Help! Pfaff 545 H4 Presser Foot

[aulde]

Hello leather workers,

Thank you for letting me join the group. I have been reading this forum for the past year and am glad I finally signed up!

I recently acquired a Pfaff 545 H4 in pretty excellent condition. Outfitted it with a new service motor and even made a new oak tabletop for it.

I ordered a few sets of feet from Kwok Hing (khsew). I received the feet, and after installing on my machine I noticed that the new feet are about 2mm shorter than the OEM foot. Thanks to a post from @Uwe, I was able to lower the walking foot to compensate for the shorter feet, but this leaves the rear presser foot about 2mm above the needle plate at the lowest position.

Is there a way to lower the rear presser foot on the Pfaff 545? Or is there a better supplier of feet I can buy from?? Thank you!

[Constabulary]

are both of them piping feet and are they for the same piping thickness? I think feet for thicker pipings are probably shorter but it´s a guess.

[aulde]

14 minutes ago, Constabulary said:

are both of them piping feet and are they for the same piping thickness? I think feet for thicker pipings are probably shorter but it´s a guess.

Good question. I purchased a few different sets of feet, some piping feet for various thickness and a thin right hand zipper foot, all the same shorter height.

[fibersport]

I just received the presser feet set I ordered from Amazon for my 545.  They are https://www.amazon.com/stores/ckpsms/page/8C8B8C59-BE53-42E6-B404-8E5D05BAEFB8?ref_=ast_bln&store_ref=bl_ast_dp_brandLogo_sto  and are now the 4th set I have ordered from them.  They fit just fine and I would recommend that brand.  I did order a different brand last year which stated it would work with Pfaff machines, however it did not.  I woudn't think ppresser feet are different for application, I can't see having to adjust your machine just to sew piping vs. regular stitching.  Also, if you order from Amazon, I have found their return policy to be easy and fair.

Edited July 27, 2024 by fibersport
correction

[aulde]

3 hours ago, fibersport said:

I just received the presser feet set I ordered from Amazon for my 545.  They are https://www.amazon.com/stores/ckpsms/page/8C8B8C59-BE53-42E6-B404-8E5D05BAEFB8?ref_=ast_bln&store_ref=bl_ast_dp_brandLogo_sto  and are now the 4th set I have ordered from them.  They fit just fine and I would recommend that brand.  I did order a different brand last year which stated it would work with Pfaff machines, however it did not.  I woudn't think ppresser feet are different for application, I can't see having to adjust your machine just to sew piping vs. regular stitching.  Also, if you order from Amazon, I have found their return policy to be easy and fair.

Thank you! Are you using an H4?

[nejcek74]

I have Pfaff 1245 706-47 CSMN, where "706-47" means the top feed lift during the operation is 7 mm, and C is needle rise bar rise of 2 mm. Top feed lift varies between variants -706/05 > 5 mm and 706/08 > 8 mm. I think the H4 has the highest feet lift.

Anyway, as far as I know all variants have same feet! There is a difference between some piping feet (my is shorter) than "ordinary" feet. I have some from the original machine, some bought on Aliexpress or Amazon and some at KHSew. All those feet are of the same height.

There is "top-to-bottom-feed timing" setting, where you set that the vibrating presser make half of the motion above and half below the presser foot sole. It's part of the timing sequence in the service manual. Before buying new feet I would suggest to go through the whole timing procedure, because the settings are connected. I think you can use  Pfaff 1245 service manual:,

https://www.supsew.com/download/Pfaff/Pfaff 245, 1245%3B 246, 1246 Service Manual.pdf

btw, I am pretty new to these, so take my advices with grain of salt

 

[fibersport]

Mine is an H3.  The presser feet are the same between the H3 and the H4.

[aulde]

4 hours ago, fibersport said:

Mine is an H3.  The presser feet are the same between the H3 and the H4.

Any chance you might be able to tell me the height of one of your working presser feet? That way I’ll know immediately if it’s a part issue or machine issue.

 

thanks!

[fibersport]

No problem, I'll reply back tomorrow.

[aulde]

On 7/28/2024 at 9:00 PM, fibersport said:

No problem, I'll reply back tomorrow.

Thanks!

[fibersport]

Sorry, got home late last night and didn't have time to measure, will get to it tonight for sure.

[fibersport]

Managed to take these pictures with a scale in the background, let me know if these are OK or do you want more.

[fibersport]

I have a couple more but I can't upload them right now.

[Uwe]

On 7/27/2024 at 12:49 AM, aulde said:

I ordered a few sets of feet from Kwok Hing (khsew). I received the feet, and after installing on my machine I noticed that the new feet are about 2mm shorter than the OEM foot.

Those other feet in the photo are not OEM/Pfaff feet, but rather some other aftermarket supplier. 

It’s likely the case that those other aftermarket feet are taller than they should be and that the machine was adjusted to accommodate the taller feet.

My guess is that the KH feet are the better feet in this comparison, in terms of matching the original OEM dimensions. 

 

Edited July 31, 2024 by Uwe

[fibersport]

I see my photos didn't upload, wil get them tonight.

[rattletrap1970]

I have a Pfaff 545-H4 that I put into a sewing table and outfitted with a Sew-Quiet 5000 servo drive. I damaged the presser foot and would like to get an OEM (actual Pfaff) presser and walking foot. Does anyone have any info on where I can get these? If I really have to I'd go with an Amazon solution, but would like one I know for sure will fit as I have heard of ones not fitting.

Thanks

Rich

[fibersport]

I have had good luck with this company:  https://www.amazon.com/stores/ckpsms/page/8C8B8C59-BE53-42E6-B404-8E5D05BAEFB8?ref_=ast_bln&store_ref=bl_ast_dp_brandLogo_sto

 

[aulde]

On 7/31/2024 at 5:14 AM, fibersport said:

I see my photos didn't upload, wil get them tonight.

Hey! Any luck on the photos? Thanks.

[Northmount]

On 7/31/2024 at 5:14 AM, fibersport said:

I see my photos didn't upload, wil get them tonight.

Reduce the size to 800 pixels in the longest dimension. 

[aulde]

On 7/31/2024 at 1:21 AM, Uwe said:

Those other feet in the photo are not OEM/Pfaff feet, but rather some other aftermarket supplier. 

It’s likely the case that those other aftermarket feet are taller than they should be and that the machine was adjusted to accommodate the taller feet.

My guess is that the KH feet are the better feet in this comparison, in terms of matching the original OEM dimensions. 

 

Thank you! Do you have any idea on how I can readjust the rear presser bar to accommodate the KH feet?

[aulde]

*ATTENTION*

 

Thanks everyone, problem is solved! Like @Uwesaid, at some point the outer presser bar was adjusted to accommodate aftermarket feet (probably due to the feet that were available in the 90s).

For those who come here with the same issue. There is a collar on the rear presser bar with two set screws that determines the height of the outer foot. You need to temporarily disconnect the upper knee lift linkage and a lifting bracket to access the set screws. Loosen the set screws and you can lower the rear presser foot to just above the needle plate. Reassemble and the outer presser foot should be resting just above the needle plate, ready to sew!

Edited August 18, 2024 by aulde

[canvassewing]

On 8/18/2024 at 11:32 PM, aulde said:

*ATTENTION*

 

Thanks everyone, problem is solved! Like @Uwesaid, at some point the outer presser bar was adjusted to accommodate aftermarket feet (probably due to the feet that were available in the 90s).

For those who come here with the same issue. There is a collar on the rear presser bar with two set screws that determines the height of the outer foot. You need to temporarily disconnect the upper knee lift linkage and a lifting bracket to access the set screws. Loosen the set screws and you can lower the rear presser foot to just above the needle plate. Reassemble and the outer presser foot should be resting just above the needle plate, ready to sew!

This is nicely illustrated in this video: