oldfarmboy

More searching turned up this site. Much better pictures. The clamp is slightly different but there should be a screw above the needle. https://manuals.plus/m/8974fd3aa9b86a5fea8798493b21b4c3a490257fbfff0ff8d94fe6d110343e8b

Anyone familiar with the needle clamp on this machine? I believe there should be a screw in the bar to limit the maximum depth of the needle when inserted. Also I'm suspicious the clamp screw is not correct for this machine. It's brass and will tighten and hold the needle but the threads don't appear to match well when observed with naked eye. Obviously someone has worked on this machine previously. The check spring was mangled to begin with but we now have that functioning. The setscrew to adjust the needle bar height is mangled as well. Hopefully we can find one. I found a Nakajima 280-L parts diagram but it's not very clear unfortunately. TIA

Yes working fine now. Never did get a response from Reliable. Found the You Tube video by accident. It shows a clear picture of the connector.

Found a YouTube: 4:52 mark. So the machine is now working.

Left an email just after posting here but so far no response. Sent a service request today.

Three wires of the four wire connector which plugs into the rear of the motor have been pulled out. Only the blue wire is still fastened. Anyone have a similar setup?

No it's not a lie. It is still single phase. This guy has it right.

OK! Got the machine to sew. Came with two bobbin cases but missing two screws and for certain one screw is too long but they do enter so it does give lower thread tension. Followed a video found here on how to remove the hook assembly. Thought I should inspect. Wouldn't believe the amount of thread wrapped down under!! Cleaned all the parts, oiled and it sews. Hopefully all that's needed now are proper bobbin tension screws. Would be metric of course but wonder what size?

Ooops. another Google turned up a manual. I'll work with that for now.

In need of bobbin tension screws. (in Canada preferred) Also hoping to find a D/l able service manual. Thanks

Thanks. All I can find so far is this: https://simards.com/ They have closed shop just recently. I have a table, though the cutout may not match. Spare clutch motor laying around and can make or scrounge up the other parts needed. Current bid is $2. There are several other industrial machines on this sale too, a Pfaff, Singer, Adler and some leather. Close out (not connected to Simard's closing), retirement or estate sale perhaps???

This unit on auction locally. What can the group tell me about it? Haven't examined it yet but presumably it's functioning. No table. BTW, serial 2895

Well I'm wrong the set screws are indeed 1/4 x 20 TPI. I finally took gear off to get a good look at the threads.

In need of a tension screw for the bobbin case on this machine. It sews as is but it needs to be replaced. Suggestions appreciated. Also discovered the two original locking set screws on the hook driving shaft pulley are missing. Someone replaced with an standard 1/4 x 20 TPI set screw which is NOT correct thread. My measurements are 1/4 x 24 TPI. Project for today is machining screws. That's doable but not attempting a tension screw. These old eyes can barely see those tiny screws. Oh also the felt oiling pad is missing on the bobbin case.

Thanks very much. Just found a couple minor problems with this machine.

I realize this is an old thread but has anyone found a more readable copy of the service manual? The one floating the web rough indeed.

I notice that bobbin tension is essentially zero. No amount of adjustment on the screw changes tension. One bobbin case is ever so slightly better but the other, nothing. Removed and clean the debris but that didn't help. I suspect the spring is distorted but am afraid to try shaping it. Anyway It seems to be sewing OK for the moment.

Thank you for the reply. That search does not work on my computer, however it did work for my cell phone after following your link. Interesting. This my first glimpse of a multi needle machine. Yes I noticed immediately that the left hook turns the opposite direction. There is a perfectly good reason for that. That allows use in design of many of the same parts from the right side. If both were to turn the same direction the left side parts would have to be a mirror image of the right side! Under corrective measures it references (See xx-x in the SEPARATE INSTRUCTION BOOK. Wonder where to find that?

Anyone know where to get a shop manual? Can't even find an operator's manual. I'm wondering is there is a problem here? The machine is not stitching well at times. Notice the difference in the position of the fingers next to the bobbin cases? The right side is barely catching. It appears to be rotated away from the hook and bobbin case. I haven't yet checked underneath for any way to adjust these fingers. By loosening the screw the finger could be moved forward or backward but not rotated and both seem to very similarly positioned in that respect. I looked at the timing of the hooks and each is above the eye in the needle similar to all domestic machines so it appears that is OK. Any suggestions or help appreciated.

Selling 132 Leather Craftsman and Make It With Leather magazines dating from1957 to 1983. 1970 to 1983 are complete with the exception of 1972 May/June. Earlier editions are hit and miss.

sold

Have completed a spread sheet of my collection. Approx 460 pages and a few that are not part of the Tandy index. Would prefer to sell as a lot. PM if interested.Doodle Pages Collection missing deleted.xlsx

Fairly large collection of doodle pages beginning Series one up to series 1E. About forty years. I did purchase many of these older issues. Have not been active carver for quite a number of years. Our store closed a long time ago. I must look at down sizing. There are gaps that I wasn’t able to find. Selling as a lot anyone interested please PM thanks

Ya. It sews. Not so sure about top tension though. It seems it could be a bit tighter but then it starts to pucker the material. You can see the top thread (black) showing on the underside. There is no tension at this time on the bobbin case. Straight out the side of the bobbin case through a hole in the side. First off I discovered that the tab on the bobbin case base has to fit under a gap in the needle plate. Someone had it apart and didn't replace it properly. Very much the same principle as the Featherweights use. Also discovered the tension release wasn't working properly. The depth of the bobbin case should be have been deeper. Had intended to make it deeper then changed my mind to make it the same as the Pfaff bobbin case, 0.250 inches. I believe it should be deep enough to rest on the bobbin case base, but it does work as is. This was sewn at a low speed. Haven't the courage yet to try high speed. LOL I do like how this clutch motor works. So much better to control than the other clutch motor machines I have presently and had in the past.

The shuttle was easy. I had more trouble with the gear which drives the shuttle carrier. There is a hardened bushing in the arm. It was worn too. A new gear wouldn't have fitted well unless the bushing was replaced too. So I made the journal on the gear oversize to fit. The gear has only three teeth so the teeth have to be fairly precise. Later models used more teeth. I can understand why the change. Had to mess with the shape of the teeth a bit. But it works great now. All the parts in the machine were there but man were they worn. As usual I paid too much. I learned a lot from that project.