Pfaff 345 / Bringing it back from the dead

[karmazine]

Hello,

I am a newbie to the forum. Thank you for inviting me in.

I appreciate this forum for a few years reading many helpfull stuff here and learning, but I joined only now when I bought out this Pfaff 345.

I literaly saved it from the forge at the scrap yard. It sews, but now I am in the process of cleaning and finding what parts are missing.

The code plate puzzles me. I get what H3 and CLN means, but the rest is unclear. It seems the low feed dogs are only going forward and backward, not up/down which leads me to think it was for binding with the binding attachment.

Also the needle inserted is Nm100 which is way too small. I plan to sew leather in the future, but for now this size suits me well for fabric use. I understand especially considering the bigger lenght of the needle that the risk of breakage is higher. I guess the factory where it was used did no leather (they sew blankets) so they adjusted the hook to this size.

1) For future readjustment: did I got it right that I need to undo the shaft(s) below the hook to get access to the screws which holds the hook, and then replace shafts + readjust the gears?

2) Regarding cleaning: I used regular motor gasoline. It was so dirty I seems right to spray it and brush the loads of dirt and dried oil away. It is almost not rusted, I found a little bit of rust on the shaft entering the casting (from behind the head, where the linkage to the feed arm goes). Thinking of using wd-40, spinning it, blow air to get oil+rust out and then lubricate with sewing machine oil. For now I am not willing to take it apart fully to clean perfectly.

3) I found some specification on viscosity of oil and penetration of the vaseline in the old Pfaff manual. They rarely show that info on the currently made sewing oils (why not?!). Most sewing techs here says oil viscosity does not matter much. I always spend loads of time searching. So I have three oils: one very thin for overlock, one a bit thicker for very old interlock and now something in between for the newest KM-640.

I plan to at least google the vaseline specs, since its viscosity and other properties could affect the easiness of the machine operation. Too sticky stuff is not good here I guess.

 

 

[karmazine]

Wanted to avoid too lenghty post, so I divided it. Could you please someone ( @Uwe @Trox, ...) check for me that I am hunting for the right parts?

A) I am missing the presser bar (hand) lifter and attaching screw. I understand its sizing depends on the H2-H6 model, but there was only one option in the 345 parts catalogue.

B)  Lifting lever bracket which connects the bar to the lever which undo the hand lifter AND pushes the pin to release the tension (this pin also needed) is not in the 345 catalogue, I found it in the 545 catalogue, the H3 version I hope should fit... ?

C) I do not have the lip on the lower cover: 91-014 031-05. I think it is not necessary, only aesthetics?

D) The arm cover and bed extension are broken. If I am not able to buy replacements I consider welding them. I have stick electrodes for cast iron or maybe is better to brass braze it to introduce less heat / warping? Since both are easily undoable from the machine I can pre and post heat them.

 

Thank you very much!

[Trox]

Here is the subclass listkgi582aa.pdf

[Trox]

I have big trouble sharing/uploading stuff here today, I'm on my phone. Guess I'm out of practice, I spend most of my time online on Facebook. However the subclass is H3-17/01 it's set up for regular binding. This is a list of gouge parts and the numbers refers to what feet's, needle plate and equipment it's set up with. It's not easy to get a overview over Pfaff's old codes and sewing equipment numbers. I don't think there are anybody working in Pfaff today that know these anymore. Pfaff sent me these manuals and lists years ago. I've done my best to share it with you people in this forum. Do you have the 345-H3 part list? All the parts are listed in that part list. The presser bar lifting lever/arm in your pic isn't the right one for the 345-H3. It's a intricate system of lever's that makes a geared presser bar lift. But you don not necessarily need all of that. They are there to make it easier to lift. There are also a hole in the base head that can accommodate a chain for a regular un assisted lift. You better show us a pic of the backside, it's easier to see it for ourselves. You better hope you will find a donor machine, if these parts should still be available; they will cost you more than a new  Chinese machine.

[karmazine]

Hello Trox,

Thank you for the reply! I was out and had only a few minutes in the workshop to take the pictures and go.

I had the subclass list but only in text form and less detailed. I try to decipher the 913/52, it should be hidden in the new pdf somewhere.

Anyway, I saw the machine only few minutes today, but found out that the feed dogs are definately not from the binding version (they have ribs, and number 44080 C).

As always it could be usefull to double check if and/or to what extent the machine relates the name/type plate. Someone could swap part in the past.

 

The part list I have is originaly from your upload here (I think. filename 5ao8mf6d ). It seems to be general, not H3 specific.

The parts around the lifting lever that I need are not there at all. Could you please upload it too?

 

Photos attached. If you need me to shoot something specific I can take it tomorrow.

 

Thank you!

 

 

[Northmount]

On 6/8/2023 at 1:30 AM, karmazine said:

I plan to at least google the vaseline specs

I suppose that you mean grease rather than Vaseline and that this is just a quirk in translation?  Another name for Vaseline is Petroleum Jelly.  Not usually used as a lubricant in machinery.

[karmazine]

Sorry, my error > wrong translation. I meant grease. Its called vaseline in my native language.. :-D

 

[billybopp]

35 minutes ago, Northmount said:

I suppose that you mean grease rather than Vaseline and that this is just a quirk in translation?  Another name for Vaseline is Petroleum Jelly.  Not usually used as a lubricant in machinery.

Getting those two crossed up in the wrong situation could be a REALLY big problem!!   LOL

- BIll

[karmazine]

7 hours ago, billybopp said:

Getting those two crossed up in the wrong situation could be a REALLY big problem!!   LOL

- BIll

Muhehe. Thinking about which part of this missmatch is worse... ;D

[karmazine]

Hello,

@Trox

I googled 345-H3 specific parts list for maybe an hour and nothing..   Only thing I found other that I already had is 345-6 parts list from 1955. It shocked me a bit, I thought this machine is from the 60-70ties.

Tomorrow I have appointed phonecall from two parts dealers from Poland, so I am at my wits end: I do not know the exact part numbers I need.

I do not mean to push you, it is your free time to spare here on other people's problems.. ...But the H3 parts list and/or advice would help me a lot!

Also I have possibility to buy used but fully working Pfaff 335 H2 for very modest cost (210 Eur), but I think it is to too weak for leather and the number of usable/interchangeable parts is limited.

Sorry again for being annoying.

Thank you!