Pfaff 335 Need Some Pointers

[dingus]

I am just getting into sewing with a older Pfaff 335 i bought. I have a bunch of questions so sorry if im all over the place with my questions.

i am going to sew some handgun holsters up only going to be going thru about 2 layers of 8 oz at a time maby 3 if the machine can do that.

I got the machine for $400 + my buddy shipping it to me from ONT but still was less than $700 total.

Machine is and older greenish looking hamer finsh colour it looks brand new still. Its the best i can aford for now so no point in telling me i shoulda bought a cowboy or one of the other +$2000 machines im just starting and this machine seems to punch thru leather like butter.

Anyway i was thinking about useing # 69 Bonded nylon to start with #16 or #18 needle how does that sound ?

I was told the machine will like that thickness and its very strong thred.

I also have a very old Singer 29K i bought and need to know what thred to get for it im hopeing it will be better for 3 layers of 8 oz leather.

My main question is my Pfaff has them Dogs with teeth and in my practice runs with regular crappy thred they leave marks on the leathers bottom side. Theres another Plate and dog (extras with the machine) thats raised up higher and all smooth if i install that higher plate and smooth feed dog that will get rid of the marks right ? I can take a picture of what i meen. also the rear presser foot is up about and 1/8 inch its not coming right down to the dogs so it only holds thicker material i think its set up for the raised smooth plate and smooth dog , im not sure how to adjust that rear presser foot down?

It sews thicker sunbrella and leather really good as it sits tho. Just not thin stuff.

I want to sew a new boat top outa sunbrella so was told to use #69 Bonded polyester for that job.

I will make the top useing the tooth dogs as they do not mark the sunbrella only the leather.

Im gona buy a servo motor to as i find the foot peddle a nightmare to controll .Tho i read puting a smaller pully on the motor in my machine will slow it down. Its so hard to controll i find if i reach under the table ands use my hand on that arm under the motor i can get it to run slower and steady but thats imposible to do while your sewing. is there any better options for foot controll of clutch motors ?

I will take a few pictures and post then about the walking foot not being down.

Ok look at the second picture thats as far down as the rear foot comes down. its ok for thicker material but not two layers of sunbrella. I looked in the pdf 335 manual but trying to figger how to lower the rear foot looks dificult.

Maby its set up for that raised lower plate and smooth dog ?

Edited July 5, 2014 by dingus

[dingus]

Just to add my machine is a 335 H3 the next set of numbers are 17/01 BLN any help or advise would be great eh ?

Just trying to figger out why the rear presser foot dont come down right to the feed dogs is that normal ? see pics ^

And whats that other plate and feed dog set for that sits up higher ?

Whats the best thred and needle size to buy for this for holsters sewing two layers 8 oz vegi tan together ? maby 3 layers if she can handle that ?

Edited July 5, 2014 by dingus

[BradR]

Hi Dingus, I have a Pfaf f335 h2, havent had much time to do much with it yet. I suggest you type Pfaff 335 in the search box at the top of the web site. You will get a lot of hits, good reading. Look down the list of results for a thread titled "Help timing a 335". In this thread is a link to a Pfaff technical site. Follow the link and down load the pdf for timing a 335. The site is for the newer model 335 g, but the instructions worked for my h2. I am just a beginner but the pfaff document should help you equalize your feet height.

I am on a tablet at the moment and it would not let me link this post directly to the site. Hope this helps, Brad

[dingus]

Thanks for the Reply Brad .

I have that manul on file what i dont understand is it says turn crank 3 and scews 4 ? its not the best manul to understand.

on my machine it looks the same as the picture but the number 3 part cant turn its a push rod the screws can undo but i dont want to do anything that will make the machine screw up as it does sew now just only really thick material 3 layers or more the presser feet work.

Has no one on this site ever done the adjustment themselves ?

After reading the troble that one guy had changeing a bloody needle im not sure i want to even try doing that yet ?

If i use a caliper to measure the needle hight and change the needle with a bigger one as long as its the exact same height will it be OK ?

I was reading one guy said to use a caliper i know how to read a caliper so i can try that if thats whats needed?

Also i need a edge roller attachment something that fits a Pfaff 335 so i can sew strait edges on my holsters ? maby there called a Edge guide Roller anyone know of such and attachment where to find one ?

Its so the leather hits a roller set about a 1/4 inch in from the edge keeping the distance perfect so the stiching is not all over the place but and equal distance from the edge?

Edited July 6, 2014 by dingus

[BradR]

Turning the hand wheel while the screw is undone wii reposition the crank, when u retighten the screw it will be in a different position. I had to experiment a bit. I am currently away from home on holidays so cant post a picture. I agree about going slow and cautious about adjustments. Brad

[jimi]

Hi Dingus, did you manage to adjust your presser foot height? i have just stripped one down and put it back together and it sews so i could maybe show you where i adjusted it.regards jimi

[dingus]

no i have not adjusted its height can you explain how you did it please ?

[jimi]

Hi Dingus, what i did was loosened the two screws on the right hand side of the back rod at the top to take out the bushings to clean them and putting them back is when i adjusted the back presser foot with the front one. because the back foot was only lifting up about 1mm or so. thats the rod that is connected to your presser feet, it has a winged nut on the right hand side. so before you loosen make some kind of mark so as you can get back to the same place as before. i loosened the screws then turned the balance wheel until the front foot was halfway up then pushed the back foot to the same hight and then tightened the screws again. now the back foot and front lift even.i dont know if that is the correct way to adjust it but seeing as i had it all dismantled i had no option. in that adjustment manual of the new ones it is screw 4. by the way i cant get mine to lift 7mm like it says in that manual??

[jimi]

Hey dingus try this link to find out about the numbers and letters on your machine:http://www.pfaff-industrial.com/pfaff/en/service/numberingsystem

[jimi]

if you type in "pfaff 335 journey to the unknown" on the forum you can see how an old rusted machine was whipped back to working again??

[Trox]

Hi Dingus,

you can buy the parts you need for a leather setup on http://www.kwokhing.com/pfaff/. You could also lowering your feed dog in level with the needle plate, that will reduce the markings. With smooth feed dog and feet's the needle does most of the feeding on a triple feed leather machine anyway.

Tor

[dingus]

Hi Dingus, what i did was loosened the two screws on the right hand side of the back rod at the top to take out the bushings to clean them and putting them back is when i adjusted the back presser foot with the front one. because the back foot was only lifting up about 1mm or so. thats the rod that is connected to your presser feet, it has a winged nut on the right hand side. so before you loosen make some kind of mark so as you can get back to the same place as before. i loosened the screws then turned the balance wheel until the front foot was halfway up then pushed the back foot to the same hight and then tightened the screws again. now the back foot and front lift even.i dont know if that is the correct way to adjust it but seeing as i had it all dismantled i had no option. in that adjustment manual of the new ones it is screw 4. by the way i cant get mine to lift 7mm like it says in that manual??

I see the two screws way over on the right near the big wing nut is them the two you loosened or is it the two over to the left about 4 inchs ?

A picture would sure help ?

Thanks for the reply i never got much help for weeks on here. unless you own and buy a +$2000 Machine like Cowboy or one of them other new expensive machines it seems you dont get alot of replys so i just want to say thanks for takeing the time to reply (:

I replyed to your post to ^ but it ended up inside the quate somehow Jimi

Hi Dingus,

you can buy the parts you need for a leather setup on http://www.kwokhing.com/pfaff/. You could also lowering your feed dog in level with the needle plate, that will reduce the markings. With smooth feed dog and feet's the needle does most of the feeding on a triple feed leather machine anyway.

Tor

Thanks i will check them out (:

Edited July 17, 2014 by dingus

[jimi]

Oh, sorry dingus i didnt see your reply. i loosened the ones near the wing nut but it dosent matter if you loosen the ones on theother side because it is on the same rod.

[jimi]

Hi Dingus, how did you get on with the adjustment?

[dingus]

I have not had time im going to do it in the fall once i start doing some holster work.

Thanks again for the pointers i will post how i make out when i do it i been busy with my bost and fishing been the best fishing up here on the B.C coast in 15 years eh (: