Cleaning the internals of Pfaff 545

[potentialgaloshes]

Hi all,

I purchased a 545-H3 off Facebook Marketplace several weeks ago. I have several Pfaff 130s and other older domestic machines but this is my first time owning an industrial one. It has been sewing ok, definitely needs a new belt and some tweaks on the tension, but otherwise it's doing well. 

I got some thread caught in the bobbin basket a few days ago, and as I was taking a closer look at the machine after removing the thread, I realized just how filthy the internals of the machine are. Both the lower gears and the upper gear assembly are caked in grease and dust and lint, and although the machine has been running fine, I would like to clean it up and give it some oil. My question is, how difficult would it be to remove some parts to clean them? How far should I go? I took my Singer Featherweight completely apart once, but that is a very simple machine with many many resources online that walk you through the process. I'm having trouble even finding diagrams and instruction for timing the 545. Any tips or resources on disassembling/cleaning would be greatly appreciated. Thank you

[kgg]

1 hour ago, potentialgaloshes said:

I realized just how filthy the internals of the machine are.

Depending on how bad the machine is gummed up I would suggest:

i) Lightly gummed machine:

Use some compressed air to blow out the light stuff like lint then flush the machine with some synthetic transmission fluid to help soften / remove the old grease. The synthetic transmission fluid will penetrating deep into the bearings. Then flush out the synthetic transmission fluid and re-oil.

ii) Heavily gummed machine:

Using a large tote type container soak the machine in diesel fuel in a safe location. Flush out the diesel and re-oil.

I give my new machines a redneck bath using a couple of concoctions of synthetic transmission fluid mixed with synthetic motor oils as a matter of course before first running them but then again I don't ever use sewing machine oil in any of my machines, new or old.

kgg

 

[fibersport]

I wouldn't take it all apart, just enough to get the gummed up stuff cleaned out.  I have a 545, also had a 145 that was pretty dirty.  I flooded parts with WD40 and 3 in 1 oil to get everything all cleaned up, especially on the 145.  Search for the 1245 setup and adjustement manual, most of it will apply.  I have a lot of documentation that I can send you if you want, let me know.