Pfaff 335 tension issue

[Woehlk]

4 hours ago, kgg said:

If you want to use V138 buy a machine like / similar to the class 341/1341 like a Juki LS-1341 or an older Juki LS-341 or their clones. Otherwise reduce the thread size to a max of V92 with the correct needles in your projects. Personally I think this is the wrong class / type of machine for your needs in 3.5 mm leather. If most of your projects are leather be done with it and get a new / used Class 341/1341 machine.

kgg

 

When I bought the needles and thread, is used this chart as reference. From Serafil, that is why I thought it should work

[Woehlk]

30 minutes ago, shoepatcher said:

You can sew #138 on a Pfaff 335 but you must enlarge the hole in the feed dog and inner foot to accommodate the #138 thread.  I also just touch the the corners of the  space bar on the  the machine.  That is where the gap on the bobbin case is that the thread passes by the each stitch.  335 Pfaff do not have a bobbin case opener since they are a horizontal hook machine.

glenn

That makes sense!. I can see they thread really is a limit when in the bobin case, but I was to afraid to file it down, since its hard to get a new one. 

[Woehlk]

1 hour ago, dikman said:

I have an old casting 335 and after much tinkering and adjusting I got it to sew #138 - but it wasn't happy about it. It was much better with #69.

That is such a thin thread. I handsew like 100% of my work. but my wish is to do belt and dog leashes on the machine instead. I think Tex90 is the smallest the still looks good

Edited March 5 by Northmount
fixed a couple typos

[kgg]

6 hours ago, Woehlk said:

When I bought the needles and thread, is used this chart as reference.

I think they are basing the sizing for most types of fabric verses sewing leather. Remember when sewing leather the hole the needle creates has to be large enough so the fibers of the leather don't catch the thread as the needle cuts through. Example the Juki LS-1341 is rated for V138 with a 180 (#24) needle for sewing thick and tough material rather then rating the machine for Tex 210 (V207) based on the capacity of the needle. Just because you can stuff the thread through the eye of the needle doesn't mean it will stitch consistently or correctly. Some factors that need to be considered, thickness of the item being sewn, material type (cotton vs ripstop vs Kevlar vs leather(chrome tan vs veg tan)) and the shape of needle tip round to separate fibers or cutting to slice through to name a few.

kgg

[dikman]

23 hours ago, Woehlk said:

That is such a thin thread. I handsew like 100% of my work. but my wish is to do belt and dog leashes on the machine instead. I think Tex90 is the smallest the still looks good

That's always an issue when you're used to the thickness of hand stitching. To try and replicate the look (thickness) you're getting into harness stitching machine territory.

[shoepatcher]

On 3/5/2025 at 5:21 PM, Woehlk said:

That makes sense!. I can see they thread really is a limit when in the bobin case, but I was to afraid to file it down, since its hard to get a new one. 

 

Dremel the corners very light with a sanding disc.

Dremel the corners very lightly with a sanding drum.;

glenn