RoosterShooter Report post Posted November 24, 2014 OK. To make a long story short .... I kept my Tippmann Boss for a Back-Up in case my Primary went down so that I wouldn't be entirely in the dark. My Juki is in the shop being serviced and cleaned. NOW, I'm DOWN and have NO machine until my other comes back from the shop! On my 6th piece today my Boss started doing THIS again!!! This is the same reason I had a replacement machine sent to me in the first place. This machine has less than 3 hours on it, and it is pulling odd stitches through to the back side. On some stitches it will run right, but then it starts acting up again. There is no rhyme or reason to when it does this. It could be the 10th stictch or the 50th. See photo below .... what causes this? I'm sick and tired of messing with this machine. I have ZERO confidence in it, and grit my teeth anytime I have to rely on it! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TwinOaks Report post Posted November 24, 2014 Looks like a short stroke on the lever....not getting all the way to the stops on the 'up' cycle. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RoosterShooter Report post Posted November 24, 2014 Negative... I'm adimant about making a complete stroke up and down while hitting the stops. I'm a hobby ammo reloader, so I know the importance of a comlete handle stroke. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TwinOaks Report post Posted November 24, 2014 have you checked the tension of the nut that holds the take up lever in place? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
catskin Report post Posted November 24, 2014 Sounds to me like it could be the thread tension is not even ( not feeding smoothly ) that it binds someplace or slips to easily for a stitch once in a while. It can be hard to find since it does not happen at a regular time. Recheck everything that the thread touches. Make certain it never binds as it comes of the spool. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Colt W Knight Report post Posted November 25, 2014 Keeping the Boss after the Juki gets back? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RoosterShooter Report post Posted November 25, 2014 Keeping the Boss after the Juki gets back? Probably not Colt ... why? Are you in the market? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RoosterShooter Report post Posted November 25, 2014 (edited) Could it be something as simple as a thread issue? I talked to a buddy tonight,and he uses only A&E 277 Nylon Thread. He said he had a similar issue with 'Service' Brand thread and his boss! Something about the inconsistency in the wind and thread stiffness. He said some of the thread would be limp as a noodle, and a foot down the spool it would be stiff as monofilament. Your thoughts? Edited November 25, 2014 by RoosterShooter Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Colt W Knight Report post Posted November 25, 2014 Probably not Colt ... why? Are you in the market? Nope. I was just curious if you were going to stick with the Boss. When I started researching leather sewing machines, I ruled out the Boss because there seams to be a plethora of stories just like yours out there about how finicky the machines can be. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RoosterShooter Report post Posted November 25, 2014 (edited) Yeah. I'm going to Axe this one after my other machine comes back. I'll probably send it back to Tippmann for an exchange and sell the one they send back to me. I've talked to a couple of knowledgable sewing machine people on the phone and they all mention that the Boss isn't the machine that it used to be. From what I gather they switched raw materials over the years, and their machines haven't been the same since. They have definitely made some bad business decisions since switching from the Cast Iron Boss of the old days. A higher profit drive has caused them to lose customers and given them a bad name. If they would have just stayed with what worked they might have been ok. At this point I'm seriously wondering if they are going to just do away with their sewing machine side of things and stick with their paintball gun line. However, even that is a dying market! Edited November 25, 2014 by RoosterShooter Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
catskin Report post Posted November 25, 2014 Could it be something as simple as a thread issue? I talked to a buddy tonight,and he uses only A&E 277 Nylon Thread. He said he had a similar issue with 'Service' Brand thread and his boss! Something about the inconsistency in the wind and thread stiffness. He said some of the thread would be limp as a noodle, and a foot down the spool it would be stiff as monofilament. Your thoughts? YES YES. I have bought thread from tandy ( 346 ) that cost me $75.00 YES 75.00 for a one pound spool and it will not work right in the top of my machines bought thread from Bob for $15.00 and works perfectly. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RoosterShooter Report post Posted November 26, 2014 Thanks Catskin. You've alleviated a few of my worries ... but ...only a few. I had my thread supplier overnight me some 4 oz. spools of both A&E and Eddington this afternoon, so I can tinker with it tomorrow night. Hopefully this is nothing more than a material issue, and not something wrong with my machine. At any rate ... I'm crossing my fingers and hoping it's 'Bad Gas in the tank'. If you know what I mean. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Colt W Knight Report post Posted November 26, 2014 I have a spool of black thread that doesn't feed in my machine worth a damn. Its basically worthless Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
catskin Report post Posted November 27, 2014 R-Shooter, I hope you have it solved by now BUT if not.I know I have said this kind of thing before but check every little thing that the thread touches it could be so small as a take up spring brushing something near it ( frame, guide something ) just once in a while. And that could be the problem. And as Colt said it is black thread from tandy that doesn't work. Now to qualify what I have said I DO NOT have a Boss, this comes from my experience with other machines. Sometimes it can the tiniest thing that is almost invisible that drives us up the wall so to speak. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bigsmile Report post Posted December 3, 2014 Boy I am not sure of my desire to by a Boss stiching machine. I am handycaped with no feet. I was thinking of the Boss to end the issues with foot peddles. Anyone have a ideas? I have a old Singer 66 that I took the foot peddle and mounted so I can press it with my knee. This peddle will not handle the amps of a larger motor, I think. Big Smile Leather Smith On Facebook https://www.facebook.com/bigsmileleathersmith Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wizcrafts Report post Posted December 3, 2014 BigSmile; A Singer 66 is NOT a leather sewing machine. It is meant for sewing light cloth with thin cotton thread and tiny needles. The maximum stitch length is very small. The bobbin basket is not built to clear heavy thread, the presser spring won't hold down hard leather and the solid foot will drag the top layer out of alignment. How do I know? I have one at home and one at my shop, for sale. I rarely use the one at home, and then, only for very light cloth. It is a hobby machine. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Colt W Knight Report post Posted December 3, 2014 (edited) I had a Singer 66, that I put a larger motor on. It would only sew very thin leather, and even then, the stitches were too close together. Best to use that machine for sewing cloth, IMO. Edited December 3, 2014 by Colt W Knight Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bigsmile Report post Posted December 3, 2014 Yes I have tryed this myself. I will keep it for sewing cloth and such. I like it is simple and easy to work on. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
