Michiel

Ok guys, i learned a lott by reading threads on this forum (and from service and part manuals) but now i have a mystery (to me ). i realise i have a rare sewing machine but maybe the old iron lovers on this forum have an opinion its an old adler 166 heavy zigzag machine. I bought it as an "project machine" but after cleaning and oiling its sews well and seams in a good condition for its age. It is stitching well and all the adjustments seems ok but one...: the needle is not in the middle off the needle hole but almost touching the backside of it. i only have an manuall for the adler 366. On that machine you can adjust the needlebar wirh an excentric bearing. I looked verry well but cannnot find one in this machine. Ther is one excentric bearing in the zigzag feed, but that one is for zigzag with adjustment. i examined the two bearings of the neeldebar but there is not a bearing i can reach without dismanteling i big part of the machine. the bearing on the part which moves sideways wen zigzag sewing (donot know how it is called) you van see on the left underside. it has twoo screes in stead of one so i thought maybe it was excentric. I succeed to turn it but it was not. So here is my questio: is it possible the needlebar of these old machines can not be adjusted (horizontal) after leaving factory? the needle plate cannot be shifted (as it is now) but i can aletr it to move a little backward. The needleplate is not worn, so the old sailmaker (i cannot ask) had a way to work around. my theory is that he bend his needles after installing them. i did this finaly and with the bend needle the distance between the hook en needle looks good (and it sews well) the other option is the machine changed in the years between h stopped sewing and the moment i bought it but that doesnot make sence to me (when cleaning and oiling i did not get the machine apart or changed other adjustments.) I will try to post more pictures but i cannot downsize them on my ipad and am alowed to upload only 1,4 mb hope for some opinions, regards, michiel

In my search for a good used industrial. sewing machine with zigzag i found this list verry useful http://www.voiles-alternatives.com/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=343 its in french but the list and photo's are clear (and you always can use google translate) regards, michiel

I started with a pfaff 138 for canvas pvc and sometimes leather. it was strong (compared with house hold machines) but the feed was limited (i believe it was not sold for other than light work) But since i wanted a zigzag it was hard to find a better sewing machine. at the and i decided i needed a real sailmakers machine: an adler 98 for light and medium heavy work or an adler 166 for heavy work (it was hard too choose so at the end i bought both) Both are hard to find but exelent machines (and sold for leather) the most important differeence between my pfaff 138 and adler 98 is the feed. also only bottum feed but much wider and stronger. (i love this forum and learned a lott by reading al the posts, but normaly do not feel a have to ad much, so this is my first post) michiel http://www.duerkopp-adler.com/commons/download/download-text-attachments/Vintage_Leaflets_Adler/Leaflet_Adler_Class_166.pdf