To Time A Pfaff 545

[suzelle]

Hello All,

We got a used Pfaff 545, manufactured about 1979. It's not stitching now, but wheel turns and everything moves smoothly.

I found some instructions here in the forums on how to make some adjustments to the machine, wish me luck!!!

Edited October 11, 2013 by suzelle

[RoyalLeatherDesigns]

Good Luck! If you need an owners manual you can find it on this forum that machine is very common and similar to the 145.

Ralph

[suzelle]

Hi Ralph, I just sent you off a personal message about an hour ago, then I see this post from you yesterday. Thank you!

Yesterday, I found the perfect instructions on how to move the needle bar down, which I did do. Now the machine stitches, but I will need some parts. Thankfully, they don't look to be the real expensive parts, so I may get away with an inexpensive repair.

Thanks again Ralph!

[suzelle]

Machine is now running perfect! I made some of the adjustments, got some help on how to do some things myself. I got it to sew a perfect stitch, then it kept going back to how it was, not stitching! Discovered the main problem had to do with needle bar and screw, but it still needed a real mechanic who knows more than me!

So, I called around a bit and discovered that we have a new mechanic at a local sewing machine shop who can also fix Industrial machines. So, got very lucky there. That shop hasn't anything other than Domestic Sewing machine mechanics for a long time, so I am really glad they will do the repairs. They are so close to me. I took a 2nd Industrial machine in to have it adjusted too, and they are already done with that one. Gotta go pick it up. Then I'll have 2 running Industrial machines... A Pfaff 545 H4, and an Econosew 2060AL.

The Pfaff 545 machine is running really great now! However, the bobbin tension screw gets lose and I suddenly lose tension while sewing, creating a wavy stitch at the back/bobbin thread. I'm still trying to find somebody who can sell me some Pfaff screws, as that one and some others really need replacing. The shop I took it to can't get Pfaff parts, so what I had for screws were left in the machine. I'll keep searching for someone to sell me Pfaff parts.

So thrilled it's stitching well now! Yay!

Edited October 21, 2013 by suzelle

[Northmount]

There are several grades of lok-tite. There are grades that are not permanent, so you can adjust or dis-assemble after it sets. So if you can't easily get the parts, you could use it and have your machine in operation, at least until you get good parts.

I used an oversized nut on an eccentric on a business machine. Went back 2 weeks later with the right parts and replaced them. Had stayed in position, doing hundreds of cycles per day.

Tom

[suzelle]

Hey Tom, thanks for that info!

Kinda funny, my hubby was telling me that this morning when he called, something about a product he knew of that could secure the screw temporarily, must be the same stuff. He orders all the machinery and parts for a large food processing place. I'd never heard of it before. He didn't give me the name of the stuff he was speaking about, but I bet it is the same stuff.

I did have a temporary solution though, pulled one of the bobbin tension screws off a screwed up bobbin case that was used on one of our SWF Commercial Embroidery machines. I save them, even when they seem messed up, you just never know when you need a part off something like that. The big screw on that bobbin case was the perfect width, although a little too long and protrudes a bit inside the Pfaff bobbin case. But I think we can grind it or sand it down.

Thanks for the idea, I'll have to tell the "hub" how smart he is! : ) I will let him know a Seamster agrees!

Oh, Thanks to Sunnyside Scott too, who sent me a helpful personal message on what to try for timing. Thanks Scott!