Just Acquired An Artisan 797Ab-2 - Need Advice Regarding Timing Issue

[LewSchiller]

After reading as much as I could about machines and how to select the right one for the job and why one shouldn't buy anything that isn't correct for the task and working properly at that I did what, apparently, a lot of people do...I bought the least expensive walking foot machine I could find on Craigslist. Now, like most, apparently, I'll try to make it do what I want to get done. Hopefully I haven't gone too far astray.

That machine is an Artisan 797-2 AB that has timing problems - per the seller - and upon my sitting down at it didn't want to go into reverse. Not that I knew exactly how to do that. The seller bought it from an Uncle who had used it since new in an upholstery business. I'm going on faith that this provenance is true - I have no reason to think it's not.

I have the owners manual which does address issues like timing.

Should I attempt repair myself or pack it off to my local commercial machine shop? (Ralph's in Denver) I'm reasonably mechanically adept but sewing machines are new to me. Are timing issues relatively straightforward or would this have an end result somewhat akin to my taking dad's watch apart when I was 11 years old - if you know what I mean?

My reason for wanting to do it myself is to learn the machine and to reduce the end out cost of the machine. If it does what I want it to do I'd rather spend the money on a servo motor.

The reason for taking it in is that it would not only be repaired but also "tuned" and set-up to best possible for my projects.

I only paid $200 for it so it's hard for me to imagine that I'll be upside down in either case.

Edited September 1, 2013 by LewSchiller

[Gregg From Keystone Sewing]

http://www.consew.com/Files/112347/InstructionManuals/205RB-1.pdf

Check out the beginging of page 11, this book should be correct for all adjustments of your machine.

[LewSchiller]

Thanks Gregg!