buckow

Update: It is sewing much better with the smaller needle but still missing stitches. I can't find a manual and I am not so sure I understand where the shims are to check/change them. The shuttle hook seems to have a lot of lateral play and it is only missing the loop by millimeters. I wonder if it is just due to a tired presser foot return spring and a little too much play in the shuttle hook assembly. If I have a manual I could maybe take it apart with a better chance of not messing up the timing. Does anyone have a manual for this machine? Thanks, Ben

Thank you very much for the help. I tried a 160 needle with a little bit less upper tension and it is now picking up stitches normally. With the 160 needle on it's own it was still skipping stitches but reducing the tension let the loop get just big enough. This leads me to believe it is a combination of issues and maybe the presser foot is not close enough to the needle on the upstroke. It doesn't stay forward with the needle and after 3-4 stitches it is at it's maximum position behind and stays there unless I lift the presser foot. It seems to be a "hop" foot and not a walking foot. There is a small spring inside the plates just behind the presser foot. Does this spring need to be firm like my 45k89? On another note, I am a big mountain biker and here is a little video of me working on my patcher sewing a back protector for a bike site. Thought you might like to see it although it is in French. I grew up in Arizona but now live in Switzerland. http://www.bikekulture-mag.com/V2/Ben-Walker-Webisode-1-Ben-La.html Thanks again Wiz!

Hi everyone! I am new here and I think this is really a great forum. Thanks for all the good info. I was sewing all day yesterday and having a good time. Then seemingly out of nowhere my Adler 105-8 started skipping stitches on the 4th stitch every time. I started looking to see if the timing was out and it seems good (I really wouldn't know but it looked fine to my untrained eye). The needle is grazing the shuttle it seems to me. The jump foot doesn't spring forward nearly as well as my 45k89 so I am thinking it might be that but it was sewing fine like that before. I thought it was an upper tension problem so I tried to help the slack for the loop to form and that helped a little. I don't remember doing anything that could have caused this but that is not saying much because I really don't have much experience. From what I understand, I need to see if the hook is passing by the middle scarf on the needle when the needle is going back up? I need to look into the shim mounted to the shuttle carrier to see if it is the right one for the needle (160, 180, 200) and thread (138) I am using? Should I look into mounting a stiffer spring to get the pressure foot to return forward after each stitch? Thanks again for the help. I really like these big old machines.

I have a 105-8 that also does this. It misses the 3rd or 4th stitch and the needle is grazing the shuttle. I tried a smaller needle and it still grazes the shuttle. Sounds like I have the wrong shim? At the same time my presser foot does not jump forward like on my 45k89 so I am wondering if that could also be the problem. It seems like the spring is much softer than the 45k. I will have a look at the shims. By the way, great forum and thanks for all the good info!