Pfaff 545 H3 presser foot that doesn't work

[Haderimouve]

Hi to mechanic specialists !

I'm the owner of some flatbed walking foot machines from Pfaff : one 1245 that run smoothly but also a 545H3 that since I've bought it doesn't work correctly ! It's about to be sure that the machine that I bought in east Spain has suffered a lot at his previous place ...

Without any adjustments till now, the machine sew but with a very low presser foot elevation. When the the elevation screw is settled to his maximal height, the presser foot is only 3 mm above the needle plate (or maybe less ...). If I adjust for an example the elevation screw to it's medium presser foot elevation settle. it just doesn't elevated don't feed the piece of leather I'm sewing !

With the max presser foot screw adjustment :

If I use the presser foot lever, it elevates to it's 14 mm :

I downloaded the technical information of 1245 old cast machine that is close to the 545 but ... It's written in english and I'm completely lost ; I don't even know what lever would give influence in this presser foot elevation !!!

Even if I never worked in adjusting my sewing machines, I'm a somewhat good mechanic using properly the lathe and mill about everyday ... Even if I don't need this machine (Because of the 1245 that work), I would be so happy to fix it because I love the design of this machine.

When I'm not using a sewing machine or a lathe or mill ... I'm building violins !

 

Waiting for your help, thank you very much in advance.

Greetings from Madrid Spain !

Haderimouve.

 

[Uwe]

I just made a video on the subject of walking foot adjustments for Pfaff 545. Perhaps it will help you resolve the issues with your machine as well:

 

[Haderimouve]

Wouahhh Uwe, thanks a lot, this is a great video that will help me fixing my machine ! I'm not at home right now, tomorrow morning I will do the adjustments and will let you updated.

Great forum with great people that share their knowledge, thank you thank you !

[Haderimouve]

Hi Uwe, Pfaff mechanic best Guru !

Finally, I was so in hurry to test your adjustments that I went quickly home to "play" with the screwdriver !

First I tried to change the "Factory" eccentric setting : I unscrewed the two bolts and tried to move the axle with the rod : Impossible to move it !!! Maybe with the help of heat ... (The machine is more than 40 years old, everything is very tight on it !), I just gained to loose one bolt in the foundry and spent about half an hour to recover it !

 But comparing your machine's setting  in the video with my machine's actual setting, I realized that this eccentric on my machine was about to be rightly settled.

Then, I had a look to Kryptonite post and read your reply : I tried to settle again according your advices (Compensating the presser foot with 6-7 mm material) and ... Magic ! Now it works superbly!!!!

Thank you very much for your help ... This machine was in a Spanish mechanic shop and the specialist told me that the machine was too old, suffered too much, that the repair was impossible : I was so sad and deseperate because I love this old Pfaff machines ; So many 545 that have really worse state of preservation than mine are working fantastic, smoothly ; I didn't believe the mechanic that told me that the machine was out of order and I was right !

Please Uwe, continue to edit more such videos : With your experience and official technical informations of settings, we are all able to fix our old sewing machines.

If you plan to visit Spain, I would love to invite you for lunch or dinner here in Madrid !

Thanks a lot,

Haderimouve.

 

[charbs55]

Thank you Uwe, I always learn something from your tutorials. You are excellent!!

Charlie

[Scoutmom103]

Thank you Uwe for your great videos.  I learn so much by watching them.