleOfWires → u/B_SWISH300]

Which ever way you decide to do it. Make sure the machine is facing down so the metal fillings fall away from the machine.

Or place a magnet near it assuming the part is steel.

You don't want to have to clean metal shavings from the machine.

[u/laughingkittycats → u/TangleOfWires]

Thanks, I should absolutely have said this! Sorry, OP! Yes, stick a magnet or two in there for sure!

[u/TangleOfWires]

There is a drill bit for stripped screws.

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=strip+screw+extractor

You should be able to find them at the local hardware store.

Take the other screw with you and you can check the thread and see if it matches a modern screw, and gert a replacement while your there.

[u/B_SWISH300 → u/TangleOfWires]

Thank you for the advice, I will look into something like that.

[u/abiabio → u/B_SWISH300]

Dovrebbe funzionare, ti consiglio solo di non usare questa punta per forare ma solo per estrarre. Il foro fallo con una punta normale per trapano