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Just an update and now that I am back on a proper computer with a keyboard there should be no more spelling mistakes. I have been quoted from Sieck 120 Euros including post and VAT. Which is a shame... I had gotten my hopes up and had my hand in my pocket in anticipation Cheers Alex

Thanks for this lists... The engineer's manual will come in very useful for my "new" old machine. Thanks for the effort you put in to the community. Alex

Thanks for the word, butt-could not find it on their, website. Time for an email. Will let people know the outcome. Does anyone know when handwriting recognition Software begins to work quickly? I an bored before I have finished. Hmm I think its something to do with Switching between English & German. I (driving me crazy

thanks Ralf! That's a very nlce price I am going to have alook right how. What's the German word for speedreduCer? cheers Alex

Hi Darren, Thanks for your response... I have fixed the upper tension issues and am now looking at the shuttle tension problems. I will order a new shuttle spring and a cheap shuttle alternative from alibaba as Jim suggested. However, first I will buy some thicker thread and see if the tension spring manages to make some contact. I am thinking Gutterman Mara 11 (tex265), which says its suitable for 180 nm needles. If you have any other alternives then I would be happy to try them. Cheers ALex

I think this is called the Patent Elastic.... Claes produced something similar to it, infact there were quite a few copies by various companies and they all pretty much look the same. Claes still make a patcher and it is the best patcher you will find... it can do 12 mm thick leather with no change in stitch length Alex

Thanks for the information, when I was looking for a reducer I could only find them in the US so ended up making a homemade one before I had an idea about pulley belts... As a Hobby sewer, 120 euros is too much...Especially as I could make one for free..... However, if it were 80 Euros I would not hesitate to buy one and not waste my time making one...

Hi Yin, Do you have a source of the British Museum leather dressing? I have never been able to find a place to buy it from... Thanks Alex

Ok, so I found an old sewing machine stud and decided not to wait for the singer. I had the spring to go with it and I drilled and tapped as Constab suggested. i have added a new metal washer (drilled out to 7.5 mm) and a homemade felt disc. It has made this part of the tension control so much smoother and now the pulley actually rotates as it should do... I am very happy... Incidentally the thread on this particular stud was M6 fine 0.75. I wonder if that is common on domestic machines, which ti came off.

This came without a base... So you give me hope.... that there is a simple solution...

Hi jimi, As with most things I buy, the fur machine is an old DDR model by Textima. One day I will sit down and work it out.... No the Frobana is not screwed down, so as you say that should help... I am just scared of messing up the timing and not having any marks to go back to... I should be less of a coward..:) Cheers Alex

ok Jimi, I will give that a go... And try this weekend... I am a little scared about adjusting, because it does sew already, now that the tension issue is partially sorted.... I buggered up a fur sewing machine that wasn't running quite right by fiddling and i would have been better off leaving it alone... I have been trying to find a spare parts diagram, but have had no luck... That would help also to get an idea of what is connected to what and its function..... Cheers Alex

Hi Bob, Thanks for taking the time to take the pictures. The range of depth you have is just what I am looking for, so I think something must be wrong with mine...As you see from mine I only have a range of 1mm and that's in the wrong order... I see you channel knife is pretty poor. I am going to make one for myself, since I am making one, then making 2 is no more time. I can send you that if you wish. Cheers Alex

Thank Bob and everyone who has responded. Bob: the problem is that the lowest setting is 3mm, which is still too high. I would like to get it down to 1.5 mm. Also, at both ends of the stitch length adjuster range (dunn(thin) and dick(thick)) it becomes very stiff. If I simply change the pointer position so that the lowest setting (3mm) becomes the thinnest (dunn) setting and not the mittel, which it now is, I think it will reduce the range of the adjuster knob. However, I will try what you suggest. Jimi: I will have a look for the cam, maybe it has slipped out of position. Thin to thick setting on the stitch length adjuster should cause a steady increas in height, which currently it does. Thin is 4mm, mittel is 3 mm and thick is 3.5 mm. Something is out of kilter... I am going to either buy or make a new feed dog, which is a cutter. The current feed dog, is probably for rubber and it probably is homemade. Here in the old DDR, they become very clever at getting around shortages of goods and parts. Thanks once again for everyone's suggestions.. It is beginning to sew properly... Cheers Alex

Hello, Did you ever manage to find out the size of the thread you ordered and how is it work? I have just bought a Frobana and need to order some thread. I was think of 1.5mm diameter to fill the 2mm holes nicely, however I am not sure what size the should be in Tex. i have seen tex 270 recommended for 200 nm needles, but don't know what diameter that is. I have some thread already, which is about 0,75 mm and it looks really small in the hole left by the needle. Can you tell me of your recent experiences with this machine? Thanks Alex

Feed-dog height issues... After reading the manual(thanks Jimi) the max feed dog height is 4mm and should be used for the thickest leather. However, my thinnest leather setting has 4mm feed dog height, the middle 3mm FD height and the thickest setting 3.5mm. See below. Does anyone know how to change this? I would atleast like to be able to drop the height to 1mm for the thinnest setting to limit damage to the underside of the leather Here are some pics. Thinnest setting Middle setting Thickest setting Has anyone had any similar experience? Thanks for any advice.. Cheers Alex

Oh, that's so obvious now... I am a little embarrased... Cheers Alex

An alternative to Needle System 130B is the 1738 needle system. It has been used to some success on Pfaff 130-14-15 sewing machine, which is also requires the round schank 130b for its adjustable needle holder. The 1738 is aka DBX1 16X231 16X257 1738. Cheers Alex

I think you can add the 138-6u to the needle system 130b too... although i will have to check to be certain. Cheers alex

Thanks for the response Jimi... Its nice to know how the pulley should be set-up. I might be in the land of Frobana, but half of these guys are dreaming when it comes to the price.... I will give that guy on ebay a message and see where we get...Although i have already ordered the Singer 29K stud to drill in to the original.. I have not yet ordered the shuttle, as i was hoping to be able to bend the spring in. A quick solution, I think would be to put a small steel shim underneath and i think i will try that whilst i wait. Does anyone use the bath, as mine is broken and i wonder if I should replace it or forget about it? Is 1mm thread the minimum size people use for their machines? Is there a recommended size? Last question Is there a way to reduce how far the feed dog comes up? Its damaging the underside of the leather and i would liek to reduce this.. It has very impressive teeth so I guess i will not be able to eliminate it.. Thanks again for everyone's help. Alex

Hi Sandy, I live in what is the old DDR, near Leipzig and I dare not drive on the wrong side of the road... To let people know, I have seen a reference to AFT International GmbH having spares for Frobana. I have been in contact with them today and this is not the case. Cheers Alex

The internal diameter of the pulley is 7.35 mm. Consider the Singer part ordered... The thread on the shorter side of the stud is unf 1/4 - 28... But I have just forgotten the other measurement of the thread on the other side. The Frobana stud is not hardened. I am drilling in to it later on today... hopefully... Thanks once again for your help Constab. Cheers Alex

Hi Constab, Thanks for your input. I am able to tap a thread so you idea is a good one. I will measure the internal diameter of pulley to make sure. I am still considering buying a 45k shuttle off alibaba, as they are cheap enough.. If my hammering of shuttle spring has not brought better contact with the shuttle. I would then leave this shuttle alone and use only for very thick thread. Thank you very much everyone for your help and suggestions. Cheers Alex PS Constab, I have just ordered some number 4 (200 nm) needles from your WDN source you gave on another thread. I will wait and see

I am tempted to buy a new shuttle spring as sold here: http://www.ebay.de/itm/Shuttle-Hook-Thread-Spring-Singer-45K-DURKOPP-61-62-Sewing-Machine-Closed-Frame-/272392847123?hash=item3f6be0ff13:g:z7EAAOSwLF1X6v3a However, i guess it might not help much if the shuttle itself is for larger thread. I also noticed that the thread does not fill the hole of the stitches and so i guess this supports Jimi's idea. I have a size 5 needle, but there is a number 4 stamped in the front, where the race goes. I believe this is incorrect and I must buy a number 4 needle. Is this correct? Is there simply a difference in diameter between the two needles sizes or do other dimensions change?... In anycase, thank you for taking the time to read... Cheers Alex D

That's really impressive... Where exactly did you have to grind down? From my understanding Jimi was talking about the bit of the shuttle that slot in to the race and is pinned there. I guess he was talking about fitting a new shuttle to an old race. Would I be right in thinking that you fitted a "new" shuttle and race to the Frabans and simply ground the race to match the old Frobana... is that correct? In case someone is interested i have found a source of shuttle tension springs here: http://www.ebay.de/itm/Shuttle-Hook-Thread-Spring-Singer-45K-DURKOPP-61-62-Sewing-Machine-Closed-Frame-/272392847123?hash=item3f6be0ff13:g:z7EAAOSwLF1X6v3a