Search the Community

I have been doing a few projects recently that need a very small cylinder machine to enable me to get into the tight corners and such. This is still a bit of a work in progress but so far the results have been good. A few more tweaks and they should be excellent. I have a 335 Pfaff , 69 Adler, Tk 335 Elizabeth and a 331 Pfaff that I have finished of some new cylinder caps for. After doing some measurements and tests the width of the caps have now been reduced from 46.6mm down to 41.4mm. ( a bit under 1/4"). The depth has reduced a couple of mm and the length a couple as well. NOTE: except for the Pfaff 331 which has a little more room for reductions, all of the caps fitted and they are all the smaller bobbin variety. The first picture shows 3 of the 4 caps just finished as against the ones being replaced. This is the TK335 Elizabeth cylinder showing some comparisons. This one below shows the Adler 69 fitted well This one below on my favourite Pfaff 331machine (needle and dog foot feed and no pesky walking foot) Here are a couple of samples of work where this kind of reduction comes in handy. I do like to be able to stitch around a product fully and try to design for this and the sewing machines capability. Here I think the difference shows fairly well If any of you have printers and one of these style machines let me know and I will get you a stl file if you want it. If you have one of these machines and are one of my followers and do not have a printer... PM me if you would like one. I know the colour is awful and I could have done them in a metalic silver colour but at least they are easy to find now. Brian

Hey hey! I've recently bought a great little Adler 69-72/E 42. The previous owner had no idea what it was, and therefore was not much of a help with anything at all. There is one needle that came with the machine, a - Schmetz 120. I want to get more needles and I know I want them to be LR leather, so that my stitches have angle to them. Any help would be great, I have looked on lots of websites and all I seem to find is that the Adler 69's use the 134 system? Thanks!

I bought a new KH (Kwok Hing) narrow foot set for my Adler 69-373. I am having a hard time getting the needle to go in the middle hole in the foot. It might be just fine the way it is, not sure. I have adjusted everything as close as I can. I have rotated the outer and inner feet. I had to put a shim behind the left foot screw to make it straight (the bar is just a little worn). I have also tried rotating the needle bar. The needle is very close the the left of the hole in the foot. When I tighten the needle screw the needle goes to the left about 1-1.5mm (max). Based on the videos I have posted, does anyone know if my needle bar is worn? I really do not want to buy a new one if it will not make a difference! Here are the videos: I have the machine timed for 134-35 needles. I am assuming using a 134 needle will not make a difference with this problem? Will a Adler 269 needle bar fit my 69 machine? Kwok Hing gave me the the dimensions of their bar...seems like it might work. Thanks! - Adam Below is the original foot: This is the new KH foot:

We finally bought a sewing machine! Thanks for all those who have answered my previous questions. Now the fun part, learning how to use it We bought it from a lady who makes purses and wanted more room (she has a Pfaff 1245 and Adler 269-373). We paid 430 Euro ($500) with Jack servo and flat table attachment. She used it with thick threads and the stitches look good. She also gave me the number of her mechanic so he can come adjust it for us. It worked great when I tested it but I am already running into problems...to be expected since this is our first sewing machine. Can anyone tell me if this is a 69-373? The model plate is gone. It seems the the top right tension spring is missing and the tension release is not working. I am trying to get a list of parts to order. If anyone sees some parts missing or set up wrong please let me know, I would appreciate it! I also have some very basic questions, should I post questions here or start a new topic? Thanks!

Does the Adler 69 have a safety clutch? In the service manual (page 24) it says to check the safety clutch. But it does not state how to do this or where it is. The closest I can find is in the Adler 169 manual. The Adler 167 video/documents did not help. I'm just curious if it has one. And IF it engages, how to disengage it. Thanks!

When I was adjusting things on my adler 69, I've got problems with reverse stitch. After finding solutions on youtube I've made some adjustments, but I've lost the stitch length.... Two days I was struggling with a reverse mechanism, and I've found something strange - the plate, covering a slot in which the reverse stitch lever was moving, was smaller than the slot in the cast itself... reverse lever was stopping on the plate, while there was a place to travel a bit more. I've cut the plate more, to fit the slot in the cast. Now the machine works fine on reverse with full stitch length. It's quite possible that the plate have been replaced in the past, but maybe this hint can help someone. On the photo there is a mark showing where the slot was ending before cutting it to the bigger size.

Hello, I posted a while ago about the difference between an Adler 69 and 269. Thank you for the help! The 269 machine did not work out. The only one I can find is just too expensive for me. I read everything I could find about the Adler 69. I think this would be a good machine for me to start on. I have read and heard conflicting opinions about what size thread this machine can use. What is the maximum thread size I can use in an Adler 69-373? What about in the bobbin? These machines are easy to find where I am (Romania). Plus parts are easily obtained. The mechanic I talked to said he has it set up for size M20 (#138 thread). I thought it was only able to handle M30 (#96)? I need a machine for bags, wallets etc. Total thickness of 4-5mm (10-12oz). Thank you for your help with such a simple question! -Adam

All, Seeking a decent 69 or newer 669 for the shop. Have anything? Let's talk! Pfaff 335 considered as well. Please email me direct: andy@andysleather.com Thx, Andy

Hi all, this is my first post on the leatherworker.net forums, though I've been an anonymous reader for quite a while. Finally I have a question that I can't find an answer to: I purchased my first walking foot machine, an Adler 69, a few months ago. I'm pleased with how it sews but there are a few things about it I would change if I could, now having used it a little bit. If anyone out there knows City Sewing in NYC, they're great but can also be a pain to get information out of and sometimes I doubt their opinions and expertise when it comes to these types of machines. Anyway, here's what I'm looking for: 1. The table is too high. It appears that it could be lowered, but when I loosen the bolts nothing happens. ...? 2. The table design makes it difficult to build/install a removable flat working surface. Ideally I want to be able to 'convert' the working area to a flat bed when needed. Although not impossible with this table, it would be a lot less cumbersome with an alternate table design that includes some sort of surface on the left as well as the right that the removable work surface could then bridge (see attached photo). Also, this table is supposedly called the 'space saver table' but really it's about the most space-wasting I could think of! If I could design & build my own table, that would be awesome. 3. The servo motor speed cannot be adjusted. I've been reading on this website a bit about this. I guess it means I have a 'brushless' motor? Would I be sacrificing torque or anything else if I sought out a motor that is speed-adjustable? I've also been reading about EPS. I'd love to have that feature, too, if possible. Given the wish list above, do you think it makes sense to try to kit out my purchase or attempt to sell this machine and re-buy another package that has more of the features I'm looking for? Also, should it be better to stick with what I have, does anyone have any mechanic contacts in the NYC area who would be willing to help with the work? I'm always willing to learn, but I have to admit that I know nearly nothing about how to lower the table height, let alone install a new motor! Thanks a lot, Lauren

Hi all, This is my first post here, and I hope somebody might be able to provide an opinion or advice. I just got an Adler 69 362 (see e.g. pages 7-9 in a leaflet here). The model is equipped with a roller foot. The main question is: can the roller foot be replaced with a walking foot? Such as something like this. Or is this limited to a 69 373 model? To a layman as myself, the rest of the machine configuration looks the same. As for me, I am a hobbyist. I consider working with leather as a way of meditation (to take my mind off from the day job). Up until now, I have handstitched most items (some knife sheats, holsters, a couple of bags, quite a number of wallets ... only had patience to handstitch one belt). I have also used a home sewing machine for parts of bags (a cheap Toyota FSR21 with a cheap walking foot attachment, but it does quite some work). I plan on using the Adler primarily for wallets and bags, but occasional belts would be nice too. I've tested it just a bit so far, and it easily managed to stitch 2 layers of around 8-9 oz veg tan (I think ... 2 layers of 3,5 mm ... sorry, I'm European ... ounces confuse me :/). I will not torture it with this much though. 4 layers of soft leather (parts of bag edges) should normally be the heaviest type of work. So ... should I be happy with the purchase (it was 230 EUR / ca. 310 USD for the whole set: head, table, flat bed attachment, motor, etc.)? If anybody has any experience with this machine, your opinions on its abilities and its limits would be most appreciated. Especially: pros and cons of roller foot vs walking foot. Thanks! Basil