Wizcrafts

I am currently using Barge all purpose, clear, TF, quick dry cement in a 32 ounce can with a brush. It is available in larger containers too. But, it costs less to try a quart!

Try Masters quick drying cement and/or Barge super speed toluene free contact cement.

JRM Clips makes them as the 3000 series, in New Jersey. I recommend calling them rather than submitting the contact form.

I bought my inline feet from Toledo Industrial Sewing Machines. Their number is: 866-362-7397.

That is a Union Lockstitch Machine, from 1910. They built them that way so they could handle the heavy stacks of leather used in the harness trade. It easily sewed 3/4 inch with extremely thick thread (#415 bonded nylon or 7 cord glazed linen). The stack in the photo is only 24 ounces. Not much of a challenge for a ULS.

Use a larger needle, like a #140/22

450 pounds

John; I am moving your post to the section called "How Do I Do That?" You will get better answers there. Also, this particular section is bad for discussions because all posts must await a moderator's approval before they become visible.

You don't know about heavy sewing machines until you have to move and setup a Union Lockstitch Machine.

I buy my zippers, zipper parts, seam rippers, oil, silicon lube, double sided leather tape, knit cuffs, small spools of #69 bonded nylon thread, repair tags and other sewing accessories from Wawak. They are the go to source for tailoring supplies in the needle trade. They also sell handheld Ace Clippers and staples. These are still made the same way as the pair of Ace Clippers I got when my Father closed his tailor shop in the 1980s. I use them every day to staple patches in place and to staple repair tags onto garments. Those clippers have to be from the 1960s and they are still like new!

Absolutely! There is a lever with a large thumbscrew that rides in a long vertical slot on the upper front right side of the body. Move the lever up to shorten the stitches and vice versa. Tighten the screw to hold the stitch length.

Jared; Did you know about the box style speed reducers that go where the motor was, then the motor bolts to the bottom of the box? It is sold by one or more of our supporting dealers. I have two box reducers in use in my shop. I installed them myself in 20 minutes. The dealer should be able to help you choose the length of the new long belt. You can do it yourself and save money over having a dealer install one.

There is a link to a downloadable manual for the Rex 26-188 machines on this page from 2014.

This is what a 441 clone looks like.

Usually/often/most times/sometimes - when a needle "system" comes in a -3 and a -4, the -3 is a round point and the -4 is some type of leather point. The round point is for cloth and synthetics. The other points are for leather. Sometimes I use -4 triangle points when I sew combinations of cloth and leather, like knit cuffs onto leather sleeves with a polyester lining. The tensions seem to balance better than with a same size round point -3 needle. The tri point doesn't fray the lining like a slicing point would.

I still have a digital servo motor I replaced with an analog motor. The digital motor was fitted with a 45 or 50mm pulley. It was just too jumpy when I feathered the pedal. I find that analog motors are much smoother to feather at slow speeds.

For the time being, I would back off the position of the case opener until the hook turns freely. There could be some thread or other debris caught in the gears that drive the hook. Or, the opener might be pulling back too far. It only needs to make a slight movement on the bobbin case so that the top thread clears the tab.

The picture of the motor shows what appears to be a rather large pulley. If you can obtain a much smaller pulley it will automatically slow down the motor's speed.

The Sailrite portable walking foot machines "can" use #138 bonded thread if you are careful with your adjustments. However, doing so will place a lot of extra stress on the take-up lever and its associated connections, for which it was not designed. IOW, you may get away with it, or you may not. The machine specs say it can use up to a #22 needle. In my experience sewing leather, that size will work fine in soft leather, but not in hard leather. You may need a #23 needle to pull the knots up without maxing out the top tensioner. The bobbin tension will definitely need to be at a minimum to get a #22 needle to pull up #138 thread, top and bobbin.

Post a closeup photo of the motor showing the readout panel and all buttons.

@palvim When the position of the knots changes as much as your are it means something is interfering with the top or bobbin thread flow. I would take a close look at the top thread to see if it is getting twisted around the spool, or a thread guide. There may be debris inside the tension disks. Or, the thread might be lifting and then dropping into the tension disks. Next, change needles and use a smaller needle for #92 thread. I find that a #19 works best with T90 thread and a #23 works best with T135 thread (both top and bottom). If the bobbin thread is smaller, I move down one needle size. Smaller needles make tighter holes that tend to stabilize the knot position. Next comes the bobbin, the bobbin case and its tension spring. Pull out some bobbin thread and feel if it varies as you pull. You can rewind the thread after pulling out enough to learn if there is a problem with it. It could be cross wound on the bobbin. Or, there could be a small piece of shredded thread under the bobbin tension spring. Try reversing the direction the bobbin feeds through the slot in the case. Next, check the hook for burrs. Then adjust the bobbin case opener lever so it pulls just enough to let the top thread clear the tab on the throat plate and doesn't hold too long as the thread comes around the case. Listen for any snapping sound as the thread goes around the bobbin case and shuttle. It could be getting hung up due to the timing being off. Last, try a different spool of thread, including winding a fresh bobbin with it.

It uses System 29x3 (cloth) and 29x4 (leather) needles; aka: System 332. You can also use common walking foot System 135x16 and 135x17 needles. The rib faces to the left (outside) and the scarf over the eye faces inwards towards the arm and body. Make sure it is fully seated all the way up in the mounting bracket. The bobbins are very tiny and are best limited to #69 bonded thread. The proper needle size for #69 thread, top and bobbin, is #18 (110).

If the dealer says you can't change the speed on the motor because of how it is set up, it could be because your machine has a needle positioning device attached. If this isn't the case, ask for the adjustments brochure anyway. If they refuse, send it back and buy a Plain Jane analog servo motor with a speed limiter knob and a 45 or 50mm pulley. These are available in the UK.

Here are some Google search results for your machine. Here is a YouTube video of one in action. The Union Special #52900 BN is a coverstitch and chainstitch machine for cloth garments. We don't have a dedicated section for cloth sewing machines yet, but who knows what might be down the pike.

Are you aware that these upholstery class walking foot machines have an upper sewing limit of 3/8 inch? You may be able to "lift" the feet higher to get the work under the feet, but they need 1/8 inch minimum to alternate up and down. There is no way that machine will "sew" 1/2 inch without major alterations. If the feet won't lift to 1/2 inch to remove material, the presser bar's lifting bits may be out of adjustment, or worn out. If the needle bar hits the alternating foot when lifted with the foot or hand lifter, either the bar is too low, or the feet are set too high. A low needle bar could be the result of a previous owner lowering it for a shorter needle system.