Tippmann Boss Problems

[usmc0341]

Here I am again on a Saturday afternoon trying to figure this machine out. I posted a while back and recieved a bunch of tips but I still can't get this thing stitching good enough to use on a customers holster! I will do a row of stitches to practice and it seems like the bobbin thread is ok for some stitches but then it's loose on other ones. The stitch length also seems to fluctuate. I just dot know what to do with this thing and my patience is running out quickly. I am considering getting rid of this and buying a cobra or artisan but I'm afraid if I can't work this thing there is no way ill be able to work something more technical!

Here's some pics to show what I'm talking about. Someone please help!

Thanks for the help,

Brian Crowl

[oldtimer]

To get consistent stitches it is important that you make a full stroke of the handle in the upper position ( both ways actually). It is on the up movement that your top thread will tighten the stitch and pull the bottom thread up into the leather. Also check that there is no play in the up take lever when the handle is in its upper position.

/ Knut former Boss wrestler, now happy Adler 205 owner

Edited February 9, 2013 by oldtimer

[usmc0341]

I have been very conscious to make sure I've been doing full up and down strokes and I just checked for play and didn't find any.

[TwinOaks]

when you stitch, does the leather move back at all as the needle is lifting? If so, it may be a presser foot tension problem. That would allow the machine to pull the right amount of thread for a certain length, but then the next stroke is shorter than it should be....that means there's 'spare' thread on the top. When the machine tensions the lockstitch on the upstroke, that spare thread is pulled tight instead of the bottom thread being pulled into the leather.

[billymac814]

In addition to the previous post, it looks like your bobbin tension is very high. I'd back it off some. Also I've found with mine I had to be very careful when winding the bobbin. If you're using a power drill or something its possible its pulling the thread way too tight on the bobbin. I got a hand powered drill and used that being very careful to wind it perfectly and not too tight. This will also cause the inconsistent stitch length because if the thread is really tight it'll pull the material back and make short stitches.

It took me a while to get all my kinks worked out before I was comfortable using it but it was a good learning experience on how to adjust the tension and once I figured it out I didn't have to mess with it much at all. . Another thing I did was replace the shuttle, mine was an old one that didn't have the set screw for the bobbin tension, it worked much better with the newer one.

[usmc0341]

I will have to check my presser foot tension, and also my bobbin tension. I did wind the bobbin with a power drill and it may be too tight. I seriously feel like an idiot with this thing!

I wish there was someone local that could give me a freakin tutorial on how to use it.

[billymac814]

I would definitely pay very close attention to your bobbin winding. You can use a power drill just make sure you go slow and don't pull or stretch the thread out when its winding. I used to use the tension disks of another machine to just barely keep enough tension on the thread to keep it from unraveling if I stopped winding. Once I figured that out it solved a lot of the problems I was having. Hopefully that makes sense. Good luck, and you never know, if you post where you live someone may be close enough that could help.

[trekster]

If you are careful to make sure each stroke is consistent and against the limit stops, then there are only three main adjustments that can influence stitch consistency. 1.) Thread tensions (needle and bobbin), 2.) Machine timing and 3.) Presser foot tension.

If you have the video instruction from Tippmann, I would start out by setting the thread tensions according to what they recommend. Machine timing can be varied by both the stop bolt in the base of the machine, the separation of the two halves of the rack gear pieces and the drive gear on the shuttle shaft.

Inconsistent stitch length is generally associated with improper presser foot tension.

[Hauss]

Hi Brian just looking at your and Bill's profile U are about 2 1/2 hour ride to where he is see if he has time to help and take a ride maybe both of U end up with another good friend! It's just a thought

[billymac814]

I was wondering why I could never see people's location in their profile, as it turns out it is not visible in the mobile version.

Bryan,

If you want to throw your boss in the car and make the trip to Altoona Ill give you as much info as I can and hopefully get it set up right. You can also give a cowboy a test drive, I will forewarn you though, you will want one.