How To Take Apart A Brother Punch Card Knitting Machine
Whenever I find a used knitting machine, I like to take a peek inside to make sure its clean and able to function as best as possible.
Below is a detailed photo tutorial on how to disassemble a Brother Knitking KH840 punch card knitting machine.
You’ll find that the steps are fairly similar to other makes and models as well.
Place the machine on its back.
Locate the two brackets that hold the table clamps.
Unscrew it.
Set the hardware to the side in a bowl and remove the other bracket.
Turn the machine back over and set on your work table.
Unlatch the lid clasps and remove the lid.
Set it aside.
Remove the carriage and set aside.
Using a pusher, push one end of the sponge bar and pull it out from the opposite side.
I like thick bamboo scewers since they won’t damage anything if I slip on the plastic or metal.
You need to remove all the needles.
Start at one end, and pull the needle all the way towards you until its butt hits the end of its channel.
Make sure that the latch hook is closed.
Push down on the latch end and simultaneously lift up on the back end of the needle. Pull it out towards the back of the machine.
Continue across the bed of the machine, removing all the needles.
You may need to lift up with slight force towards the back for the needle to carefully clear the plastic housing.
Remove the lid on the built in accessory box and set aside.
Locate the screw holding this section of plastic housing in place.
Unscrew and set the screw aside in a bowl. I like to keep the different sections of hardware in separate collection bowls. It make reassembly less confusing.
Move to the adjacent section of plastic housing and locate its screws.
Remove the screw and add to your collection bowls.
This section had a total of 3 screws. The last two were on each side of the punch card reader.
Remove the screws and add to your collection bowls.
Grab the plastic decorative top on the selection lever and gently pull it off.
It will catch and fly off when you go to remove the plastic cover if you don’t take it off now.
Here it is removed.
Lift off the cover and set aside.
Please note that one side of the plastic cover usually lays on top of its neighbor where they meet in the middle. Your machine may be different.
You can only remove the top cover first.
On this knitting machine, the punch card mechanism cover set on top of the accessory tool box section.
Therefore, you must gently push the accessory tool box section to the side to get if out from under the case edge.
Lift off the section and set aside.
The punch card pusher button will be loose. Before removing the machine from the case, lift it out and set aside.
Locate the three screws securing the right side of the metal bed.
Remove the screws and add to your collection bowls.
Locate the three screws securing the left side of the metal bed.
Remove the screws and add to your collection bowls.
We’re almost done.
Locate the screw to the left of the center back, attaching the metal bed to the case.
Remove the screw and add to your collection bowls.
Locate the screws in the center back, further attaching the metal bed to the case.
Remove the screws and add to your collection bowls.
Lift the knitting machine out of the case and set it on your work table.
Before cleaning I usually take the machine outside to blow it out with compressed air. You won’t believe how much fluff and junk will come flying out. My husband’s compressor works wonders!
Once de-fluffed, I wipe down as much as possible. I use Simple Green, a degreaser, on the plastic parts and case, and denatured alcohol on the metal bed and needles.
Don’t use water based cleaners on the metal bed parts. It will seep into the cracks and potentially rust.
When it’s all squeaky clean and totally dry, reassemble in reverse order and have lots of fun knitting.
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May 12, 2010
6 comments
Great Post. I am so glad to see this documented in ths day of shade tree knitting machine mechanics!
This was very informative…thanks for taking the time to post this. I have a Brother 970 and have been a little apprehensive of taking this apart for cleaning due to the electronics. I am hoping I can use this demo to take apart my machine. Thanks again. Robin
This is fantastic! The photographs are so helpful. Will definitely refer to this the next time I need to take a apart a machine. Thank you!
This post was very helpfull. I have a KH-910. It was a little bit different but close enough to get it apart. The most surprising part was that as I was taking it outside to clean out all the crumbly debris inside, it tilted in my arms as I opened the kitchen door and a part came flying out. I caught it and it was a second “sponge bar” below the needle selection bed. I’ve never heard of such a thing existing. the debris inside was from a completely decomposed sponge. the needle bottoms ride against. When I pressed the sponge with my finger, the sponge completely collapsed.
So I’ve replaced the sponge just like on the “known” sponge bar.
In retrospect really, the most surprising part was that I was able to get the thing back together with no left over parts and it actually works.
This is a really useful guide - thank you! I have recently got back into machine knitting after many years and have had to buy second-hand machines. It’s comforting to know how to get them apart to clean them and check them over properly.
Just one thing - what bits need to be oiled and do you just use the standard machine oil like for sewing machines etc?
This was most informative and quite straight forward. Thanks so much for sharing and using the excellent pictures.
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