Did I Buy A Lemon? Techsew Problems

[Wizcrafts]

Of the above listed items, #1 is important when you change height from the collar and other major seams to lesser thicknesses. The outer foot stays up on the higher layer and if the inside foot doesn't have enough alternating distance, the bottom layer will lift with the ascending needle and skip stitches.

[pokerinot]

Thank you again, Wizcrafts! I am doing this dance all over again and your comments are very helpful. 

Do you or anyone have an explaination on how to increase the alternating height of the feet and how high they should be lifting? The outer foot lifts quite high but the inside one doesn't. 

Also, I mentioned before the weird feeling that the material was being pushed forward as the needle went in. Techsew said they looked at it but I just took the face plates off and watched it and the feed dog very clearly shifts forward when the needle has just pierced the leather. Could this contribute to skipping stitches? I've backed off on the inside presser foot pressure because it seems like the pressure causes the shift forward (doesn't move when the foot is raised) but that didn't really work.

Also the bobbin housing is making a god-awful racket so there's that too..... 

Anyway, long day, long rant. Thanks to anyone who is still reading  

 

 

[Wizcrafts]

Pokeriknot;

It appears your machine is in need of expert repair. Take, or ship it to an industrial sewing machine dealer. If it is under warranty, send it to the dealership who sold it to you. If you dink with it and make it worse, the cost of dealer repairs will go way up.

[pokerinot]

Thanks Wiz,

It is a Techsew machine and I have taken it to Techsew several times! I'm trying not to dink with anything that I don't understand, and I think I'll bring it along to another repair shop when I check out skivers next week... It seems to especially hate this leather so I'll avoid it from now on! 

Your check spring tip helped a bit, I think.

[pokerinot]

For anyone who might be looking at this with similar problems:

I just want to finish out this topic. My machine was able to be fixed. I brought it to a very good mechanic (luckily my city has these!). They were appalled at the state and quality of the machine --they weren't even sure they would be able to fix it. Luckily they could and it has been working as well as it can for the past couple months. It was some kind of gear issue deep within the machine that was causing all sorts of bits to wiggle when they shouldn't. I paid 2.5 hours of labour for a total of $150 which was a deal after an time-unspecified rate of $175 which I paid to Techsew for partial repairs, bringing it back 4x, and being told the problem was that my needle was slightly rotated.

For what it's worth (and keep in mind they sell used machines so they have skin in the game) they do not recommend buying cheaper machines made in China. The steel is generally very low quality and they say that sewing at 25 hours/week the machines are designed to last for five years. (Mine is younger and with much less sewing time). They told me they sold one Chinese skiver to a factory and had to give a full refund after six months because the machine was toast. 

If anyone in or near Montreal is thinking of buying a machine, PM me and I'll give you their contact details because I can't recommend them enough. I also bought a brilliant little fortuna skiver from them which I love! 

 

[Techsew Ron]

Glad you were able to get it fixed.

Ron

Edited July 15, 2016 by Techsew Ron