Kenmore 148.13180 Sewing Machine was frozen up, the stitch dial could only turn a small amount, and it didn't actually change any of the stitches. It has an unusual mechanism, compared to the majority of the Kenmore's I've worked on, and a pivoting mechanism at the top was frozen, still, when I had managed to clean up & free up the remainder of the machine, but was only able to get straight stitches. Here is a video link to see how to fix the frozen zigzag stitch selector mechanism. See video above, or click link below.
Freeing up a frozen sewing machine is relatively simple, if you know a little bit about how things work, but cleaning out old dried up sewing machine oil, is essential to long term function of the machine, so I dip Qtips in rubbing alcohol, dab at the old dried brown oil, where 2 metal parts move against each other, until I"ve removed as much as possible, which sometimes takes a few Qtips, then add one or two drops of sewing machine oil, or Tri Flow oil (NOT 3 in 1 oil, it dries out, to a shellac, which freezes machines solid), either in the oiling hole indicated, or where those 2 metal parts move against each other.
Kenmore 148.13180 stitch selector blind hem, stretch stitch, multi stitch zigzag, zigzag, and straight stitches, bobbin winding mechanism to the right of stitch selector
The "surprise" tool I used to help free up the zigzag mechanism on this Kenmore, is a rubber mallet, seriously! If you watch the video link above, I explain how I figured out the mechanism that was frozen, and thanks to someone else saying they wish they had a video showing how it should move, which inspired me to make my video, and explain how I freed mine up.
Sears Kenmore 1318 has all the basic stitches you will use, is pretty solidly built, and simple to maintain.
Kenmore 1318 bottom mechanisms are all metal, pretty well built machine
Kenmore 1318 handwheel is regular sized, clutch release is in center of handwheel
Kenmore 1318 needlebar mechanism, and zigzag actuators are all metal, well built
