Replacing sponge retaining bar for Brother 260 bulky knitting machine (Ribber too) -

2 sponge bars for Brother 260 knitting machine

Here is a quick step-by-step of how to change the sponge retaining bars for the Brother 260 bulky knitting machine. For this model, there are 2 sponge bars. There is one in the knitter and one in the ribber.

For the standard gauge Brother knitting machine, the retaining bar in the ribber is made of plastic, so you do not need to change it. Sometimes it can get confusing. If not sure, just pull the retaining bar out and double-check.

For more information about changing the sponge bar in the LK150 knitting machine, see our old post: Changing sponge for LK150 knitting machine.

Buying the sponge strip or retaining bar — options

The sponge bars come in different lengths for different machines. The bulky knitting machine such as Brother 260 has a longer sponge than the Brother standard gauge knitting machine.

The Brother 260 knitting machine has sponge retaining bars for both the knitter and ribber, so you need to replace both of them regularly. They are not the same length either. But, you can always cut off any extra sponge to fit in the metal channel.

Different brands have variation of sponge size too. It can get confusing if you have several knitting machines. Double check before you buy it online.

Option 1:

You can buy the whole piece including the metal channel and the sponge. This is the easiest way to replace the sponge bar. Just pull out the old ones and insert the new ones. But, this will be more expensive to buy and ship.

Option 2:

You can just buy the sponge and refurbish the old sponge retaining bar. You will need to scrape off the old sponge first, then glue and reattach the new sponge. There will be some work on your part, but cheaper than option 1.

Option 3:

The third option is to buy the weather sealing sponge from the local hardware store. There are many sizes and shapes of sponges in the market. You will need to measure carefully for the correct dimension. Then do the same procedure as option 2 — scrape off the old sponge and replace it with a new one.

This is probably the most economical way to refurbish your sponge bar, but it is hard to know the exact quality of the sponge unless you have experience with a particular sponge and know how well it will perform.

So if you are very busy or try to save time, option 1 is the best. Most of us probably choose option 2 and buy sponge online. You can find the sponge online such as on eBay.

Watch our video of changing sponge retaining bar for Brother 260 bulky knitting machine

Picture tutorial for changing the sponge bars of Brother 260 knitting machine

1. Find the location of the sponge retaining bar on knitter and ribber.

You can push the sponge bar out with some flat tool such as a screwdriver from one end. See the picture below for the locations. Pay attention to the direction of the retaining bar. The metal side should be facing up and the sponge side is facing down, and the whole bar is on top of the needles.

2. Have the new sponge ready

You should have your sponge or the whole sponge retaining bar ready. Make sure it is the right size for your knitting machine model.

3. Take out the old sponge bars and scrape out the old sponge.

When you take out the old sponge, the sponge might fall apart. You can use alcohol and a flat head screwdriver or similar tool to scrape off the residue glue. This is the most time-consuming part. It does not need to be perfect. Just clean it as much as you can.

4: Glue the sponge to the metal channel and cut off extra.

After the channel is cleaned, glue the new sponge to the metal channel with white glue or double-sided tape.
Cut off the extra length at the end. Wrap a piece of tape around the end to secure it.

5. Insert the refurbished sponge bar back to the machine.

Insert the refurbished sponge bar back with the metal side facing up (facing you) and the sponge side facing the needles (facing down).

The needles should be below the sponge bars. If needed, you can press down the needles first with a ruler before inserting the sponge bar.

Now your new sponge retaining bars are installed, it is a good time to clean and oil the machine. You can refer to my LK150 post about how clean my needles and oil the machine. The Brother 260 bulky knitting machine can be cleaned in the same way. Oil any metal parts, and wipe the plastic parts with mild detergent if necessary. After the routine maintenance, you are ready to start the next exciting new project.