Best Motor For Adler 867?

[The Dawg Club]

I have an Adler 867 coming very soon. Can anyone recommend the best motor to put on this machine? It currently has a clutch motor attached. I have a Juki dsu-145 that has a reliable 5000 on it. (Not yet modified like I have read on forum.) It's ok...just looking for something better. Thanks in advance!

Also I see the 867 has a pressor foot lift of 20mm. Should that be enough to sew my collars that are at max 5/8 inch thick? Note: a 1/4" of thickness is padding. So, its not like sewing thru 5/8 of all leather.

[Trox]

I have an Adler 867 coming very soon. Can anyone recommend the best motor to put on this machine? It currently has a clutch motor attached. I have a Juki dsu-145 that has a reliable 5000 on it. (Not yet modified like I have read on forum.) It's ok...just looking for something better. Thanks in advance!

Also I see the 867 has a pressor foot lift of 20mm. Should that be enough to sew my collars that are at max 5/8 inch thick? Note: a 1/4" of thickness is padding. So, its not like sewing thru 5/8 of all leather.

Hi,

The best motor for this machine is the Efka 1550, with the right Dürkopp Adler control DA 321 I think it is. This motor is more than strong enough for this machine. I use it on my 441 machine (without speed reducer) and I only use half of its power. The motor itself is very small, it is best mounted inside the machine head on direct drive.

Dürkopp Adler or Efka will help you with the setup. If you buy it the Efka will help you on Skype video support to set up the motor. This motor has it all, needle position, great low speed control and all sewing programs. You can attach all the extras you want to on it; like air pneumatic or electro solenoid valves for back tacking, foot lift etc. Also step motors, anything you like. The option is a Chinese low priced servo, with a needle position and this is not that low priced anymore. And in addition if you want a speed reducer, then the price goes further up. There are crappy light sensor speed controls on several of these motors, and no options for extras. The Efka is a pro motor, the one Dürkopp Adler uses on their machines. When you have free support, the best technique and German super quality its worth the extra dollars. The machine becomes a dream to use, your machine is to fine for a cheap motor. You do not install a 1,2 liter Hyundai motor in your Mercedes Benz 500 either. I have Efka motors on three of my machines and I love them.

I think your machine will handle those collars just fine, it will sew with tex 270 thread too. Of course you need a good motor to sew this thick, the Efka has up to 1800 Watt and 8 Nm torque , you will never use that much. However it ensures a smooth operation.

Tor

[The Dawg Club]

Thanks Trox for reply!

Is the DA website the only place to get feet for this machine?

[Diezell]

I have a similar machine with a 1500 W 7 Nm motor, limit values

and 550W 1,2 Nm, rated values.

I bought my parts at www.college-sewing.co.uk . they have feet for the 867

[Trox]

Kwokhing.com have reasonable priced feet's for the DA 867 machine, it uses the same feet's as the 367 and several others http://www.kwokhing.com/da/

Get a drop-down roller guide (suspending guide) when you at it. You will not find them to a better price anywhere else. Send them an email and pay with Paypal.

good luck.

Tor

Edited January 21, 2013 by Trox

[The Dawg Club]

Thanks for info!!

After checking out price of Efka DC1550. Im gonna need to sell a feeeeeewwwww more collars 1st. LOL Any advice for a temporary servo motor?

[Art]

My experience with Efka motors is that they cost an arm and a leg, and they run forever. I've seen them with an inch or dirt, grease, oil, thread scraps, and lord knows what else accumulated over 20 years, running like new. Of course, there is the option of a Chinese motor, they do make good ones, and run well with speed reducers which you will want. Not as good as Efka but a bit cheaper. Put a Chinese one on and run it till it drops, I've seen them run more than a few years. If you are dead set on Efka, they sell dirt cheap on used industrial machines, usually an Adler or a Pfaff. Wouldn't be the first time someone bought a ragged out or oddball industrial to get the motor. If you need all the functions and programability of a new Efka, then that's what you should buy, they do it the best of anyone. If you are just looking for needle position and variable speed, then a Chinese motor may be the ticket.

Art

[Anne Bonnys Locker]

Art,

I always have a bipolar view of machines and motors. If you want something to last day in and day out in production for one or two decades than buy something built in the west. OTOH if you are using a machine and motor for a few hours a day, every other day, then the Chinese version is more than appropriate for what you need.

There will come a time - in the next ten years - when product from China will be as good as anything in the world but that day has yet to come.

The majority of people I deal with - even saddlers - use a heavy stitcher for a few hours a day at most and I quite happily suggest a Chinese machine. The people who come to me wanting a 441 or 205 style machine for 12 hour per day production work I piont in the direction of Juki or Adler.

Horses for courses.

[Trox]

I paid about 800 dollars (the Norwegian krone; NOK is very high against the dollars) for my Efka DC 1550 (with DA (AB) 321 control and position head) motor included tax and shipping from Germany.

In Norway it costs 1138,- $, I saved some money. However, I regret not buying it here, it would have saved me some trouble setting it up.

Because the German dealer sent me the wrong motor control; an control box for a the Adler 205 machine instead of a universal model who can be set up for any machine.

The Norwegian Efka dealer still gave me some support.

Nevertheless, I had to call Efka in Germany to get help on setting up the Adler control for my 441. And when I did; I understood what customer supports meant. They called me back on Skype video phone and used about half a working day setting it up with me.

They told me; "no matter where you bought your motor, as long as it reads EFKA on it, its our job to help you until your machine sews like you want it to".

Try calling China to get any support there. I guess customer support is the only way western companies can compete against the Chinese, together with quality of course. The Chinese quality is improving all the time, on the support bit they still have a long way to go.

I have three Efka motors, the oldest is from the 1980`ties and still works like a champ. The Efka company was the first who came with this kind of motors with needle position. It is a electronic controlled clutch motor, with electro brake and clutch; it has 12 steps of speed on the pedal.

Then I have the DC 1600; who is a servo motor with needle position and all possibilities, a very good motor. I use it on my DA 267-373 machine (triple feed upholstery class machine).

It is the system who now is replaced by the latest DC 1500 and 1550 mini servo motors. Never any problems, a dream to work on, I am very pleased with it.

The latest DC 1500 and DC1550 mini servo motors (with control box of choice, I have the AB (DA) 321 and Dc 1550). It has up to 8 Nm torque and up to 1800 Watts of power. It is designed to be strong enough for any sewing machine, without the use of a reduction gear (speed reducer).

I had a speed reducer on my 441 from before, Efka told me to remove it and told me about some parameters to increase the power if necessary. I use only half of its power on my 441 (with 16 1/2 inch arm), thats more than enough.

Enough about technical specs and back to the economical sides.

If you want a needle position motor for a harness stitcher you must pay about 500 $ for a Chinese made one. I addition you want a speed reducer to better control and add torque to it. Its from 90 to 200 $ depended of make/quality. Then you will be dangerously close to my 800 dollars and have much less power, performance, quality, support and so on.

I think you understand what I am saying. Then calculate price against the years you are planning to use it, the Efka will work for the next 20 years. With the Chinese, nobody knows. Then you will cut in production time, out of service time, waiting for new parts time....etc. with the EFKA.

If you ask me if I think it is expensive; NO Sir; I do not understand what you are talking about.

Ha Ha, I think it is cheap, very cheap, in fact it makes money for me; that is the answer I will give you

(No I do not work for Efka, I am just one of their happy customers)

Thanks

Tor

[Yanni]

Tor,

Three Questions if you don't mind:

1. Do you know the difference between DA321 and AB321 Efka controller?

2. Also, where about in Germany did you buy the motor from please?

The want to charge me $1130 for the same motor here in the UK!

Finally, can I add a foot lift on this controller AB321 or DA321 and how do i do that or what is it compatible with this Efka combination?

If you can shed some light on this would be great.

Thanks.

[Trox]

Hi Yanni, The DA 321 control box are made for Dürkopp Adler machines and do not have any parameters for other machines (part from some other machines that are made for the DA company)

If you going to use this control box for a DA machine its just plug and play, if your machine is for example a Juki you must re program the hole box. I received the DA control by a mistake and had to call Efka to re program it. Efka did it by Skype video phone (when it was mounted on my Juki 441 clone). They helped me until my machine sewed as I wanted it to do, It is a free service "of course".

The AB 321 control will fit all other lock stitch brands, and have all parameters pre installed. Sieck.de sells these motors for a lower price, (I am not sure if it still is lower than that) but do not offer any support. Thats no problem because Efka company gives free live time support on all their motors systems. That is part of the package you get buying an Efka motor.

Make sure you get the right control box for your machine, it will save you allot of time. Greg @ Keystone sell these motors for 895$

http://www.mcssl.com/store/keysew/parts/industrial-sewing-machine-motors

This is not the latest model anymore http://www.efka.net/index_en.htm My advice is to contact Mr. Manfred Kretz @ Efka ( M dot Kretz att Efka dot net ) (Replace the att and dot`s with @ and . and take away the spaces between, I write it like this to avoid spam). He will help you find the best motor solution for your machine and tell you where to buy it too.

Say hello from me, he is a very nice and helpful person (thats his full time job too ).

Good luck

Tor

[Yanni]

Thanks Tor,

The reason I've asked is because I already bought two AB321 motors from SIECK for only 570 euros where they charge me nearly two hundred euros more for the same motor here in the UK. I've found programming the AB321 was dead easy after following the instructions here:

I've also called Manfred and helped me with slowing it down.

If the DA321 and AB321 are identical that's great but was wondering if the motor provided by sieck is lower torque than on the DA321 package although I haven't seen any problems with our machines.

You've said:

I paid about 800 dollars (the Norwegian krone; NOK is very high against the dollars) for my Efka DC 1550 (with DA (AB) 321 control and position head) motor included tax and shipping from Germany

What is the German dealer you bought your motor from, I am trying to find a dealer that sells same price as SIECK as I can't get hold of Andreas at sieck for some reason, they do not answer their emails or phone!.

Thanks

[Trox]

Hi, I bought from Andreas in Sieck too, but thats more than two years ago now. I cant help you get hold of Andreas, he is a very busy man. I think he runs that company alone, he is hard to get hold of.

What is the problem?

I never said the AB 321 and the DA was identical, far from it. Then you must read the post above one more time. The DA 321 is a Dürkopp Adler control box and the AB..... is for all other lock stitch machines. Part from that they perform the same way and are for the same motor: DC 1550.

The motors Sieck sells are the same as every other Efka motors. Two years ago there where only two types; the DC 1500 (400W and 3Nm, for the small machines) and the one I have the DC 1550 (600 W and 8 Nm, for the big machines). The AB321 control do not work for other than the DC1550 motor (Perhaps its possible to reprogram it, but Sieck don't know how to do that. They only sell them, thats it)

Recently Efka has listed two new motors for flange mounting; one small DC 1200 (550 W-3,4 Nm) and the DC 1250 (750 W - 8,2 Nm). These are smaller in size (but even stronger than before), made for flange mounting and direct drive. I have no idea what motor you have in your system, is it not a DC 1550? I am sure the smaller motor is cheaper than the big ones. You got to consider that before comparing the price.

If you buy from Sieck its cheaper, but there are no small talks within the deal. You get what you pay for; in their own good pace.

What kind of machine you use it on? If you need more torque there is a way to turn them up even more. I have no need for that on my 16 and 1/2 inch 441 clone; I only use about half of its power.

Tor

[Gregg From Keystone Sewing]

I was told from Efka America that the DC-1250 is not ready yet, and that I was advised to stick with what I was used to, the DC-1550 with AB321 controller.

BTW...if you really want to see the differences for yourself between DA and AB per say, the best thing to do is download the available owners and parameter lists and cross reference them. Like said, don't think you'll be at all limited with either or on a general lock stitch or chain stitch setup, but don't quote me or hold me to it.