The Adler Whisperer

[Rancher]

Desperately seeking Adler mechanic! I need some Guru to work some magic on my Adler 205-374. It was sewing perfectly and I didn't use it much for a year or so and now it won't sew at all. I ordered one of those timing jigs from Weaver's and it seems to be in time. I've tinkered with both the top and bobbin tensions, took everything apart and cleaned it all up several times, but it still won't sew. Sometimes it will start to sew then begin skipping stitches, or sometimes it will make a knotted up bird nest looking mess on the bottom side as soon as I start my stitch, or if it does accidentally start to sew the hook on the bobin will pierce the top thread.

I'm already losing my hair and I'd like to keep what I've got left! Does anyone have a suggestion or know of a good repair place in either Albuquerque NM, or Amarillo TX, or even Lubbock TX.

HELP!!!!!

[barra]

http://sewandserge.com/tshoot.asp

Rancher. Usually the bunch of bastards when you commence stitching is caused by not holding your threads for the first few stitches. First thing I do whith skip stitches is change to a new needle and ensure correct orientation of the eye.

Barra

[bruce johnson]

If you have already tried this one, then ignore my suggestion. The brightest spot I have found at Weaver's is advice from Vernon. They sell/sold the 374 and I have found Vernon to be very approachable and helpful. I was looking to buy a 205-64 several years ago from another source, and ran it by Vernon to get a second opinion. He was dead on with his advice - "It is a solid machine, will do everything you need it to do, you will break some needles though, and if you don't like it, I'll buy it from you for that price". He also wasn't sure if some of the accessories for the 374 would fit the 64 (like the two rail edge guide plate), and offered free return shipping if it wouldn't. It fit. I would ask Vernon if you haven't already.

That said, my experience with my Adler. Sounds like you might have some kind of hook/needle spacing issue. That was the problem with mine when it skipped, and a spacer ring shim (made from cereal box cardboard) for the whole bobbin assembly fixed it up. It moved the hook closer to the needle and reduced the pierced thread and skipped stitches. One of the mechanics that helped me troubleshoot that (Vernon or Ferdco, forget which) told me that once an Adler skips a stitch, it tends to kink the bottom thread and not loop well, and makes it harder for the next one to catch, feeds yet another kink if it doesn't catch, and so on. Take the throatplate off and cycle it by hand to see how close the hook is to the needle, how it loops, etc.

Then again, most have my fixes have come from changing needles. Art's advice is always change needles first. Make sure that the right size needle is in for the thread size, and all that too. Hope this helps.

[Rancher]

Thanks, guys. I'll switch needles and try everything again. I haven't called Weaver's, though I've been tempted. I didn't know if they would help someone out that didn't buy the stitcher from them in the first place. I apprecaite the help!

[secondcrk]

Also make sure that everything is threaded correct! That should always be second to check after the needle.