PFAFF 1245 tensioner issue

[katit]

Need some advice on what to look for. I was practicing with vinyl (automotive) and machine didn't give me any single issue. 10 layers? No problem. fast, slow - no problem.

I finally decided to start practicing with real stuff, leather. Got 2 hides of eBay ($50 shipped!!!) - strictly for practicing, cheap enough but real stuff.

Anyway. Started doing some seams and I hear "pop" sound and bottom thread goes in loops (see pic below). Then I realized that thread coming off the tensioner (see picture). It should stay between 2 plates but it just pops out for some reason. I should say that I did increase tension about 1 turn on top when switched to leather.

However, just to check - I took some vinyl and did bunch of sewing - not problem.

Switched to 2 layers of this leather - within 5 inches I hear "pop" and thread comes off.

 

Any pointers on what I should look for?

[Wizcrafts]

Take the tension disks off and clean and polish them. Remove any thread fragments you find near the threaded shaft. Make sure that the thread has some back pressure before it gets to the tension disks. This helps keep the thread deep inside the disks.

[katit]

8 hours ago, Wizcrafts said:

Take the tension disks off and clean and polish them. Remove any thread fragments you find near the threaded shaft. Make sure that the thread has some back pressure before it gets to the tension disks. This helps keep the thread deep inside the disks.

Thanks! When you say "need some back pressure". How do I achieve that? I can see that the way it's threaded now - 3 holes missed. You see right there on a picture it's only in one hole. And above there is a rod on top with 4 holes, only 2 used. I used instructions I found to thread machine. Maybe for leather I need to put thread through all of those?

[Wizcrafts]

1 hour ago, katit said:

Thanks! When you say "need some back pressure". How do I achieve that? I can see that the way it's threaded now - 3 holes missed. You see right there on a picture it's only in one hole. And above there is a rod on top with 4 holes, only 2 used. I used instructions I found to thread machine. Maybe for leather I need to put thread through all of those?

Yep. Thread through all of the holes.

 

[katit]

Thanks! Seems like this problem fixed also I'm not sure what it was. I use polyester thread from thread exchange (gray one) #92. It leaves some kind of white "wax" on parts. Between tension disks there was some of this wax, but nothing else. Not thread, etc. Pretty clean.

I left machine threaded as is and it started to sew properly without an issue. Weird if it was this piece of wax..

P.S. Now I'm back to my problem with stitch appearance, will post in topic I created before..

[katit]

Back with the same problem. I don't like thread appearance. Does it look OK or I'm thinking too much? 

In this particular case it's Organ 125/20 LR. Smallest I have. Thread is #92 black from Tandy's. 

I don't like how leather get's cut on a bottom and it's too much of a cut on a top, no? Left piece -4 layers, right piece - 2 layers. On 2 layers knot sometimes on top, sometimes on bottom. No consistency.

Edited December 4, 2018 by katit

[katit]

Now, this gray is different thread. #92 from thread exchange. Seems like it lays better, but holes even bigger? Black thread almost feels "stiff" when I pull it through tensioner it's like "grinding" comparing to gray one.

Do you think it's OK and I should just leave it as is? I want to achieve this "puff" effect. Not sure how it called, like thread jams into the leather with stitches going in more radiused. Or maybe this leather I got too dry? This is automotive leather.

[chrisash]

What size needle are you using with the 92 thread

[Constabulary]

Try a round point needle. It´s no that round point only can sew fabric. Thin leather often works fine with a round point needles. Or try S Point or DI Point needles

See attachment - maybe it helps a bit finding the right needle

SCHMETZ-14215_Leaflet-Schneidspitzen_GB-pdf.pdf

[katit]

Too late I mean too late I placed order yesterday with threadsexchange. Ordered LL and LR needlses in size 120 (this one on pic is 125 LR)

I have 130R - not much difference. I'm blaming thread too, gray and black way too different.

Main thing you guys see a problem too, so it's not normal.