Found in an old barn - Pfaff 545-H4

[Brtz]

Look what I found in the old barn!

I wonder why feed dog goes only forward and backwards without up and down movement? Does this type have it?

Starting restoration now... more photos soon. Regards. Bert

[shoepatcher]

Still has compound feeThis is the heaviest version of the 545 made. 

H4   high lift.

Subclass  D which means largest, heaviest hand wheel.

In the model number  the letters mean  L  which is for leather, M means safety clutch. N means maximum 6mm stitch length. 

This model  has no P in the subclass which is for 4-motion drop feed.  You do not have it.  Rather it has compound feed but the feeding  is more of a skip stitch back and forth  This is used a lot in binding.

Hope that helps.  Clean her up, replace any worn screws or parts, slide plates, etc.   Still has compound feed and a walking foot.   You have a great machine there.

glenn

Edited December 10, 2017 by shoepatcher
missed something

[Uwe]

Here's a Pfaff model number and subclass decoder document:

In Introduction To The Pfaff Numbering System.pdf

[Brtz]

Glenn and Uwe - thank you. This introduction is very useful. 

I need help. Can you look at the end of the needle bar in my 545-H4 please? I cannot recognize if there is any component missing? What these two holes and a scarf are for?

Is that wire on the lower end of the needle bar (now working as a thread guide) is an original part? I cannot recogize it in my part's list.

Would you also suggest me what kind of grease should I use for the perpendicular gears? My machine was almost dry and the alu-covers were mostly out of the grease inside.

I attach some photos I have taken during cleaning the machine. I am going to do some test sewing soon.

Regards, Bert

  

[Uwe]

That machine looks to be in very nice shape overall. Great find! 

That needle bar on your machine looks different than the ones on my Pfaff 145/545. Perhaps your needle bar got replaced at some point. Yours looks like it was designed for use with a separate, tiny thread guide part. That wire is a homemade fix, I think. That wire or screw may actually get in the way between the needle bar and the inner presser foot. It's a tight fit, depending on the foot.

Usually, out of the three holes, one is for the thread guide screw, one is for the needle screw, and the top hole is just a sight hole to see if the needle was inserted all the way.  

On my Pfaffs 145/545 machines the thread guide is built into the tip of the needle bar (and it is often broken on old machines).  I have two replacement needle bars for the Pfaff 145/545 that I got some time ago but haven' t used yet. They're readily available and relatively cheap (Pfaff  Part no. 91-710650-92.)  Both of mine are aftermarket versions. 

Here's are the photos of my Pfaff needle bars, just for reference.

 

Here's a picture from a Pfaff 545 manual I have: 

[Brtz]

This missing tiny thread guide is probably something like that one which comes from Singer... I think I'll replace whole needle bar for a new one...

[shoepatcher]

They make generic needle bars that come with the set screw for the needle.  The lower thread guide is either a slot or hole cut into the needle bar.  I would replace the needle bar.  Despite what people tell you, there are a good number of generic bars available that are not to bad as to price.  If you need genuine parts, be prepared to pay.    Any screws that are "boogered up",  sand and clean up or replace.  Be sure to get an extra needle set screw or  two because they do  wear out.  I recently broke the needle set screw on my  Pfaff 335 and went to replace.  I go into the drawer and low and behold, no extra needle set screw.  I order 8 of them that day because the 545, 335, 345, 1295 and 1245 all use the same set screw for the needle.  I got both genuine and generic to see which is better.  The genuine was $1.18 each, the generic was $.88 each.  Not a lot of money for peace of mind.  To many people on this board do not keep extra parts or screws on hand until they need them.  Not me.  Time not sewing is money.  My advice to you once you get this machine up and running is stock a few parts.   

Keep the pics coming so we can follow the progress on this baby!

glenn

[Brtz]

I am going to replace the needle bar for a genuine one, but used - not new. I have just bought another 545 which is damaged and uncomplete. It was only 50usd but it has probably a lot of genuine parts in a good condition. I decided to buy an extra spare-parts shop  in that way. It is coming in one week, so meantime I did a stitch lenght ffd and bckwd calibration using Uwe's patterns (thanks!). And I am also ordering a genuine, new screws for my machines. Regards, Bert.  

[shoepatcher]

Great.  These are good machines when up and running.  Do you have the manuals for the machine?

glenn

[Brtz]

Have no SM neither for 545 nor for 145. If you have one it will be highly appreciated. The only SM I have is for 1245 - http://www.pfaff.com/SiteMedia/PFAFF/Products/Machines/Support-manuals/pfaff_1245_1246-manual-EN.PDF

Bert,