juki 246-6 or brother c51

[marsiede]

Had a mechanic look at it today. Asking the seller to replace the needle bar and guage. Mechanic said mechanisms still ok. Hope he is right. Re motor he said clicking sound is normal as it brakes?? Could this be true?

[ke6cvh]

I have been revisiting this old thread allot as we have 246 clones and 335 clones and are super familiar with Philippine machine market.  I want to comment on the needle bar.  In factories in the Philippines it is not uncommon for a mechanic to solder something in place to keep it there.  If needed to be removed it is unsoldered.  I don't think that is a weld in the picture.  The way it is done is to take 50/50 plumbers type solder, buy the cheapest type of non alkaline battery then cut apart and throw away the internal carbon rod, then take the zinc from the carbon/zinc battery, dissolve zinc in muriatic acid until it won't take any more.  The use of the 50/50 solder (50 percent tin and lead) and then electronics type flux (that becomes corrosive at soldering temps) after dipping some of the muriatic/zinc solution on the part to be soldered then use of the paste flux then higher power soldering iron and the solder is how it is done.  This is done in folder manufacturing with thin stainless steel in this country as well as holding parts together in a factory setting.  The picture says to me factory use but not for certain.  Easy to desolder and clean the parts up actually with a higher power soldering iron.  I would not have replaced that needle bar unless it is loose.  Just saying all this because surely lots will visit this old thread and see the solder part thinking it is a hack job....yup allot of factory mechanics are hacks for certain but this particular solder is not necessarily a sign of that.  The mismatched guage set however is a sign of a hack job but easily fixed...... I see lots of available parts for 335 than 246 as China now owns Pfaff is my understanding.  We have both 335 and 246.  I have been wondering I see 335G parts....is that the designation for the larger hook assembly by a "G".  I also find in our later 335 clone it seems to be more willing to take larger needles and top thread than the plder 246 clones but just an observation.   Regards, Mike