Did I Buy A Lemon? Techsew Problems

[pokerinot]

I bought a three year old Techsew GC2603 this summer. It was skipping stitches so I brought it in to the Techsew guys for a timing adjustment as well as an basic once-over as the machine was new to me. Right after I got it back, it sewed about 6" and then the timing went again. I haven't been doing much work because of my day job schedule but managed to get my Christmas presents made without problems. Now I am trying to make a jacket for someone and the machine again is skipping SO many stitches. I can do a little tack properly but anything beyond that is random. I can't seem to get along with this machine! It doesn't help that all day at work I sew on a SunStar machine that never needs a second look, an adjustment, or anything, no matter what type of leather I throw at it. My current problem is mainly during topstitching, going through about 3 thicknesses of light-medium weight chrome tanned leather. I'm worried I'll never be friends with this machine!

[Wizcrafts]

What causes skipped stitches?

Skipped stitches can be caused by any or a combination of the following defects:

1. Early or late arrival of the hook, above the eye of the ascending needle.
2. Excessive clearance between the gears that drive the shuttle and hook.
3. Insufficient foot pressure that allows the leather to lift with the needle.
4. A burr on the tip of the needle.
5. The needle is too large for the thread. The oversize hole causes a loss of back tension on the loop, causing it to dissolve prematurely.
6. Too much travel and/or tension on the check spring, causing the loop to dissolve prematurely.
7. Overly twisty thread that causes the loop to twist away from the hook.
8. A burr, or other defect at the tip of the hook.
9. Intermittently binding top thread.
10. Intermittently binding bobbin thread.

[pokerinot]

Thank you Wizcrafts! I am making my way through this list, unfortunately none of the simpler problems seems to be it! I guess I have a lot to learn about hooks and shuttles and check springs(I can't find mine!).

Thank you Wizcrafts! I am making my way through this list, unfortunately none of the simpler problems seems to be it! I guess I have a lot to learn about hooks and shuttles and check springs(I can't find mine!).

[pokerinot]

What causes skipped stitches?

Skipped stitches can be caused by any or a combination of the following defects:

• Early or late arrival of the hook, above the eye of the ascending needle.
• Excessive clearance between the gears that drive the shuttle and hook.
• Insufficient foot pressure that allows the leather to lift with the needle.
• A burr on the tip of the needle.
• The needle is too large for the thread. The oversize hole causes a loss of back tension on the loop, causing it to dissolve prematurely.
• Too much travel and/or tension on the check spring, causing the loop to dissolve prematurely.
• Overly twisty thread that causes the loop to twist away from the hook.
• A burr, or other defect at the tip of the hook.
• Intermittently binding top thread.
• Intermittently binding bobbin thread.

Have you ever come across the feeling that the foot moves the material slightly forward as the needle enters? Could this be related? This machine always has had that feeling but it wasn't addressed by the service I had (I didn't mention it specifically). I haven't seen this happen on other machines.

[gottaknow]

I assume you paid to have the machine adjusted. If so, take it back and ask them to fix it. Take the stuff you want to sew on as well as your thread. It's not unreasonable to expect something to work. They should also watch you sew to make sure it's not something you're doing.

Regards, Eric

[pokerinot]

Thanks Eric, I actually just did that in the end after calling them because an additional problem sprung up on top of everything else. The earlier repair was under warranty.

[TinkerTailor]

Sounds like a tech may not have lovingly caressed one of the adjustment bolts with nearly enough torques and she slipped, Captain.

Needed 2.5 more torques at least......

Edited February 6, 2016 by TinkerTailor

[pokerinot]

Sounds like a tech may not have lovingly caressed one of the adjustment bolts with nearly enough torques and she slipped, Captain.

Needed 2.5 more torques at least......

O NO! will request all kinds of torquage this time!

[Techsew Ron]

We're on it. No timing issues - Just needed to re-install the needle with the groove facing the right direction. In this case it was a bit twisted.

Most of the time skipped stitches can be attributed to improper needle installation, a bur/bend on the needle or improper threading.

Ron

I bought a three year old Techsew GC2603 this summer. It was skipping stitches so I brought it in to the Techsew guys for a timing adjustment as well as an basic once-over as the machine was new to me. Right after I got it back, it sewed about 6" and then the timing went again. I haven't been doing much work because of my day job schedule but managed to get my Christmas presents made without problems. Now I am trying to make a jacket for someone and the machine again is skipping SO many stitches. I can do a little tack properly but anything beyond that is random. I can't seem to get along with this machine! It doesn't help that all day at work I sew on a SunStar machine that never needs a second look, an adjustment, or anything, no matter what type of leather I throw at it. My current problem is mainly during topstitching, going through about 3 thicknesses of light-medium weight chrome tanned leather. I'm worried I'll never be friends with this machine!

[pokerinot]

Thanks Ron, I'll phone at my lunch break. It seems like that can't be the only problem. I tried a few needles and put them in straight! If the one that was in the machine was rotated a bit I think it's because I threw it in there on the way out the door because I had put a number 20 in at some point when trying different things (and I wanted to give you the machine with my preferred settings). Does this account for the hook making contact with the needle? And the stitch length problem? Anyway I will be calling in a couple hours!