Adler 68NT Seized - Any assistance/advice gladly welcomed

[Ian B]

Hi, 

I'm brand new to this web forum and am looking for your help, I'm hoping that you might help resolve the issue I've created with my old Adler 68NT sewing machine.

I bought the machine second hand around 15 years ago whilst studying footwear design here in the UK. I only used it a couple of times to make prototypes for the course. Since then it has been moved around and primary stored in one garage after another.

Last week I began a project where I had need of it. I wanted to use a specific colour thread on my bobbin, so removed the needle and went about spooling up a bobbin. During this process the machine abruptly stopped working and I saw a small plume of smoke from the head of the machine (my apologies for not knowing he correct terms for the parts of the machine, the smoke came from the top of the enclosed area that contains the needle-shuttle and cam mechanism). The smoke was not from an electrical component, so I assume it was from burning lubricant.

My admission, in all the years of owning the machine I have never oiled the machine.

I've taken the head part of the machine apart as far as can (as per attached photo 1).

When I rotate the "hand-wheel" 

• the main cam rotates (highlighted in green in photo 2),  
• the upper pivot rotates (highlighted in cyan in photo 2),
• the lower pivot does not rotate (highlighted in red in photo 2), as a consequence the connecting rod that connects the rotational motion to the vertical needle shuttle (highlighted in red in photo 3) has no angular rotation and thus hits the internal sides of the machine-head. I presume this is the part that has got hot through lack of lubricant and has seized up.

I think I understand the issue (feel free to correct me), however, I cannot see how I can remove this part (or sub assembly) to try to free this pivot-joint up.

Please can I ask for your advice and experience as to how to repair my machine?

Kindest regards, Ian 

  

 

 

[CowboyBob]

Just get some oil on the parts & it will free up on it's own!

[Digit]

Could it be that the whole blue-green-red assembly is only held in place with the blue bolt? From what I understand from your explanation there should only be vertical motion, not lateral; so one bolt at one end of the assembly could be sufficient to hold everything in place.

It's slotted at least, so you could try to loosen it and see if you can wiggle that assembly about.

[nejcek74]

you can also check the adler 68 parts list:

https://www.college-sewing.co.uk/amfile/file/download/file/3091/category/498/

[Ian B]

Hi,

Thank you for your responses.

CowboyBob,

I've been spraying the machine daily with penetrant spray but it hasn't loosened up, I've just ordered some sewing machine oil, do you think this will be better for freeing up the part?

Nejcek74,

I did take a look at the parts list prior to asking for help, however, thank you kindly for sharing the link. I have taken a second look, and this time I've made the effort to use Google Translate to translate the German into English to identify the components. 

Digit,

Your thoughts are similar to mine, there doesn't appear to be anything holding the 'needle bar swing arm' onto the 'pivot pin' (and if there was, it wouldn't rotate).

In my images below:

The identified 'grub screw' holds the 'bolt' which I assume passes through the 'thread lever' (as a separate entity, as it is called out in the parts-list separately) to the sewing machine body. 

It does clearly appear that the 'bolt' head is made for a flat headed screwdriver.

With the 'grub screw' unscrewed the 'bolt' rotates freely and slides in its housing, however, I cannot slide it out as the 'thread lever' hits the sewing machine body (see image).

There doesn't appear to be anything holding the 'thread lever' to the 'bolt' assembly (for example a grub screw, and nothing is called out in the parts-list to suggest so).

So my only thoughts are to tighten the 'grub screw' up really tight (so that the 'bolt' doesn't rotate) and try to unscrew the 'bolt' without breaking it's head. 

I wanted to ask on the this forum first, just in case anyone had taken one of these machines apart before. 

I've just invested in a new appropriately sized screwdriver, hopefully, I wont make my situation worse than it already is.

 

[Ian B]

Hi,

I've finally found the true problem to the seized sewing machine, thank you for the link Nejcek74

I managed to remove the upper 'bolt' that held the 'thread lever,' this was done by loosening the upper 'grub screw' and gently tapping it out. I utilised a rod in the hole to the right of the grub screw (this hole is milled/cast horizontally inline with the 'bolt') and tapped it out to the front of the machine. 

The retaining 'bolt' does have a slot on the end for a screwdriver, however, my thinking is that a screwdriver can be used to rotate the bolt to adjust it during fitment (a part of the bolt shaft is machine flat to match the grub screw).

With the 'bolt' removed I could rotate the "hand-wheel" further, but still not a complete revolution.

I was still confused, then I looked back at the parts catalogue sent by Nejcek74 and saw the part name 'sliding sleeve' (Eureka!!).

Well the 'sliding sleeve' wasn't sliding. 

I've managed to gently tap the 'thread lever' down into the 'sliding sleeve,' as such, the 'thread lever' could fit inside the sewing machine head and subsequently permit me to remove the whole assembly.

The 'sliding sleeve' is extremely tight, I've ordered some sewing machine oil, hopefully this will resolve the problem and free it up again. The visible surface of the shaft looks fine, I can't tell if the inner sleeve is or not.

If it remains tight after applying oil, what can I do?

 

  

[Digit]

This sliding sleeve is component 068000180, yes? According to the schema there's also part 990420055 nearby: a cotton wick. Probably that wick was supposed to deliver lubrication for the sliding action. If the machine ran dry and heated up, this wick might have burnt and thrown soot around. If so you'll probably need to change the wick and carefully clean up all charred residues.

[Ian B]

Do you know if the wicks can be ordered? (part 990420055)

And if yes, where from?

[Digit]

I think you'll have to go through a distributor for that. Start with the UK importers at https://www.duerkopp-adler.com/contact/sales-partners/europe/#c4133 and also search for (or ask them) if there are smaller resellers that could help you out.

In Belgium there are a few businesses selling industrial sewing machines that have access to parts but I found those by googling and word of mouth; they aren't listed by Adler as reseller.