pfaff 545 145 Pfaff 545 Foot Movement Isues

[Kryptonite]

Hi Guys,

After having fun with my Singer 111W155 Rehab a few months ago....

 

I thought I would try it again. I purchased a Pfaff 545 H3 with motor/table for $100 because it would not sew. I figured it looked pretty good and chances are it could be fixed.

It had at least 2 issues. The Safety Clutch had popped, which I reset. Second was the 2 pressers feet where not moving right. The Inside sort of looked ok. The outside foot was not moving at all, and its lowest position was 1/4" or so above the needle plate. I found the 2 screws that hold the presser bar in position and lowered the outside foot to touch the needle plate.

After playing with the adjustment screws, as noted in picture below, for 2 hours trying many combinations I still could not get the outside foot moving at all.

Could a Pfaff expert suggest a solution?

Thanks,

Will in Central Florida

   

 

 

Edited March 15, 2018 by Kryptonite

[Kryptonite]

Got it :-)

Presser Vid...

 

[Kryptonite]

Ok I think I figured this out  maybe.

I have 2 pressor tension leaf springs running along the top of the machine. If I remove one spring the outside foot seems to be walking.

So if that is the fix... why does the parts manual show 2 springs (661 - 662)? 

Maybe something pertaining to the knee lift operation? My machine head is not mounted in the table right now.

Cheers,

Will from central Floida

Edited March 15, 2018 by Kryptonite

[Haderimouve]

Hi Kryptonite,

Sorry not to be helpful ... I also have a 545 with EXACTLY the same problem !

Hope  that some guys will be able to give some help !

Edited March 15, 2018 by Haderimouve

[Uwe]

Your feet don't walk because the front foot doesn't really make contact with and press against the feed dog - it simply goes in circles above the feed dog. The rear foot can only lift up if the front foot can press against something (feed dog or material.) If you put some 1/4" thick material under the feet, they will probably walk right now because the front foot can press against the material. 

As to why your front foot doesn't touch the feed dog, I can't tell from the information you provided. 

 

[Uwe]

Here's how my Pfaff 545 is adjusted to get proper walking foot movement:

 

[Haderimouve]

Hi Kryptonite, 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.

[Kryptonite]

Uwe you were absolutely right. There was not enough pressure on the front foot to enable the outside foot to lift. Thank you so much for the video. I followed the steps you outlined and now my dancing like they just left the factory. I looked at the hook timing and the hook is just missing the needle in the middle of the scarf... I think I'm in business.   I am hoping to run some thread through the machine this weekend to see if it sews.

Thank you again for taking the time to share your knowledge. You help make this Forum great!  And I'm sure many people will benefit from the video as there is not much information about the Pfaff 545 foot timing.

Cheers,

Will in Central Florida

[imawalkingfoot]

On 3/15/2018 at 5:36 PM, Uwe said:

Here's how my Pfaff 545 is adjusted to get proper walking foot movement:

 

Hi uwe,

 

Follow the steps on the video but now I have another problem on my pfaff 335

 

Soon as I start using the machine, the front feet is pushing more pressure onto the needle plate and i can see the needle plate bend down a little bit?

 

Have you encounter this before?

If you have, what is the solution?

 

Thank You