Pfaff 138-6 Old but New to Me!

[suzelle]

Greetings Everyone!

I just wanted to say THANK YOU again to all of you who helped with ideas and advice. My Pfaff 138-6 is running like a champ now, not breaking needles any longer!

These are the things I did to the machine:

1- sanded down the needle hole (zig zag slot) in the plate with a very fine sand paper to prevent thread from snagging on burrs or rough spots

2- cleaned & oiled all the moving parts. 

3- adjusted upper and lower tension to fit thread I'm using: Bonded v69 poly coated

4- Installed $65.00 knee lifter part (not the whole lifter, just the "Pawl" I think it is called (has a silver roller/disk) under the bed of machine.

5- Started with size 18 needle, kept breaking. Moved down to a size 16 needle, working flawlessly now.

6- Replaced the original thread stand that was broken. Cost was under $20.00, shipped.

6- Built /Replaced a very damaged drawer that housed the accessories. Adjusted rail. Added a 2nd layer to drawer to easily access most used supplies.

That's about it. I do want to get a few parts for the machine and will likely add a new motor and a new table. I'd like to give it new paint and new decals to make it look new. I'm pretty pleased that I can start using my v69 thread, as I have collected quite a bit of it over the years. It was too heavy for my Juki TL98 machines, and too light weight to keep in my Pfaff 545, which is set for using v92 thread.

Hopefully this information will help somebody in the future, my reason for posting.

Again, THANK YOU all!!!

[Gregg From Keystone Sewing]

Here's the book for this machine, dug deep out of Keystone's archives, if it was not already posted here;

Pfaff 138 Owners Complete

[Workstead]

Suzelle, et al. I just became to owner of a Pfaff 138-6/21-BS. I purchased this machine and a Singer 600W1 complete with tables, motors and some bobbins. The Singer has a knee lift but the Pfaff doesn't. the total price for both of them was $150 so,even though I only wanted the Pfaff I figured I would also get the Singer and maybe sell it. I have been looking for a walking foot machine but this might do for now.  I rewired the Pfaff with proper wiring and added a light as well. In researching this machine for whatever information I could get (I'm a researcher at heart) I came across a lot of good information but one site (blog) had some information about adding a foot operated reverse pedal. The Pfaff 138 has a feature that allows this. Here is a link to the thread that explains it. Hope it helps someone.
 http://www.ashleyandthenoisemakers.com/blog/2015/3/7/pfaff-138-review-1

 

I plan to add it when I get to sewing on my 138. 

Clem

Edited May 20, 2017 by Workstead
Added my name. Added a photo

[suzelle]

Clem, that's nice! A friend of mine did that on his Pfaff 138. Great job! Looks like you got a steal of a deal on that! Fun fun!