Sears Kenmore Model 385.15108200 and can't get the needle assembly to function. I can turn it by hand but when I use the foot pedal it just hums and does not move the needle assembly. Any thoughts?

If you can turn the hand crank and the needle moves up and down, then the gears are probably alright.

It could just be the floor pedal is oxidized and not making good contact so isn't allowing electricity to get to the motor. If you know anything about electricity, you can bypass the floor control pedal and just briefly put the full power to the motor and see if it runs full speed, then you know it is just the speed control floor pedal.

will the motor run if you turn it by hand when the power is on

Have you tried helping it turn by hand first? and then foot pedal and hand, oil all moving parts not where needle and cotton are.

Refer to your manual and make sure the bobbin winding feature is disengaged.

Turn off the power and remove the needle and if there is fabric, remove it also.

Open the needle plate look for thread tangles.

After cleaning, turn the hand-wheel by hand to see if it moves the needle up and down.

If it does, press on the foot pedal to see if it is working.

Any of the above could be the problem.

Since it was your grandmother's machine, it is very likely the machine has not been used in many years nor has it had any TLC. Most often, the machine will seize due to old oil that has dried out. Resist the temptation to try running the machine until the issue is addressed because the motor can be damaged. If this is the cause of the problem, you will need plenty of patience, good quality oil, possibly a handheld hairdryer, and good ol' elbow grease. But, at the end, you will have a well-functioning sewing machine.

Wheel on right side that controls the needle up and down is very tight...

hi there,
push or pull hand wheel clutch to engage
motion of needle and shutter.

if not check belt on downside of hand
wheel open cover motor,loosen bolt cover
see belt check if engage on pulley by
holding hand wheel move belt if
hand wheel move,if not tighten screw on
pulley from hand wheel and moter.
have a nice day and thanks

hi! there wind thread on bobbins winder 4 times by your hand rotate clockwise,insert in shaft bobiins winder on top of your machine near hand wheel push latch to engage loop thread on disc winder tension start your machine on pedal foot automatically winder disengage if already filled up of thead pull this winder and insert to bobbins casing insert thread to slot and pull out winder should rotate clockwise as shown.insert on shuttle hook casing and close cover needle plate.next thread your upper

threading tension as shown on red threading from spool pull threading and loop to dial tension threading and insert thread to lever needle and to needle hole tip. pull tread under the needle foot and feeder tooth.rotate hand wheel counter clockwise to hook up thread bobbibs and appear at top of needle plate,teo thread shoul appear,set dial tension to # 3 and stich to # 8 range to # 12 depend on fabric and layer of fabrics and set on straight stich sewing,let needle on upper position insert fabric for trial sewiing.put down foot needle lever. manually by hand rotate for assurance needle is free to sew if obtruction on loop bobbins thread occurs adjust all tension gradually then try again until free from sewing w/o problem star sewing.

all machines thread the same. TTN tension,take up, needle.
Beginning with the spool, guide the thread through the thread guides to the tension assembly. Pull the thread through the tension assembly and test it to make sure the tension is working correctly.
(To do this test,adjust your tension setting to normal or medium or 5 or something in the middle. Raise the presser foot and pull the thread through the tension. It should pull easily!! Lower the presser foot and pull the thread. It should pull noticeably harder.) If it passes this test, continue up through the take up lever,then down through the thread guides to the needle. Make sure your needle is fully inserted and turned the correct way.( If you load your bobbin case from the left side,the needle rule is normally FLAT to the RIGHT is RIGHT. There are some exceptions. If you have a newer style drop in bobbin or your bobbin case loads in the front then the rule is FLAT to the BACK.

To wind the bobbin, guide the thread around the thread guide on
the left top of your machine, then to the bobbin winder. Wind the thread around the bobbin several times, place the bobbin on top of the bobbin winder, push it against the wheel and press the foot pedal. It should stop winding when the bobbin is full or you take your foot off the control

Sewman7