Tippmann Boss Problems

[billymac814]

Brian,

I'm sorry to hear your still having problems with it, especially after it was working pretty good. I can only think of one time I ever broke a needle on mine and that was stitching a sheath that was almost an inch thick so I was exceeding its capabilities and what happened was basically exactly as Trekster described.

Here would be my suggestion given your current situation. I believe your Boss may have been used pretty hard, there definitely seemed to be a lot more play in everything compared to mine, that could have been the reason your needle guide was hitting the foot and the beveled foot may have been more of a bandaid than a fix. I would call Tippman and send your machine in for a rebuild. I believe (but I'm not 100% sure) that they do a complete rebuild for something like 200 bucks, you'd still be doing pretty good with what you have invested and should you still decide to sell it the rebuild will no doubt make it worth more when you go to sell it. Then when you get it back you should be able to rule out any machine issues and concentrate on user errors. Its very frustrating when you don't know if its your fault or the machines fault, I've been down that road many times with just about every machine I own. It can still happen on a new or rebuilt one but its far less likely.

I'd at least call them up and explain the situation, they should be more than willing to help get it straightened out.

[usmc0341]

I like that idea Billy. I will call them this morning and inquire about the rebuild because I wouldn't sell it not knowing whats wrong with it anyway. As far as what I was sewing when the needle broke, it was just a holster built with 8/9 ounce Herman oak so I definitely wasn't exceeding the capabilities. I'm not sure what's going on with it, but I think I will send it back for the rebuild and if when I get it back I still can't get it to work I'll sell it and get something else. I guess I'll be handstitching for a while longer!

[usmc0341]

I just got off the phone with Ben at Tippmann and I'm sending it in to have him look at it. I will update here when I get it back. Thanks for all of the help.

[usmc0341]

Oh and the handle not staying in the up position is because the needle is out, so I didn't mess up any of the gears which is a relief!

[trekster]

Sending it back to Tippmann is probably the best thing you can do right now. I have heard of at least two different owners who did the same thing, and both were extremely pleased with the operation of their machines once they got them back. Glad to hear you didn't damage any of the gearing.

[usmc0341]

Just a quick update. My Boss is on its way back already. Ben was awesome to deal with and the turn around time was quick. He fixed the timing and replaced a gear which he said the previous owner must have replaced incorrectly. So it sounds like those were the only issues and I am anxious to get rolling with this thing.

[wijjit]

I have been the "proud" owner of a Boss for about 9 months now. I have been through the DVD MANY times, followed the directions. Adjusted the foot tension from removing the adjuster to down to the point of running out of threads. Just about wore out the adjustment screw on the bobbin adjustment, same with top thread adjustment. It will sew maybe 100 stitches then break the top thread on the up stroke. Rethread the machine, might do 10 stitches, might do 200, then preak the thread again. Constant change in the stitch length. Do 10 stitches and then the bobbin thread is on the top. do another 10 and the top thread is on the bottom. I would not recomend this machine to anyone. As soon as budget permits it is going on ebay, and the money from that sale will go on a good machine. Not impressed, I think it is a POS. But just my opinion.

[trekster]

I have been the "proud" owner of a Boss for about 9 months now. I have been through the DVD MANY times, followed the directions. Adjusted the foot tension from removing the adjuster to down to the point of running out of threads. Just about wore out the adjustment screw on the bobbin adjustment, same with top thread adjustment. It will sew maybe 100 stitches then break the top thread on the up stroke. Rethread the machine, might do 10 stitches, might do 200, then preak the thread again. Constant change in the stitch length. Do 10 stitches and then the bobbin thread is on the top. do another 10 and the top thread is on the bottom. I would not recomend this machine to anyone. As soon as budget permits it is going on ebay, and the money from that sale will go on a good machine. Not impressed, I think it is a POS. But just my opinion.

Yup, I agree, operating the Tippmann Boss can be a very frustrating experience. I think generally the erratic operation of the Boss stems from a couple of problems; both of which must be overcome before an operator can obtain consistent results.

Personally, (IMHO) I think both problems arise from a lack of proper information (from the manufacturer) and the level of expectations from the typical user.

IMO, the Boss has a significant "learning curve". That is, time spent by a new operator experimenting with a "significant" number of different machine settings, bobbin tensions, thread tensions, material feed methods, timing adjustments, etc. to name a few of the main ones (and there are others). Not every new operator has the desire or the time and patience to traverse this "learning curve". Certainly, the manual does not explain this fact - but they "hint" at it by saying you should spend a little time practicing on scrap leather before doing a real project. Which leads to the other problem... "level of expectations" .....

Most of us, myself included, buy into a Tippmann Boss because we are tired of hand stitching and yet do not have the level of work and/or financial resources to invest in a Cowboy 4500 (or even a 2500) - which is so often recommended here on this forum. Sure, having one of those would be nice, but a lot of us just cannot justify the expenditure for the type and quantity of work we are doing.

So, many of us hear the siren call of a Tippmann Boss, buy a used one off of Craigslist or eBay (for something less than retail) and figure our days of hand stitching are gone forever. That is, our level of expectations is; we figure we will spend a little time practicing and then suddenly begin knocking out our projects in a tenth of the time we spent hand-stitching, and have results that look just like we have been used to prior to getting the Boss.

There are three glaring problems with that thinking; one, the machine we buy used, could have any number of things wrong with it, which we don't know at the outset, but which could render the machine totally incapable of producing acceptable results (believe me, I speak from experience). Not only that, but I've heard of people getting a NEW machine that contained an out-of-tolerance part, which prevented it from "ever" producing acceptable results. The second problem is, (IMO) a little time practicing could mean a WHOLE lot more expermentation, trial and error, than we ever imagined. And third (again IMO) NO mechanical method of producing a lock-stich in leather, can ever exactly resemble the looks of hand stitching.

Still, I do believe a properly adjusted Boss, in the hands of an operator that has gone through the "learning curve", will produce a very acceptable looking lock-stitch in a variety of different materials and projects.

However, is the Tippmann Boss "the" machine for everyone wanting to give their fingers a rest from hand-stitching? No, I don't think it is -- for the reasons I iterated above.

Fortunately, there still seems to be a significant number of folks who hear the siren call of the Boss, and hence the used machines on eBay are usually sold for not much less than retail cost, and therefore a disgruntled user may unload it without losing a significant amount of their initial investment.

Chalk it up to experience and education....

[trekster]

Just a quick update. My Boss is on its way back already. Ben was awesome to deal with and the turn around time was quick. He fixed the timing and replaced a gear which he said the previous owner must have replaced incorrectly. So it sounds like those were the only issues and I am anxious to get rolling with this thing.

Keep us posted. I'll be interested in hearing of your experiences with the machine as it comes back from a "factory tuneup".

[mncarpenter]

I had similar issues as wijjit. Watch your needle as it descends, see if it hits the hook /shuttle assembly. Make sure you have it timed as described in the instruction book and videos.

Some Boss were machined wrong, the shoulder the shuttle spacer rides against is not deep enough and causes the needle to rub the shuttle , fraying and breaking thread and causing timing nightmares.. I know, I have one, and Tipmann( I think it was Ben) confirmed, and even told me he had built a jig for his drill press that would allow him to machine the shoulder to the correct depth. So apparently not an uncommon issue. Wanted something like 75.00 and shipping both ways to fix it. So probably around 125.00 to fix including the shipping both ways.I was irritated that they would charge me for what seems on the surface to be a factory QC issue. I ordered a couple new shuttle spacers and ground one thinner, worked like a charm.

Edited March 17, 2013 by mncarpenter