Gregg From Keystone Sewing

If that Consew 227R labeled machine was Manufactered six years ago, it is made in China; Japan would be a Seiko CW-8B-2 if it were.

Yanni, I stock, sell, and support Highlead, and like their products. Safety clutch on this machine is the same that appears on many, many, many model machines, such as Singer 111W, and dozens of other Singers. Not to mention Seiko, Consew, Juki, Durkopp Adler, and many more on new current machines and for at least 50 years back for sure. Now, if the clutch is not working, this is a problem. If it's not made correctly, or has bad parts that do not work, this is a problem, of course. It's not too hard to get that clutch out with the two set screws that hold it down to inspect, and it may in fact need some new parts to replace the bad new parts. Not the first I've seen of this, if this clutch is not made and adjusted just right, it can be problematic for sure, no doubt. I think once this machine has the bugs worked out and is setup correct from the beginning, if it was setup at all, it should provide a long life of reliable service. New machines can be buggy, I know that for sure. Good luck with this machine, either way.

Yanni, Machine jams can happen to any machine, make, model, or vintage.

Most needle systems come in a wide variety of sizes, or more specifically, thickness of the blade of the needle that is penetrating the work. For example, a very common needle system, 135X17 (designated above here as DPX16, a cut point needle designation) comes in sizes ranging from NM70//10~NM230/26. As you can see, this is a broad range for a very common needle. Aside from thickness of needle, the thread, any size thread/needle, must be able to pass through the needle eye freely without getting choked off. This, again, does NOT designate the sewing machine capacity to sew through high piles of dense materials. It's a common misconception to think that, because you put a thick needle into a machine that it will do heavier capacity work. Yes, you will get less bending, deflecting, and can sew heavier goods, no doubt. What you may not have is a machine with the drive it may need to do heavy webbing, slings, cargo nets, or the such, in some cases. When we speak about drive, I like to use the analogy I would overhear my Dad tell people; drive is when you take a board in your hand, and I try to hammer a nail in by hand in the air; there is little drive behind it. Now, if I can take that same board, hammer and nail, and lay the board flat on concrete, there would be more drive behind it , and would be easier to nail into the board. This is drive, more or less, and all machines have more or less of it. It's a lot more than inserting a fat thick needle into a high speed garment machine and sewing auto trim with it.

Wiz, Tiz' a Consew model 261-2 (Made by Seiko, Japan) and is a single needle, single thread chainstich (no bobbin) button sewing machine. Also very commonly used for spot tacking on drapery workroom applications. Either way, your correct, no reason to use this unless your sewing buttons or spot tacking with it.

Good looking out Wiz, but your too late!

I get a lot of questions about these swing away roller guides. I stock/sell them for ALL model machines, and will custom setup a kit to send out for your machine. Some machines have provisions for install, some have to have holes drilled and tapped. Each machine model will differ on install. This setup seen here is on a Consew 2050 (Adler 205 clone) we have setup, and comes with all hardware and tools necessary to install. Check out the youtube I made, so you can see this in action; Swing away guide Installed on Consew 2050 (Adler 205)

Yeah man, no doubt. Not right or wrong, if it works, it works. My father has a few 31-15s with original paint AND original gold leaf paint. He does not have a lot of old machines, but he also has a Howe as well in his family room with stand. Some poeple go crazy over this stuff.

Wiz, 'By the book', needle system for Singer 31-15 is 16X1, Singer Catalog # 2047. Now, we DO use and sell to folks system 16X87 (AKA 71X1, & 16X73), Singer Catalog # 1526, for 31-15 as well. As it is with needles, it's never straight forward. If your using 16X257 in your machine and have it set properly and it works, great, but we normally would not sell this needle for this machine.

Very good write up, just to be clear, as stated, the Consew and Chandler machines do come from under the same roof, but both are different machines from different factories.

If you are referring to CANU numbers (CAtalogue NUmbers), understand this is system of, ahem... 'Standardization', and is used exclusively by Schmetz. This number does not cross reference with nor will it be found on any other manufacture of needles boxes or reference materials. For example, Groz-Becket does not in any way shape or form use CANU numbers. CANU numbers consist of two groups of figures with two digits separated by a colon. This colon prevents confusion with other four digit system numbers. Within the CANUs the needle are classified according to thier length. A low CANU, for example 01:05, marks a short needle while a long needle has a high CANU as for instance 52:10 To simplify matters further, all needles differing only by the point shape have the same CANU. The point shape is marked by two capital letters behind the CANU. This is true for all point shapes with the exception of the normal round point which is not specially designated. If you REALLY want to know all about CANU numbers, refer to Schmetz's book, "Guide to Sewing Techniques" that your local Schmetz dealer may be able to provide.

Yes, sure we do; We stock, supply, and install Efka, Mitsubishi, and Ho Hsing motors of all types. A very nice option is the Ho Hsing 'MJ' series needle positioner motor, seen here on our servo motor page; Click for Ho Hsing MJ motor Thanks for asking!

If you have the documentation that I'm thinking you have, then it's probally pretty limited for sure. 'Slow Start' or AKA 'Soft Start' is usually a feature found on more expesive Ho Hsing, Mitsubishi, or Efka motors, so having this option on a less expensive motor is a pretty nice feature.

A 'Slow Start" option that is usually adjustable is great to allow the first few stitches to catch up, so they to do become lose or get caught back into the sewing mechanism. It's a really useful option, IMO, but you can of course turn this feature off if you like. As for the power band, I do hear you, some have a very limited range of variable speed, as in you can go fast to slow with good control, as long as you do it withing a short range of arm movement, where having the flexibility of a larger 'power band' would make life a lot easier for the operator. This is a concern with a lot of these servo motors coming out.

Sounds like someone had an OLD J & K cluch motor replaced...and yes, that's old.

Silverhead, We are going to need more specific questions; You have the original factory book this 225 machine shipped with for a long time. The book leaves quite a bit to be desired if you will, but it does cover most of what you need to get started using the machine.

There's never enough time to do it right, but there's always enough time to do it over.

Thanks for the kind words, and nobody has to call me ASAP; kindly call at your conveince!@#

Yeah, we do this all the time; just get a standard foot set and cut it down, they already have smooth bottom. I do this same price as standard foot set for people either left or right side.

I've got the Owners Manual on my website; TN-422 Owners Error codes are at bottom of the page, good luck!

Here is an image of my Singer/Union Speical tap kit being discussed here (it's mine, and used, of course).

Bob, Yes sir, we have one 6 class in for repair maybe ten years ago. If your around these machines for any bit of time, you don't forget certain models. The Singer 122-1 I think was here, it was tucked behind next to the steel shelving. Once you spoted it, you had to walk closer to see what the heck it was! I wish I had it here just to look it over again, and take some photos.

Neil, Clearly before my time, but I would think Singer stoped being the compmany, domestically, it the US, that it was when both thier Elizibeth, NJ and Bridgeport, CT factories closed. Of course, Singer opend factories in Germany, England, and other places as well, but no way were they pumping out machines like they were in the US, not even close. Just look at the catalogs. People don't realize the scope and scale of thier manufactering and standardizing of industrial equipment. Some of our best selling most popular models we sell would be discontiuned for lack of demand during that time.

Bob, When my father bought out the reserach and development dept. at Singer in Elizibethport, NJ when before they closed, and this was one of them, a Singer 122-1. This collecion of machies was nothing special really, just bits and pieces for the most part, but it did include a machine of note, brand new, minus hook and race. We have since sold it, so it's long gone, but intresting to speak about. Just to give some idea of the size, this machine, as seen in the attached image, weights 326LBS, HEAD ONLY! The shafts look like drive axels, and the mosting inresting thing is the massive hook saddle, that goes to and fro, back and forth as the machine sews a zig zag sitch. My personal favorite we had here for less than a day was a factory long arm Adler 266. This machine was just a thing of beauty, the engenering, the quality, the clean lines, overbuilt bed.