Constabulary

or the needle bar it set a bit to high. I´d check the whole needle hook timing.

either I haven't noticed it or it has been added lately 😉 no big deal....

that's where certain feet come into play with which you can sew closer to hardware - of course depends on the sewing situation and on your machine but they can be useful. Check the links in this thread:

college sewing in the UK for sure has the parts. I have used them for my 29k71 back then. But the parts where tight and IIRC the shaft had no hole for the tapered pin that holds the bevel gear. But I may have some used parts. Please send em a message. Where are you located?

I may have the parts. Can you send me a list of what in particular you need? Please send me a PM message.

no, it belongs to the machine. See parts diagram I pointed where it does on. The lifting rod I mentioned is not part of the knee lifter.

I´m on the other side of the big pond (the land where the CLAES come from 😉) and yet I only have heard of the "Cowboy Clones" of the 8346 but I have no info when the will be released and how good they will be. I´d say time will tell. I have none but from what I read here they are equal and probably come from the same factory (guessing) just with a different color and name on it. Since you are in NH I´d check with a dealer that is close to you. Toledo Sewing Machines (he is member here too - check out @CowboyBob) is not really close but probably the closest and from what I read they have an excellent reputation so maybe worth checking with them.

new SD28 / 308 parts are made of "unobtainium" those who have parts usually keep them except they rip apart worn / broken machines. if it was me I´d tried to look up "cheap" toothed feet for top feed machines and see if I can cut and weld the toothed end. maybe: https://de.aliexpress.com/item/32861132738.html https://de.aliexpress.com/item/1005010121787509.html https://de.aliexpress.com/item/1005009251866963.html just a wild idea.... 😉

Yes, its a 8346-20 medium hook machine. Top threading seems to be okay but indeed, the "wedges" don´t belong to the machine (check the parts list - see picture below) and are probably part of the problem. I assume when the top tread goes around the hook the thread keeps handing on the wedges - somehow (maybe not but they don´t belong there anyway). Hard to tell what the guy 5 years ago did with the machine. I only can guess what he tried to achieve with the wedges. 1.) Either he tried to "rise" the hook a bit to eliminate a timing issue (Needle bar to high so he tried to bring the hook higher 🤨 or 2.) he tried to compensate wear but I doubt the machine can we worn that much already. So I assume its 1.) What I would do is removing the wedges and lower the needle bar a little bit. Some years ago I translated a 8346 mechanics manual from German to English for one of our members. I´ll check if I can find it and send you the file. It includes all values for timing and how to replace worn shuttle drivers and set the needle bar correctly and so forth. Thats the best I can do from the distance.

well they are not all the same, thats why I asked for the model - CLAES has a long history and made patcher machine for many decades. Beside the even older "COLIBRI" and "Patent Elastic" machines they had the Model 201, RPX, 200, 8345 and 8346 - I assume you have the latest 8346, right? Just from the picture I would say you have a tension problem but no timing problem. Can you post pictures of how you have threaded the machines? I assume a loss of top tension for what ever reason.

I cannot see how you mounted the lifter but what I can see is that the roller (224413) on the lifting rod (240550) is missing (isn´t it?) and the orientation of the "tab" is wrong. It has to be like the red frame IMO the longer end has to face right. Thats what I can tell the rest is trial and error where you put the foot lifter assy.

maybe this https://www.ebay.de/itm/385670072955

no facetime but I may be able to hep when you explain the problem and post some pictures. What model do you have?

I have never seen anything like that - I have no clue! 🤔 I´m not questioning the quality of Pfaff machine but Pfaff IMO made a lot of thing way tooooooo complicated. It it was a Singer 236 I would have a belt driven roller foot.

it will but depends on your expectations regarding sewing speed. You may need a smaller pulley or speed reducer in addition.