suzelle

Cool old machine! Love to read the history of these old ones!

This may sound crazy, but I have at times (when bobbin spins without a backlash spring) cut my own little disk from a piece of paper and inserted it in where the backlash spring sits. Crazy maybe, but it works. I don't have so much of a problem when using paper sided bobbins, pre-wound. It's the metal bobbins that spin like that. I really dislike those backlash springs and pull them all out of my bobbin cases.

Greetings Everyone! I just wanted to say THANK YOU again to all of you who helped with ideas and advice. My Pfaff 138-6 is running like a champ now, not breaking needles any longer! These are the things I did to the machine: 1- sanded down the needle hole (zig zag slot) in the plate with a very fine sand paper to prevent thread from snagging on burrs or rough spots 2- cleaned & oiled all the moving parts. 3- adjusted upper and lower tension to fit thread I'm using: Bonded v69 poly coated 4- Installed $65.00 knee lifter part (not the whole lifter, just the "Pawl" I think it is called (has a silver roller/disk) under the bed of machine. 5- Started with size 18 needle, kept breaking. Moved down to a size 16 needle, working flawlessly now. 6- Replaced the original thread stand that was broken. Cost was under $20.00, shipped. 6- Built /Replaced a very damaged drawer that housed the accessories. Adjusted rail. Added a 2nd layer to drawer to easily access most used supplies. That's about it. I do want to get a few parts for the machine and will likely add a new motor and a new table. I'd like to give it new paint and new decals to make it look new. I'm pretty pleased that I can start using my v69 thread, as I have collected quite a bit of it over the years. It was too heavy for my Juki TL98 machines, and too light weight to keep in my Pfaff 545, which is set for using v92 thread. Hopefully this information will help somebody in the future, my reason for posting. Again, THANK YOU all!!!

Really nice machine, Congrats!!! Great price too. Looks new to me!

Love it! Turtle wax, yes! Great restoration. Thanks for sharing. She does indeed look well loved now! Character, right?

Hello all, I know this thread is a year old, but glad to see it. I was just checking to see if any of you had used the Solar Guard thread yet. Thanks for your input. I'm going to give it a try. Not sure if you can get it in 4 oz or 8 oz size, but if not, I'd get the 1 lb. cones in the thread colors I use most. I had used Superior threads a few years ago for quilting purposes, and I was quite happy. This time, I need something for outdoor use items, canopy covers and such. I will try to remember to come back to this thread and give my thoughts on the Solar Guard Thread when I get some. Again, many thanks too all of you!

20% more is a big difference when you are sewing fast down long sections! Lately I have been winding my own bobbins, I have about a dozen of them and just do a little work ahead of time loading, then I don't have to worry when I am in the middle of a project. Pre-wound bobbins are nice, but I haven't made the investment in those for a while and ran out of the colors I used the most, white and black. Will have to remember to buy more. I think pre-wounds are a little tighter than I can wind them myself and I get a little more mileage out of those, so it seems.

Eric, Yes, that would be great! We have a daughter who lives in Idaho, but she's in the process of moving back. Sometimes we do get out that way and will certainly take you up on your invitation. We usually go through Idaho on our way to Montana to visit family. Husband is from Montana and we're due for a visit again soon. Hopefully this summer! Thanks so much Eric!

Eric, I love to read your posts. I really follow what you say very closely. Thank you for the information you share.

Thanks Wiz! I get confused on size of the "M" bobbin vs. the one that is bigger. A friend of mine has so many machines, I sew in her shop sometimes, and help her pattern. She has lots of Juki machines mostly, and a couple Pfaff and Singers, but those don't get used as often as her Juki machines. She seems to have every size bobbin for whatever machine. I would love it if all the machines took the same size bobbin as I seem to spend a lot of time in my own shop sorting things out between bobbins and needles. I have a lot of machines myself. Argh! I'd also like it if all my machines used the same type of needle. That would be a huge time and money saver, wouldn't it?

Super job! Love it.

Ralf, Reading your messages again.... Lots of good info. Yes, I was wondering if I was pushing it, expecting to use the 18 needles and possible larger. However, I read so much about how this particular machine could handle the v69 thread so easily, that I was sold on the idea of buying one. My other Pfaff which is a 545 High lift, sews with a v91 thread. I keep it set up that way. It sews mostly vinyl, banner and tarp material, sunbrealla, and leather, and multiple layers of jean fabric. The v69 thread will be used in the Pfaff 138 mostly for applying patches, sewing curtains, sewing upholstery weight fabrics. I'm thinking it's not going to allow me to get too many layers of the materials under it, from the experimenting I have done so far. I always try to push everything to the limits in both directions at first so I can see what my range is for a machine. Maybe a crazy thing, but I do it. LOL.

Ralf, Thanks for the ideas. Yes, I will try those things out. I was sewing with a size 18 needle, will probably move to 20 or 21. But it may be 20 is the biggest flat needle I'll find. Thanks for all your help! Much appreciated!

Okay, I'm sure you are right. Just remember it was big!

Econosew was 2060AL (Auto Lube) The Tacsew was also Auto lube. They were okay quality, but I like my PFAFFs better. By the way, Econosew and Tacsew call that a "locking stitch dial" if that helps. Consew has a similar machine, the Consew P1206RB. Maybe the same stitch dial? Maybe?

Looks a lot like a Tacsew T111-155 I used to have. also, an Econosew I had too, by Feit. The Tacsew is Canadian. Econosew (By Feit) is USA. Both machines had interchangeable parts. Can't remember where they were actually manufactured, probably Japan. But I could be wrong. Both machines had "M" sized bobbins, which was nice. Of the two, Tacsew was a higher quality.

Jeff, I have the Pfaff 545 high lift machine. As Floyd mentioned, it does take the 190 system needle, unique for this machine. My machine did not sew when I got it and I had the worn out screws around the bobbin case area and basket. Really I should replace those as they are so difficult to use when I have to take the bobbin area apart, which is rare. It is now a nice running machine. Had fixed the things I could fix myself and then sent it to a qualified mechanic to fine tune it because it hadn't been for a few years when I got it. About the reverse, I'm not answering your question exactly but I will tell you what I know about my machine. When stitching in reverse, it does not stitch right into the same holes as it did when it was going forward. I'm not sure why, I wish it did. At some point, I am going to ask my mechanic if he can adjust it so that it will stitch into the same holes when I go in reverse. One thing about the 545 I've noticed more than any other machine I have: I do have to be sure to hang onto the tails when I begin sewing, or it does jam up rather easily. Back tacking at the end of a piece is no problem, it's when I start out that I need to be extra careful.

Thanks so much Ralf. I was beginning to wonder if the machines that go all the way to 6mm were kind of rare. Only because I have seen more of the ones Iike I have. Seller said it went to 6mm, but he was mistaken obviously. I noticed it when I went to see machine, but bought it anyways. It was only $250.00, so I figured that if it didn't do 6mm after I got it home, well it was and is still a good buy. I broke about 15 needles already. Using a #18 needle, trying to get a big project done. Seems when I hit a lump (Jean fabric and upholstery fabric) that is quite a bit thicker than other areas (multiple layers) it just bends the needle or breaks it right off, depending on how fast I am going. Never in my life have I broken so many needles. So, time to do something about that, I am just not sure what yet. LOL! But I will figure it out. Thank you for your great knowlege about these machines, all who responded!

That's a great machine! Congrats! I used one of those a couple of years when I worked for someone else. So glad that it fit into your existing table. A big time and money saver there. Hey, and you have reverse now too! Yay! Big plus, more time before thread runs out, because that is the "M" bobbin, right? Anyhow, happy for you! Edit: Wait, no reverse? I don't see a lever. Maybe yours is a bit different than the one I sewed on. That thing thing should sew through thicker stuff like butter. Still a great choice.

From Juki site, here is a x-ref that may help on your hunt: 21229307 CAP (OLD # 122089090) 112.35

Is this what you mean Ralf? I remember my Mother in Law stitches buttonholes like this. So cute!

Oopsie, I mean TOWA bobbin cases. Didn't work for me.

Ralf, I think you are probably on the right track about the bobbin cases. I have noticed that there are bobbins for the pfaff that have different size slots to accomodate the different widths of zig zag stitches on the machines. This brings me to another funny little thing to work out on my own machine. Why is my machine a 138-6 (capable of 6mm wide zig zag I think) but the stitch dial only goes to 4? I have a friend who has exact same machine as mine, but his stitch width dial goes to 6. Another puzzler. Well, I just discovered that the bobbin with the crack or damage sews much much better than the other one. The broken bobbin is an Italian, Cerilini. The other one, a Toya. These both came with my machine. Shortly after I got the machine, I ordered (2) Toya bobbin cases on Ebay, believing they were the High Quality ones, as seller stated. They both were not good bobbin cases. Sent them back. I will pay more for a quality bobbin case for sure.