Needle Thread Won't Pick Up The Bobbin Thread On Tippmann Boss

[trekster]

When I lower the handle, also the Arm-Bracket Thread Take-Up CAR-11 is moving down and then the take-up lever has no support and that's why is moving down...

I think you mean AR-11, rather than CAR-11. Yes, when you move the operating handle down, the Bracket will come away from supporting the AR-12 Lever, but it should actually remain in the UP position until the needle thread actually pulls it down. If the Lever is falling down without the thread actually pulling it down, then this if what will cause the loop going into the material.

I AM ASSUMING YOU HAVE THE LATER VERSION OF TAKE-UP ARM SPRING (Compression Type)! If your machine has the old spring in it, the following instructions DO NOT apply. (A new machine should have the later version in it.)

Here is how you fix that problem:

1) Remove the thread from the machine, and remove the back cover.

2) With a socket or end wrench, loosen the Hex Lock Nut HS 101-1, located on the front of the machine. It is in the upper right-hand area of the casting on the front of the machine.

3) Using the proper Allen Wrench from the kit, slowly tighten the HS 98-3 Shoulder Bolt from the back of the machine.

4) While tightening this bolt, keep moving the take-up lever (by hand) until you can place it in ANY position, and it will simply stay in that position. For instance, you can move it to the top-most position, and it will STAY there. Don't over tighten it, beyond this setting, or the machine will get excessively hard to operate on the upstroke.

5) When you are satisfied the Lever has the correct tension on it, re-tighten the lock nut on the front of the machine.

Sometimes as you tighten this lock nut, it will change the tension on the spring, so be sure you check it carefully before you consider the job done. It's not uncommon to make this adjustment more than once - just to get it correct.

This should fix the loop problem as the needle goes into the leather.

[bydeniss]

There are a few points, like the rack gear, that are designed to break if the machine develops a problem. This prevents something expensive from breaking.

I hope this is not going to happen to me/my machine. It's not easy to get Tippmann Boss spare parts here in Europe. Before I purchased the Boss, I was thinking of Sailrite Ultrafeed. Now I see that spare parts /components are very easy to find for Sailrite. Boss uses very long needles that I need to purchase on internet.

[trekster]

What happened to the loop problem? Were you able to adjust the tension on the compression spring to keep the Take-up lever from falling down?

[TwinOaks]

Sailrite parts may be easier to obtain, but the machine is VERY limited. We have had several members purchase and try these machines, only to sell them later as "inadequate". If you are ONLY working in garment leather, then it might be useable, but it won't yield good results with veg-tan leather.

[bydeniss]

What happened to the loop problem? Were you able to adjust the tension on the compression spring to keep the Take-up lever from falling down?

I thought that I PM you, but I think I sent a message to myself:) I am not very familiar with LW forum.

There is no loop anymore, that spring adjustment solved the problem. Now the handle moves a bit hard, sometimes the foot get stuck "in the air" and same time I cannot move the handle, then I push a bit the bobbin shuttle and/or force the needle to go down just to force same time the foot to go down. I think I will try tomorrow, I tried enough for today...

Thank you trekster for your patience and all your help.

[trekster]

I thought that I PM you, but I think I sent a message to myself:) I am not very familiar with LW forum.

There is no loop anymore, that spring adjustment solved the problem. Now the handle moves a bit hard, sometimes the foot get stuck "in the air" and same time I cannot move the handle, then I push a bit the bobbin shuttle and/or force the needle to go down just to force same time the foot to go down. I think I will try tomorrow, I tried enough for today...

Thank you trekster for your patience and all your help.

It sounds like you may have tightened it just a bit too tight - that can happen. But it also sounds like you are on the right track to fixing the loop problem. I can understand you putting it aside until tomorrow; sometimes enough is enough, and it is good to just let it set for awhile.

[FloridaLeatherGirl]

OK, I am having somewhat of a similar problem. Everything works fine on my machine if I am using heavier thread like the size 207 that Tandy Leather Orlando met. However, along with the stack of the threads that they say this machine can use, it also says that it could use the Z 69 Ortiz 70 which they claim is as fine of a thread as the machine can use. I currently have on a 7 X 3160 needle  when I put the bobbin in and pull the thread up from the bottom, it has no issue bringing the thread up. When I put the leather in, it absolutely refuses to make a loop from the needle and make a locking stitch!!!! 

 I have tried Messing with the top tension, and the presser foot and everything except the Bobben. I repeat that I have had no other issues with the heavier weight thread’s. Just the z69 stuff.

 Let me save a little time and explain that I’ve got experience sewing clothing. I have made wedding dresses for god sake. So it’s not like using a machine is brand new to me. I have never experienced a machine that is so persnickety like this   

i really want to use a finer thread on some things.  I find it  ridiculous that it will pick up without the leather, but it won’t pick up with it. I have tried suede, and some of my garment weight chrome tan as well as  seven, five, and 3 ounce veg tan. 

 It might be worth mentioning that I do not have an issue like this with any thickness of leather with the 207 thread  

 Not even with veg tan. With the heavier thread it’s Sousa long mostly like a champion. It does some weird things once in a while and customer service says they have no idea why it’s doing that. They seem to say that a lot     

 If I cycle the machine while looking at the bobbin area, and there is no leather in it, I can see the loop come down and it grabs the bobbin thread just fine over and over and over. But once anything goes under the presser foot, it absolutely will not pick up. I have tried holding the bobbin thread I have tried holding the top thread I have tried holding both threads and nothing works 

 I would like to say it is needle placement but it works fine for everything else, just not the finer stuff. So what gives? 

GAH!!!!! 

 What am I doing wrong? 

Edited May 18, 2019 by FloridaLeatherGirl

[mikesc]

On anything else I'd say needle and thread combo is wrong and the loop is not forming in front of the hook when the extra resistance of the leather comes into play..
Try a size needle up or down from what you are currently trying, or maybe even two sizes up or down from it..

Other than that, having never handled what looks like a sewing machine designed by Heath Robinson in his Diesel Punk days :)

I'll leave it to someone who actually uses one of these to give some informed advice..

[FloridaLeatherGirl]

Well I have an update. I changed the top thread to the heavier 277 but kept the lighter weight busy 69 on the bottom and it was having no issue picking up the thread. It was picking up the bottom thread with no problem. 

 It’s picking up fine now and trucking along beautifully. So it’s something with the thinner thread on top.

Any idea what that could mean?

 

[mikesc]

Yep, the lighter weight on the top is not able to form the "loop" when passing through leather..So, you have to experiment with the needles that you are using on the top when you are running the lighter thread on both top and bottom..the loop is formed by the top thread , the thread in the bobbin does not come into play in loop formation..

Edited May 18, 2019 by mikesc
typo