Seiko STW-8B Stitch Length Adjustment

[HectorsZsazsa]

Hello again everyone. Hoping someone may be able to advise me with Stitch Length Adjustment on my new to me Seiko STW-8B walking foot machine. I've got as far as knowing to push the button on the main bed (farthest away from the needle) & turn the pulley belt wheel & feel for the internal spring plunger to engage in a hole that corresponds to the numbers on the pulley wheel, BUT although I can feel the plunger engaging from hole to hole, it's not changing the stitch length & I can only turn the wheel forwards (as it would whilst sewing) I have an instructional manual for the similar Consew 226R & that says I should be able to turn the pulley wheel in both directions (forwards & backwards) but I can only turn the wheel forwards as it won't turn backwards... Am I doing something wrong or not doing something I should be ? 

Phew, that was a bit long winded. Hope I haven't bored you all to tears

Any advice will be greatly appreciated

H x

 

 

[Uwe]

You may be pressing the wrong button. The left button is for the stitch length adjustment, the right one is used to re-engage the safety clutch.

 

The video below is using a similar machine. It shows how the stitch length mechanism works at the beginning. The stitch length adjustment on your machine should work the same way. 

 

 

[Handstitched]

Forgive me for chiming in. Now theres  something new  I just learnt . On  my 28B ( twin needle)   theres only one button on the left , stitch length adjustment( that I have used) ,  and no clutch re-engage button on the right and theres also an extra  hole  just below the inspection plate in the centre where I can see a whole bunch of numbers  next to the drive belt. I assume that has something to do with the stitch length? 

HS

[Uwe]

5 hours ago, Handstitched said:

I assume that has something to do with the stitch length? 

Yes, the video actually explains that in detail. 

[HectorsZsazsa]

13 hours ago, Uwe said:

You may be pressing the wrong button. The left button is for the stitch length adjustment, the right one is used to re-engage the safety clutch.

 

The video below is using a similar machine. It shows how the stitch length mechanism works at the beginning. The stitch length adjustment on your machine should work the same way. 

 

 

Hello Uwe, HUGE thank you for your time & help. As it turns out I 'was' working the machine wrong, although I was doing as was told by my seller who I suspect may not have been as honest as he made out... on collection he did demonstrate the machine working & had said that he had been using it for the last 8yrs reupholstering car seats & that the machine had just been fully serviced was working perfect & ready for work... which is why I chose to buy his machine as it all sounded 'tickety boo' I think is the correct expression.

However, I myself being inexperienced & not exactly the brightest bulb in the house, I never asked him to demonstrate how to change the stitch length, he just said (during his demonstration) to change the stitch length you push that button & skipped onto telling me something else.

But, he told me the wrong button!!! & the mechanism that allows the concentric con rod that alters the feed dog travel was SEIZED SOLID so when I pushed the CORRECT button in (eventually) & turned the wheel until the pin locked into its little hole to hold the feed dog con rod still, I could not turn the wheel in neither direction to change the stitch length... I blathered it in thin machine oil & was working it free (with considerable difficulty) hoping & praying I was doing the right thing... it's now sort off freed off & is working as it should but it's still very stiff & I'm keeping it well oiled & keep adjusting it... What a learning curve.

I didn't do all this on my own tho, my lad is fairly handy at classic car restoration (hence my upholstery adventure) & he rebuilds gearboxes & engines & the likes