Thread Tension And Stirrup Plate

[MadMorbius]

It seems to have gotten much better with the above adjustment and further tightening of the top tension but I believe I've hit the point where it's not getting any better now regardless of what I do...diminshing returns as it were.

[Wizcrafts]

Back off the bobbin tension spring until the thread flows smoothly with about half the current force.

[MadMorbius]

Backed it way off..and it doesn't seem to be making any measurable difference to how the stitch is coming out a this stage. I'm getting very, very frustrated with this process

[Wizcrafts]

Are you using a leather point needle?

[MadMorbius]

Gave up on the stirrup plate and tried to revert. Now I'm missing sitches. I changed the needle and adjusted the tension, re-threaded the machine....I'm about ready to jump out a window.

EDIT - Note to self and others reading....make sure the needle is *completely* inserted before freaking out and thinking you have a timing problem.

Time to walk away from this for awhile...back to mostly normal operation for now. Wondering if my stirrup plate issue was also related to the needle being improperly reinserted after I pulled it out to check the size

Will try again later.

Edited November 24, 2013 by MadMorbius

[MadMorbius]

On a side note, while we're dissassembling and reasembling stuff...what constitutes the "correct" height for the feed dogs when one reinstalls them?

Ron, Wiz, all of you...thanks so much. You've been very patient and it's greatly appreciated.

[Wizcrafts]

According to the manual, the feed dog teeth should be about 1 or 1.2 mm above the plane of the throat plate, at their highest point.

However.....Some of us set them flush with the top of the throat plate, for mystical reasons, known only to Mr. Peabody and Sherman.

[MadMorbius]

Ok, that's about where I put it..In my trial and error I found that having them higher seems to add a bit much pressure on the work and may actually keep it from moving forward consistently.

I'm going to try installing the stirrup plate again tonight...feeling pretty rediculous about going through all that yesterday only to find that the needle wasn't fully inserted...AFTER I gave up and reinstalled the normal plate. We'll see...

The type of work I intend to do with it is the same as pictured in my profile picture. I can't move the center gusset around the machine to stitch around that curve with the formed gussets on either side of the seam, it winds up butting against the bottom of the machine and inhibiting the feed. Really hoping this plate resolves that and is worth the effort

Edited November 25, 2013 by MadMorbius

[Techsew Ron]

Hi Rob, check your email, we did some troubleshooting for you and sent instructions.

Ron

[Wizcrafts]

Ok, that's about where I put it..In my trial and error I found that having them higher seems to add a bit much pressure on the work and may actually keep it from moving forward consistently.

I'm going to try installing the stirrup plate again tonight...feeling pretty rediculous about going through all that yesterday only to find that the needle wasn't fully inserted...AFTER I gave up and reinstalled the normal plate. We'll see...

The type of work I intend to do with it is the same as pictured in my profile picture. I can't move the center gusset around the machine to stitch around that curve with the formed gussets on either side of the seam, it winds up butting against the bottom of the machine and inhibiting the feed. Really hoping this plate resolves that and is worth the effort

The stirrup plate is what you need to sew curved gussets. Once you will get past the thread loop position problems, you'll laugh at this beginner's speed bump. Have you ordered some leather point needles one size larger? This may solve the loops on the bottom problem.

Did you know that leather points are available in more than one shape? I use mostly type S, but also have some triangular "diamond" points on hand. They produce a different top and bottom stitch.

One more thing: you might try adding some more top pressure to the feet. If the leather is not absolutely pressed down against the stirrup plate it will usually have bad results on the bottom.