Outside Presser Foot Marking The Leather (Pfaff 335)

[oclack]

Howdy,

I'm wracking my brain trying to figure out why my Pfaff 335 is marking my leather, especially at the start of a stitch line where I backtack. I've attempted to lighten the pressure of the presser-feet by backing off the knurled nob at the top of the machine, to the point it is barely hanging on to the machine, but it doesn't seem to have much of an impact. The inner presser foot seems to be fine, but the out foot is an issue.

I've even placed my finger under the presser foot (machine off and needle out of course) to see if I can feel any difference in the pressure bing applied... I'm not sure what it should feel like, but its heavy. Seems like the the top pressure is not being affected by loosening the knob on top. That said, I haven't a clue what I'm doing.

I've included a few picture to show how loose the top knob is, the position of the presser feet (they seem a bit canted to the left) and the marks being left on the leather. BTW... I'm stitching 3-4oz harness leather from Wicket & Craig.

Any ideas whats going on here?

[Constabulary]

There is a very narrow and quite sharp angled piece of needle plate on the left and on this narrow piece of steel comes all the pressure of a very narrow left toe foot. What I want to say is that all the foot pressure is concentrated on small spot and this causes the marking. If you had a wider needle plate on the left and a wider left toe I think it "could" solve it but I don´t know if such parts are available for the 335. Or try a wider right toe foot and see if it solves the problem as there is "much more needle plate" on the right. You know what I mean?

Your presser foot is barely touching the needle plate.

Edited September 28, 2014 by Constabulary

[Constabulary]

My thoughts about the 335 in general are that they were originally designed as tape binding machines and not as leather sewing machines. Most of the Pfaff 335 I have seen are set up as tape binding machines. I think the Consew 227 type machines or Pfaff 345 are the better leather sewing machines.

Edited September 28, 2014 by Constabulary

[oclack]

There is a very narrow and quite sharp angled piece of needle plate on the left and on this narrow piece of steel comes all the pressure of a very narrow left toe foot.

post-31940-0-62751900-1411874607.jpg

I did worry that this is at least part of the issue, but also assumed it was like this on all 335 machines. Do you know if the cant/rotation of the feet can be changed?

[oclack]

My thoughts about the 335 in general are that they were originally designed as tape binding machines and not as leather sewing machines. Most of the Pfaff 335 I have seen are set up as tape binding machines. I think the Consew 227 type machines or Pfaff 345 are the better leather sewing machines.

I have been battling with this machine since day 1 and have on several occasions thought about trading it in for a Singer 31-15 or something like a TechSew 2700. But each time I have someone tell me about about how great they are and perfect for what I want to do. I primarily want to use this machine for wallets, dress belts, Dopp bags and pouches.

My thoughts about the 335 in general are that they were originally designed as tape binding machines and not as leather sewing machines. Most of the Pfaff 335 I have seen are set up as tape binding machines. I think the Consew 227 type machines or Pfaff 345 are the better leather sewing machines.

I have been battling with this machine since day 1 and have on several occasions thought about trading it in for a Singer 31-15 or something like a TechSew 2700. But each time I have someone tell me about about how great they are and perfect for what I want to do. I primarily want to use this machine for wallets, dress belts, Dopp bags and pouches.

[Constabulary]

Not sure what you mean with rotation...

If you google for Pfaff 335 you will find pictures of other needle plates with a little more "beef" on the left side but they seem to be checkered and for tape binding and I don´t know if they will mark the leather on the underside.

https://www.google.com/search?q=pfaff+335&hl=en&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=gxsoVNGZOKufygOj-IHICA&ved=0CAoQ_AUoAw&biw=1280&bih=866#hl=en&tbm=isch&q=pfaff+335+needle+plate

Maybe there are other variants... I don´t know what else is available for the 335. I´d check with one of the dealers who have banners on this website.

Cylinder machines are for sure more versatile than flat beds but If you sew only flat items like wallets I think a flat bed machines is the better choice.

I would not trade for a 31-15, thats a bad deal but for a 227 type machine I´d trade it immediately.

Just my 2 cents.

Edited September 28, 2014 by Constabulary

[Wizcrafts]

The inside foot is severely bent up on the left and down on the right. This is wrong! Replace the inside foot, or both feet.

[oclack]

The inside foot is severely bent up on the left and down on the right. This is wrong! Replace the inside foot, or both feet.

Wiz,

I think that's more of my Dremel hack job than anything. I attempted to smooth out the feet and cut off some of the extra length of the inner foot to help see the needle better. The inner foot could definitely use a bit of work, but at least its not marking the leather anymore. Its the outer foot giving me hell.

After looking at it again... I seems that the outer foot is slamming against the needle plate to the point of bending it a bit. The outer foot is also turned out to the left a bit giving it a funny angle on the pressor feet.

Here's a quick video of the action...

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/Wjc1XAbaYpc?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Edited September 28, 2014 by oclack

[oclack]

BTW... The video above shows a new inner and outer foot installed.

[Wizcrafts]

It would be a good idea to rotate the outside foot so it's inline with the indie foot and not hitting outside the throat plate.