Drop Stitch

[Scary Leatherworks]

Well I finally got my Cobra lass 4 this week and have already called steve a few times with questions. I have been having trouble with thread tension (mainly my fault) but there is no tutorial on how to get it back to where it should be. Ensuring the tension knobs are turned together is all I can find. To late for that so how do you get back to proper adjustment?

Also I changed to the strap plate for a trial and changed back but since I changed back the machine has been dropping stitches. sometimes it's as often as every 5th and sometimes not til the 10th or 20th stitch. The needle comes up and the leather comes up off the machine as well. I have increased the foot pressure (didn't help) changed the needle (thought it helped but still does it) and slowed the machine way down. It didn't do it until I removed the bobbin and feed dog to change the plate.

Any suggestions would be great.

[Kcinnick]

I just went through the new machine thing also... so I am not an expert here by any means, but when I was skipping stitches I had the thread from the bobbin fed through incorrectly and it was putting way to much tension on the bobbin thread. Once I figured that out the machine hasn't skipped for me.

[Big G]

had the same problem with mine , lifting leather, problem was tension and i oiled the machine as well. tension is easy to mess up and hard to get back i found out. i bought cheap bellies at tandy and cut into strips. quite a few went flying into the corner of my basement before i got the tension right. i decided i was going to get it right without bothering steve, probably a mistake but i learned a little. i had to readjust the timing several times and was afraid to tighten allen bolt too tight , but since i really cranked down on it it has stayed in time

[dirtclod]

The way i was told to set tension was to sew on 2 pieces chap leather. Try it and see what it looks like if it's still messed up back the tension off ( all the way sometimes ) and see what happens if it's still messed up just tighten a little at a time till you have it right. Most of time that i have had a problem it was because the tension was to tight.

As far as the leather picking up do you have a wax pot ? If you do put some thread lube in it that should help for most leather but i have got some leather that the needle just sticks in, If it's really bad i just sew without any thread around the piece and then thread it and sew the piece. It's a PITA but better than messing up your piece.

[Scary Leatherworks]

Thanks for the advice. I'll mess with my tension and check my timing. As for lubrication I am using some scraps of W&C show harness, since I'm going to be sewing a bag soon, and it's really quite oily so I wouldn't think that's the problem but maybe it is. I'll have to see if I can find the oil spot in by the bobbin. I've oiled everything else except there.

[rickybobby]

Oiling the bobbin area is pretty easy. There are no "oil holes" so just a couple drops in the track area for the bobbin shuttle should do it.

Rick

[Go2Tex]

Thanks for the advice. I'll mess with my tension and check my timing. As for lubrication I am using some scraps of W&C show harness, since I'm going to be sewing a bag soon, and it's really quite oily so I wouldn't think that's the problem but maybe it is. I'll have to see if I can find the oil spot in by the bobbin. I've oiled everything else except there.

I had the same problem with some thick harness sticking to my needle and lifting. Try some veg tan. It will also happen if you try to stitch wet leather.

[amuckart]

What sort of outer foot are you using?

[Scary Leatherworks]

What sort of outer foot are you using?

I'm using the one that can be used for bullet loops single foot on the left side of the needle

[Wizcrafts]

A single toe foot exerts less hold-down than a double toe foot. A narrow foot also exerts less pressure than a wide foot. When sewing very dense leather, try to use the widest presser foot/feet you have for your machine. If this means you have to reposition your edge guide ahead of the outer foot, do so. Spread the top pressure out over as wide a path as possible, to keep the leather from lifting with the needle.