Pfaff 545 Thread size max

[Jeff Claridy]

yes system 134 135. I looked up the length of 134 and the length of a 190 system needle. The 190 being longer length so will need to set needle bar height when I change to the 190 system needle to correct the timing.

[Wizcrafts]

Jeff;

Needles don't just vary in length. They can also have different upper barrel diameters and barrel lengths, before tapering down to the designated needle size. Your machine may or may not accept or properly seat the system 190 needles in the mounting hole.

[Jeff Claridy]

I will check them out once they arrive. The manual actually calls for the 190 system on the H4, so unless someone has changed parts on my machine I'm expecting them to work.

 

System 135x17 is generally used in walking foot (compound feed) industrial sewing machines. It is also known as 3355 and DPx17. 
Please note that 135x17 refers to the system, or type of needle; size (diameter) is denoted by the suffix. 
For example, 135x17-21 is the smallest, or thinnest size we offer in this brand; 135x17-24 is the largest, or thickest size. 
The eye of the needle increases with the thickness to allow for sewing heavier threads. Needles listed here are standard sharp point only.
135X17     This is a very common Needle SYSTEM used by:
ADLER ARTISAN BROTHER CONSEW DURKOPP JUKI MITSUBISHI
NAKAJIMA PFAFF SEIKO SINGER SIRUBA TAIKO TOYOTA

They are also seen as numbers DPX17   SY3355
 

190R      
Please note that 190R refers to the system, or type of needle; size (diameter) is denoted by the suffix. 
For example, 190R-21 is the smallest, or thinnest size we offer in this brand; 190R-24 is the largest, or thickest size. 
The eye of the needle increases with the thickness to allow for sewing heavier threads.

Length, butt to eye: 44.5mm. Shank diameter: 2.0mm.

Needles listed here are standard sharp point only.  
This Needle SYSTEM is used in many PFAFF Industrial Sewing MachineMODELS:
145       146       195       335       540       543       545       546       1240       1245       1246       1545       3306
for   Walking Foot,  Double Needle,  and many other PFAFF INDUSTRIAL Sewing Machines

 

[Wizcrafts]

I can buy both system 135x(16|17) and 190 in sizes 16 through 25. The sizes 16 and 18 are best for sewing #69 bonded thread into about 4 - 5 ozs of leather, or 3/32" of vinyl or cloth. #19 and 20 needles are best fo #92 bonded thread, into about 6-8 ozs leather, or up to 1/8" of material. A #22 needle is for sewing #138 bonded thread into vinyl or cloth and a #23 for sewing it into leather.

[Jeanneau403]

Hello, I have purchased a 545 model C,  it appears most folks have asked the question how thick of material can be sewn, my question is kind of the opposite.  I have purchased the machine for doing boat canvas (sunbrella) work.  I have been sewing with a pfaff 138 with Tenera thread and #14 needles.  

With the Tenera thread the smaller needle diameter works better.  It appears a number #14 needle is smaller than recommended for the model c 545, is this a thread tension spring issue?  Thoughts?

I am asking on this forum as this forum has the most information on the practice use of the 545.

Thanks in advance for any insight.

 

 

[Pintodeluxe]

You'd probably break a lot of needles with that small of a needle on a 545 (if it even fits).

I have the H4 version which takes 190 system needles.  I use #19 or #20 for 92 thread.  I think the 545 will sew 138 fine, but I'm not sure about anything thicker.  

[Jeanneau403]

The machine I purchased is also a H4.  Manual for the 545 lists needle sizes based on models A, B C etc, maximum thread size is not the issue.  The Gortex Tenera thread is similar to v-92 thread.  They recommend (Tenera)  a smaller needle #14, #16 when using the thread..  Pfaff manual says model “c” minimum needle size is #18.  Is this based on thread tensioner, needle bar, what??  Model B minimum needle size is listed as a #12.  

pfaff 138 sews with the Tenera and sunbrella well, but purchased the 545 for the walking foot, not sure if I have purchased a machine that won’t work with the needle & thread recommendations and the use of the specialty Tenera thread for prolonged outdoor UV exposure.

 

 

[Pintodeluxe]

That's interesting about the minimum needle with different variants of the 545.  I wasn't aware the minimum needle size was different from one 545 to the next.  

The difference might be something simple like the size of the needle hole in the feed dog.  If it doesn't pucker your material, and sews well, it's probably fine.  Maybe try a 16 or 18 needle and see if you can find a good middle ground.  

[Constabulary]

1 hour ago, Pintodeluxe said:

That's interesting about the minimum needle with different variants of the 545.  I wasn't aware the minimum needle size was different from one 545 to the next.  

The difference might be something simple like the size of the needle hole in the feed dog.  If it doesn't pucker your material, and sews well, it's probably fine.  Maybe try a 16 or 18 needle and see if you can find a good middle ground.  

 

You are right, it´s that simple and as so often in life - size matters. The size of the needle hole in the feed dog or needle plate and the needle to hook distance and the gap between needle plate notch and the small tongue on the bobbin case (or positioning finger at the Pfaff 138) have an influence on the thread thickness you can use. This is often overlooked and people think they would need a different machine or different subclass to run thicker thread. You can achieve a lot by adjusting the hook saddle. Moving it a bit to the right makes the gap between NP notch and bobbin case tongue a bit larger and therefore thicker thread can slip through. When machines have a horizontal hook (like Pfaff 138) they usually have a positioning finger that holds the hook in position and the finger can be adjusted back and forth to allow a thicker or thinner thread. This is trial and error and there is no rule of thumb of how thick the max thread can be. It depends on the original setting and of course every adjustment has its limits. But most important is the needle hole. If the hole is too small for the needle further adjustments make no sense.

[acowboy]

If I remember right if your machine sets different in forward and reverse, try turning the lever over inside the reverse handle

easy fix.

also my 545 stays loaded with 207 top and bottom