Uwe

I have the swing down edge guide parts available, send me PM for details. Here's a photo of the edge guide presser foot Kwok Hing makes, but I don't have these in stock right right now:

The feet in that ebay listing above are standard Singer 111 class feet and will not fit your Cobra. You can also use a swing-down edge guide to guide along an edge of a layer on top of another material. The edge guide roller can "float" above the bottom layer and follow the edge of the top layer. You'll need the edge guide (KG-867 or KG967), and mounting adapter (KB205), and a hand lever extension (UX441).

One of the very few machines I know of that excels at heavy duty leather sewing AND binding is the Durkopp Adler 205 class with a synchronized binder. Durkopp Adler stopped making the originals a few years back, but aftermarket copies are readily available, e.g. the SewPro 205-420 with the binder setup shown in the video below. Weaver and other vendors also sell Adler 205 clones. The Juki TSC-441 class is more popular, but when it comes to binding, the Adler 205 is the superior design.

...and the thread tension discs should NOT open during normal sewing. If they do, something is not right. Normal walking foot movement during sewing should not actuate the tension release mechanism.

One of my videos shows how to reset the safety clutch at the 1:20 mark https://youtu.be/1wNBPX8i524?t=1m20s

And as soon as we get the perfect belt installed, the "how do I slow it down" saga begins. Perhaps a new servo motor that is adjustable both in position and speed would be prudent investment right now, especially since the whole setup itself was free to begin with.

Most motors have an adjustable mount that allows you to move motor position and adjust belt tension. Belts are available in 1 inch increments over a large range. Just get the right size belt so that you adjust belt tension via the motor pivot. That's what everybody else does, or should be doing.

Nothing super special about the spring, really. Juki Part No. 210-50802, should be less than $10. This is what a new spring looks like:

Here's a Pfaff model number and subclass decoder document: In Introduction To The Pfaff Numbering System.pdf

Bob's number shows up twice in the signature at the bottom of his post. You'll know which machine it's based off if you give us a chance to tell you after we get a look at it.

Heck, if it's free just get it and report back! Don't overthink it. It'll be a great machine to learn with no matter what. Chances are good that it's a really nice machine. I'm voting for the the Taking TK-8BL being a clone of the Seiko STH-8BL:

You'll have to find out which machine your Ferdco is based on. I'm guessing it's either a Juki or Seiko. Knowing the original make and model opens up your parts sourcing options a great deal. Post a few pictures of your machine so we can narrow down the make and model of the original machine.

This belongs in the Leather Machinery section (http://leatherworker.net/forum/forum/222-leather-machinery/) . Perhaps one of the moderators like @Northmount can move it there.

The Durkopp Adler is a manually oiled machine according to the Durkopp Adler 267 Parts list ( adler-267-parts.pdf): The Durkopp Adler 267 Brochure ( Leaflets_Adler_class_267_part1.pdf) has all the specs you need.

The window of opportunity on these machines has closed. They may be for sale again in the future at a price point closer to their real value (2017 wholesale pricing for this model starts at $3,400 for just the head with a minimum order quantity of 10 and before shipping from Taiwan.) I'll keep them in my permanent collection until market conditions improve.

For $200 just buy and explore it and learn. It'll be worth $200 for the rest of your life unless you destroy it. Singer 29-4 and close relatives have been discussed so many times here on LW people may not be enthusiastic to repeat the whole thing here as a convenience. Do a LW specific search (google "site:leatherworker.net singer 29") and read though some of the topics.

The Seiko SK-2B Parts lists (and actual parts) are available here: http://www.industrialsewingmachineparts.co.uk/parts_seiko_sk2b.htm For LW archival purposes I attached the files here too: Seiko SK-2B Parts file 1 (PARTS_SK-2B-1_1.pdf ) and Seiko SK-2B Parts file 2 (PARTS_SK-2B-1_2.pdf )

I have one other variation on Singer 111W binding feet (part 13246 and 13249), just for reference. The inner foot on this is a little wider (and outer left toe is thinner) than on your standard foot . This provides a little more room for the binder to align the tape edge with the needle.

A Singer 111W style binder foot set isn't very expensive at less than $20. You can also cut off your existing feet to achieve a similar result.

Thanks for the update! I'm glad to see you got the machine to work well. It makes a beautiful stitch now.

The Singer 281 Service Manual ( Singer 281-5, -6, -20, -22, -23, -24 Service Manual.pdf) was printed in 1964, so your machine is likely from the mid '60s. Singer serial numbers can be used for more precise dating of many Singer models. Servo motors are discussed in many topics here on LW. Check one of the recent ones:

While you're taking pictures, please also post a close-up picture of your Singer 29K60 model type plate and serial number. We're investigating a different issue on another Singer 29K60 in a separate topic and could use another reference picture.

I think the "GK" (Greifer Kupplung, i.e. hook clutch) models were a later addition to the family of Adler 67 machines.

I'll have to add escutcheon pins to my vocabulary (the eustachian tube connects your middle ear to your throat.) The type plate and pins do look a little suspect. Here's one reference I found of a Singer 29K60 with a detailed, original looking type plate with decorative pins and a modern, sans serif font used for marking (that machine's serial number points to 1945)

I stumbled across an original, vintage manual booklet from 1933 titled "The Regular Lock Stitch Wax Thread Machine Instructions". The machine is more commonly referred to as the Landis #1. Since I couldn't find any PDF versions of this manual online, I scanned it to PDF for fellow LW folks: Landis_1_Manual_1933.pdf I decided to format this PDF for digital viewing only - I added a watermark and disabled printing. High quality printed booklets without watermark ($10) and the original ($50) are for sale, send me a PM if you are interested.