rinigado Report post Posted August 6, 2014 (edited) I can see how to adjust the needle alignment from front to back, by slightly moving the needle bar rock frame. What i CAN'T figure out, is how to adjust the needle to center it in the feed dog hole from left to right. I've attached a picture to show what I'm talking about. The needle is off to the left of center when facing the machine. I don't see anything about adjustment to the feedbar to move it in the left-right axis of the machine. Any ideas? Is the feed dog maybe wrong dimension (from another machine maybe) or is there some adjustment possible? Edited August 6, 2014 by rinigado Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
machinehead Report post Posted August 6, 2014 Refer to the online manual link that that was provided in an earlier response. In the contents see number 9 and scroll down for the instructions. Good luck. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rinigado Report post Posted August 6, 2014 thanks for the quick response! Hopefully I'm understanding your reference correctly: do you mean the section titled "adjusting the timing of the needle plate, needle and feeder"? In that section, there's a figure 18, where screw #1 ( a pinch screw on a rotational shaft) must be loosened, allowing adjustment of the needle bar rock frame to center it. As far as I can see from trying this, and considering the screw clamps against the rotation of the rod through the machine, it only seems to center the needle from front to back. Loosening this screen doesn't enable any side to side motion of the needle that I can see. Am I misunderstanding or missing some point? thanks! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
machinehead Report post Posted August 7, 2014 O.K. looking at your photo it looks like either the feed dog or needle plate is crooked. Photos can be deceiving though so can you take a look at that? Sometimes oily crud gets behind the dog. Have you had it off yet? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rinigado Report post Posted August 7, 2014 I was typing this when I saw your reply You're right.. after looking at the bottom of the machine long enough, some details sunk in (especially after grabbing a q-tip and wiping away all the lint and crud around the feed dog). The feed dog is sitting at a bit of an angle compared to the feed bar it's attached to. I took it off, and was able to reposition it slightly. Not perfect, but at least closer to center from left to right. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rinigado Report post Posted August 7, 2014 (edited) I also see that the part numbers for both the feed dog and needle plate are different than in the consew parts manual, but not sure if that's meaningful or if a lot of these bits interchange. parts manual shows 10805 for feed dog and 10665 for the needle plate on a 255B-3, and the parts on the machine are 240147 for the feed dog and 240144 for the needle plate. Might dimensions be slightly different for these? Someone did some surgery to the bottom of the needle plate for some reason right where the bobbin housing kind of locks in place... maybe worth just getting a new feed dog and plate off ebay to see if they're a better fit? Edited August 7, 2014 by rinigado Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
machinehead Report post Posted August 7, 2014 The feed dog and needle plate numbers on your machine are a matched set. The numbers are originally Singer designations but should be compatible for your 255. Most are interchangeable. Maybe someone more up on Singer / Consew parts can say for sure. One word of caution for purchasing parts from the bay.... quality varies widely. I have purchased parts that all needed to be reworked to fit. I would hope that the dealers here on the forum would carry quality parts so as to maintain a good reputation. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rinigado Report post Posted August 7, 2014 I wouldn't be surprised if what you said is also true about this set of plate and feed dog maybe being manufactured a bit off . I already had to sand a little bit off the bottom (nearest) edge of the needle plate to get it to fit drop properly onto the machine (it was marginally too long to correctly fit). Even with the adjustments mentioned above, the only way I'd really get the needle centered left/right in this feed dog would be to mill off a slight amount of metal and widen the screw holes. By the way, is it normal for the needle to slightly rub on the feed dog below the hole (i.e. does it normally touch the flat side of the feed dog)? I find that a needle will always rub the side of the feed dog plate as it travels to it's lower limit...wondering if that's typical or a symptom of some manufacturing that's slightly off. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
machinehead Report post Posted August 7, 2014 Are you seeing the needle hit the feed dog when you turn the machine over by hand or hearing it? Is the needle deflecting as it descends? Is it any different since you moved the plate / dog? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rinigado Report post Posted August 8, 2014 I've been adjusting things and turning over by hand. No sound at the moment, but it's very slightly rubbing. I tried running it under power before all the adjustments and quickly broke a couple of needles as soon as the speed picked up a bit. It's better, but not yet right I think. Currently, the needle is just barely rubbing along the side of the feed dog as it descends, but it's definitely touching. The reason I'm concerned about needing to either need to machine this feed dog a little bit, or just replace the set is that once I get running at speed again and feeding material through will add just that little bit more deflection of the needle that'll still give me broken needles and grief. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
