Cutsew Cs-206Rb

[Wizcrafts]

Baby steps, Grasshopper. Looking better all the time.

[Keyair]

Well, I figured out what was going wrong some of the time...

I was not conscious that my knee was resting against the knee lifter sometimes... and that was causing erratic thread tension issues!

Moved it and now its better.

Added a 90deg binding attachment...

The machine continues to miss stitches though, and also the upper thread keeps getting snarled in the bobbing and hook asembly.

Being a mechanical mind, I spent a lot of time checking everything. The hook timing was off.

The Consew manual states that the when the needle has passed its lowest point and then risen by 2mm, the hook should be in the middle of the needle.

This is how far mine was off. Maybe 20deg or 12mm of travel.

That was adjusted and is now correct.

However I think I found a problem.

The Hook is too far from the needle.

Consew states that the distance between the needle "Ditch" and the hook point should be 0.05mm to 0.10mm... that is very little!

You can see the gap and I measured(with great difficulty!) it at least about 0.20mm, or twice the stated allowance.

I changed the needle, but it made no difference.

I tried to adjust it, but had no luck, as the hook basket also is attached to the lower needle deflector(not sure of the right term).

Looking closer at the hook, I think it maybe damaged or worn.

I keep seeing the needle thread coming up frayed, and by carefully watching thru a magnifying glass, this is what I see happening... This is V138 thread... not thin by any means!

I think, because the hook tip is incorrectly gapped to the needle, the thread sometimes is picked up correctly..

Like this..

But Sometimes it pinches the thread, and the thread rolls between the needle and hook and misses...

Like this..

And sometimes the hook PIERCES the thread and splits it in two...

Like this!

I am looking into replacing the hook assembly.

[Ian1783]

I notice your thread isn't routed through its final guide, the little rounded arm first thing up the needle. Maybe you have it this way only during your photo shoot. Nice photos by the way!

I don't know if your thread routing might be causing your problems, but thought I'd point that out.

I've never reconditioned a hook, but I do believe it's an option. I would think it may be preferable to replacing the hook assembly.

Ian

SF Bay Area

http://imcinnis.blogspot.com/

[Keyair]

Well spotted.

It was thru there on previous attempts.

I also pulled it up on the return path to try to replicate the thread going thru the leather.

Thanks for the complements on the photos... simple fixed lens Nikon Compact, but used the Macro... truth is its hit or miss on the autofocus. These are 3 of maybe 25 photos I took!

They really are worth 1000 words to describe this!

Here is a tighter pic of the hook... looks blunt or dinged on the tip to me...

For those who have not seen how this works.... and please correct me someone if I am wrong...

The needle, on its downward stroke actually hits the chamfered surface that you can see in the above photo.

This part is fixed and does not rotate.

The needle is deflected to the left as it continues on its downward path until the thicker tip, eye and thread pass over it.

On the returning upward stroke, the thread is trapped between the chamfer and needle and is held steady... this causes a slack loop to form as the needle climbs back up, allowing the hook to grab the thread.

My issue with reconditioning or setting the hook/needle gap is this:

The chamfered part appears to be part of the hook assembly, you can move the whole assembly away from the needle, and increase the gap, but when I tried to decrease it, and the gap does not change because the needle just deflects more.

Edited January 8, 2014 by Keyair

[Wizcrafts]

Replace the hook!

[Keyair]

Replace the hook!

Never having seen one up close... is it obviously bad Wiz?

[Wizcrafts]

As you have discovered, once the tip of that type of hook and shuttle assembly is worn down, like yours is, it can never get close enough to the needle to be 100% effective. You can dink with it until you're blue in the face, or try brazing on some steel, but why bother? Get a brand new complete shuttle assembly and be done with it. Then you can use the machine to sew, rather than it being a boat anchor.

If you're anything me, once you get past fixing that old worn out machine, you'll only buy newer or rebuilt ones in the future.

[Keyair]

Thanks Wiz!

Closer examination of the point of the hook yesterday agrees with you.

The Hook assembly is under $50, so will get that ordered.

As you may have figured, I am a tinkerer and can figure out most things once I set my mind to it.

Its been fun watching all the pieces work in unison to do something as seeming simple as stitch something.

The journey so far has been interesting and fun, despite the machines shortcoming so far.

Oh trust me, if I could afford a new machine, I would have gone that route. The car I am trying to finish has sucked me dry!

Maybe it would be a wise investment for the future once I have this one project out of my hair.

[J Hayes]

Oh trust me, if I could afford a new machine, I would have gone that route. The car I am trying to finish has sucked me dry!

Maybe it would be a wise investment for the future once I have this one project out of my hair.

By the time you're done you'll know that machine very intimately, knowing all its quirks, probably best to keep it rather than try to learn a new one of the same class. Besides it seems like a good machine, and with a new hook you should be golden, and will know how to work on it, which can be kinda fun in itself.

Edited January 8, 2014 by J Hayes

[Wizcrafts]

Eventually, the tinkers among us will start using their sewing machines to earn their living. I sew almost every work day, on one or more of the 3 industrial sewing machines in my shop. I have no time anymore to dink with a finicky machine while a customer is waiting for a job to be finished. Downtime on machines for me and others sewing for a living equals money lost and nerves stretched to the breaking point.