michaelcbarr

@ShortyLV this looks very similar to a problem I am still seeing myself with my Cowboy (Hightex) 4500. I still haven't got to the bottom of it so I'll be very interested to see if you solve it Mb

Thanks @CowboyBob - I have tried some minor tension adjustments which haven't been successful. Next is the check spring, then the timing. Mb

Thanks @Wizcrafts - I'll see what I can break over the weekend :D Mb

Thanks all - i will have another look at tensions then I'll check if the timing has been thrown out. @Wizcrafts is the check spring throw something that can be adjusted on a cb4500 and of so, then how? Mb

Hey @CowboyBob, thanks for your reply. Currently using 277 top and bottom with a 200 needle. Tried a 250 needle but seems to be the same issue. I'm making leather knife sheaths so this is stitching through 3 layers of 9/10 oz leather - so perhaps 12-15mm thick. I have tried 2 layers and one layer but very similar issues. I have tried adjusting too and bottom tensions, and rethreading top and bottom thread in case there were snags somewhere along the path. Mb

Hi all - I have a strange issue with the cb4500 which I don't think has been there before but I may just be going mad :D The top thread is being picked up fine by the hook, but when it slides over the bobbin case to form the knot, it seems to snag on the little hole right at the bottom of the bobbin carrier and then snaps back up when the tension is increased at the end of the stroke. I don't think this is correct as it makes a loud snapping noise and I cant remember that happening before. It is still making stitches but seems to be putting a large strain on the thread and the rest of the assembly so I'm concerned. I took the whole bobbin shuttle and race assembly out to clean it, oil it and reinstall. I also gently sanded the case to remove micro burrs around the hole. This seems to have helped a little bit but it is still snapping very loudly! Link to video I tried to compress the video to add directly to the post but can't get it small enough so apologies for the external link. Mb

Just as an update for the other forum members - I ordered the needle plate set before Christmas and, even with the crazy post around that time of year, it was shipped halfway round the world from Australia to Northern Ireland in less than 3 weeks. The product is fantastic. It is a perfect fit, straight replacement for the stock items on my Cowboy (Hightex) 4500 with zero fettling. Thin leather is a breeze with this plate fitted and I'm now debating on whether to keep my Seiko STW-8B for lighter work, although it is handy having a second machine all set up with the correct needle and thread Thanks again to @RockyAussie and particularly Jessica for her patience with the ridiculous shipping situation regarding Northern Ireland. Mb

Thanks @RockyAussie - quote received and accepted

Brilliant thanks - no rush just making sure you actually received my email

@RockyAussie I sent you an email requesting a price including postage to Northern Ireland (UK) but haven't heard back yet Mb

Yes @CowboyBob that sounds like exactly what happened. It's just weird that I have been using this machine from brand new for about 4 months with no issue - until I changed the Bobbin! mb

@Wizcrafts thanks for the reply. I should have said that I tried replacing the needle but no luck. However I do seem to have fixed the problem, yet I don't know exactly what it was. My local dealer suggested removing the shuttle assembly to send him some photos of the inside . He couldn't spot anything amiss and we had agreed to catch up tomorrow when he would decide whether or not to come out for an onsite visit. However, when I reassembled everything - I noticed that the lateral play in the shuttle was almost gone - and sure enough, when I tried a stitch - it all worked perfectly. Not sure if this helpful to anyone else but I suspect that either the screws had worked loose over time since installation (this is a new machine) or perhaps dirt had been caught up somewhere. In either case, the process of disassembly and reassembly seems to have fixed it. Happy to share photos and video of anyone is interested but the problem is solved for me ☺️ Mb

Apologies for posting a link rather than the full vide clip but I can't compress it enough to meet the forum upload limit! https://photos.app.goo.gl/zgpYAeUaGmWpCrNA8 You can see that the needle very clearly fouls on the hook and causes an audible click as it gets deflected out of position. This seems to have started after I replaced a bobbin and on the first few stitches I managed to birds nest it a bit. The jam was cleared immediately and I didn't force anything - just gently cut away all tangled threads. Might be just coincidence? I haven't looked at setting the timing yet as I am hoping this is a more simple fix. While investigating this, I noticed a large amount of play in the bobbin shuttle but I really cannot remember if this was always there and I just never noticed! Anyone got any good ideas? We have only one dealer in the country and he hasn't replied to my messages yet. Thanks, Mb

Thanks @Uwe! I'm tempted to stop fiddling as it really is working beautifully on double layer veg tan now - but I'm still convinced there is something not quite right! OK I checked the linkage as described above and its pretty much exactly on the green lines when all feet are level with the throat plate. A bent vibrating presser bar does seem to make sense and would definitely explain the weird needle hole alignment as you suggested. Also, as I mentioned earlier, the lifting presser bar was not in a good state and I did some major polishing on it to try to even out some wear marks so it wouldn't surprise me if the other bar has been mistreated - or just worn out I suppose. I can't seem to work out where the clamps are that hold the vibrating presser foot in place - so that I can try spinning it - I just see the large pressure spring and the the little oil access holes that are attached to the rest of the linkage. Is it a really major job to take the entire bar out - and are there any manuals/video I can follow? Also are the parts available and affordable if It does need replaced? Thanks again @Uwe - it has been great getting all this assistance :D Mb

Thanks for your reply @Wizcrafts! Yes I know I am pushing this machine beyond its limits and I think I should admit defeat and settle for using the Seiko for its intended purpose - which is actually very impressive :D However, the reason I have been confused about the capability of my machine is due to @Uwe's video of sewing similar thickness of veg tan leather - approx 10mm on a Consew 225. I understand this was just a test and the machine should not be used for this purpose on a regular basis, but in that video @Uwe was clearly able to lift the presser foot up to insert the material with room to spare and that's where I'm not sure if there is something else I need to adjust on my own machine. The correct size needle was in the machine when I bought it and I think the bar is correct but honestly I am at the limit of my knowledge here. I can force the lifting foot to 1/2 inch but then the vibrating foot is actually underneath the lifting foot for part of the cycle and the lifting foot does not come back flat to the throat plate when the lifting bar is released - so I know something is wrong and I would never try to sew. Mb