Buying a used first industrial machine

[kgg]

1 hour ago, Zeekar said:

What dissapointed you about it?

Just my experience but overall it was just too temperamental for my liking and seemed like it always needed something readjusted from the simple things like top and bobbin tension too set screws in the bobbin drive shaft / gears backing off issues. It might have been just that particular machine, the amount of abuse it got before I bought it, lack of maintenance or that I was asking it to do to much. Then add to the mechanical problems that diaper brown color.

kgg

[Zeekar]

Tnx. Ill take it in consideration. 

 

Just to give something back. I've been researching the adler 167 timing belt change and found this video. At 5 min mark it explains the bearing is glued inside and he loosens it with hot air from the inside. Hope it helps anyone.

 

[nejcek74]

I own a Pfaff 1245, old casting, and am very positive about it. First a disclaimer, I am a hobbyist and I make projects, not products, so my experience is limited.
I have owned the Pfaff 1245 for half a year and it is my first industrial sewing machine for heavier material after the Pfaff 138 and Bernina 217, both zigzag machines for light material. I learned most of what I know reading this forum, or at least it was the starting point.
Why did I choose it? Mainly because of the second-hand market where I live in Switzerland. In short, Singers are rare and Adlers, like older Pfaffs, have a certain cult status and are illogically expensive, going up to €2,000, whiled at the same time sellers don't even know what exact model they have. The Pfaff 1245 seems to be underrated, I guess it must have been the main machine in the automotive/upholstery industry at some point when it was still present in Central Europe.
So far the 1245 has worked without a hitch and here is what I like about it:
- You can find comprehensive instructions on how to time it. I have learnt the skills on it and it has given me the confidence to tackle the other two machines. It is very helpful that these are the original Pfaff instructions and not the various bits of advice you can pick up here and there on the web without knowing who to trust.
- As this model is still in production, it is easy to get spare parts, especially from the aftermarket. Unlike the Bernina 217, but also the older Pfaff 138, where finding the right screw can sometimes take days and be expensive.
- I find it quite robust, to be honest I'm still in the testing phase, trying different needles and threads without going to extremes (Tex 40 - 90) and I haven't encountered any major problems yet.
My limited advice is to check the availability of documentation, spare parts and especially needles and presser feet. As you are in the EU you should contract what is available there. Sometimes it is really hard to find the right supplier so that postage is not prohibitive.
 

[Zeekar]

Yeah the singer was a dead end.

Broken lifter lever so to even thread the machine I had to use the knee lift. Bobbin winder was barely functional and would need replacing. A lot of play in the needle bar and apparently it was setup with a different needle system than the 135×17, the needle was a lot shorter than the ones I bought and brought with me and the hook and needle were out of time completely with my needle. Hook also seemed in bad state and the latch for holding in the bobbin housing was broken so I had to use tweezers to even unlatch it. Motor was also behaving wierdly. Sometimes after turning on it started running the machine without any input. But thats probably solved via pedal linkage adjustment. All in all I dont have the patience and probably the knowledge to fix it at this point of time.  

Ill go take a look at the pfaff next when I arrange a meeting with the seller.

 

I got a quote for the Adler repair. 200€ + part cost. jikes. If I go with that one the repair will be a DIY job.

[Quade]

Quote

. At 5 min mark it explains the bearing is glued inside and he loosens it with hot air from the inside. Hope it helps anyone.

On my 211 I had to rig up a puller. The hand-wheel bearing isn't glued in but it acted like an interference fit. It got tighter the deeper it went.  I made an aluminum plug to give me something to push on that didn't bugger up the threads.  Sometimes the old oil acts like glue too. 

[Zeekar]

In the end I took the pfaff. Clutch motor. Could feather it quite easily when testing but its really noisy. Carrying the assembly up to the 4th floor was also an edevour.

Machine is also quite clean. Needs good oiling however and maybe cleaning of old gunk. What do people use/recommend for cleaning? isopropyl alcohol? Or cleaning gasoline? I can post pics to see if thats even needed.

[shoepatcher]

Best machine of the 3.  I owned one.  Smoother running than either Adler or Singer.  You did good.   Greased Lighting is great for cleaning up machines

glenn

Edited November 24, 2023 by shoepatcher

[fibersport]

Do you have WD-40 where you are?   That's a good cleaner and really helps clean up the old grease and oil.  spray it around and work the hand wheel by hand until it feels nice and smooth.  Once cleaned up, wipe it off and then lubricate with the oil and grease recommended for yuour machine.  

[AlZilla]

On 11/24/2023 at 7:12 AM, Zeekar said:

What do people use/recommend for cleaning? isopropyl alcohol? Or cleaning gasoline?

On unpainted surfaces, it really doesn't matter a lot. On painted surfaces, sewing machine oil on a cotton cloth is the most gentle. After that, I try plain old hand cleaner without pumice (I'll link to it since I have no idea what's available in Slovenia). After that, the alcohol is an option with the caveat that it can damage the paint.  WD-40 mentioned above is not a bad middle ground either.

Test any of it in an inconspicuous spot before you slobber the whole machine up with it.

https://goophandcleaner.com/original-goop-multi-purpose-hand-cleaner

Congratulations on the new machine!

[Zeekar]

Thnx all! 

Got it all setup now. The cleaning was pmuch done when i took a can of compressed air and just blew out the lint. No real goo or anything stuck and the machine spins freely and nicely. I oiled it up and did some test stiches. The servo is a bit fast (it came with a 65 mm pulley) so i will eventually replace it. Otherwise its running great!