efka variostop troubleshoot

[Badem]

Dear all, 

I have got my hands on a pfaff 561 with an efka variostop motor. I'm a true newbie with (industrial) sewing machines and I really didn't know much about the machine before purchasing and how to value it. I've come across the problem that the machine shuts off when I decrease the pressure on the footpedal (from fast to slow stitching). I don't know what happens, I can only explain it as the experience of lowering the speed in a (clutch) car and the speed becomes too low for the gear and the car finally shuts off. The efka motor of the sewing machine "stutters" and then finally shuts off as if it has short-circuit. I can't restart the motor up until (over) a minute later, before it starts and shuts off again. The seller told me the machine works on 220 Volt, but maybe not? Are the settings not compatible? 

I would really appreciate it if someone with the knowledge can give me an update on the do's and don'ts with the efka motor! Was this purchase a mistake? 

In the meantime I got my eyes on an Adler 67-73 L with a servo motor, though it is double the price. Would it make more sense to return the pfaff and invest in the Adler? 
I am situated in the Netherlands and don't work with leather but I make bags and wallets with waste tarpaulin. 

Edited December 29, 2018 by Badem

[blue62]

When I bought my adler 467 it had a efka motor on it, that was 220 volt 3 phase, it worked ok for awhile running it with a phase converter but something happened with the electrionics, and it was easier to convert it to a servo than fix it,  I think a 3 phase motor will run on single phase power but the electronics might do strange things, servo installation was straight forward, on my machine i lost some of the automatic features such as the thread cutter, auto backstitch, and footlift.  i built a switch box to control the air footlift and reverse.

   

 

[Badem]

thank you blue62, this is exactly what I was not searching for in my first machine  trouble ! 

Anyone has an opinion or rather experience with an Adler 67-73 L? 

[Constabulary]

Since I have an interest in sewing machines I came across 2 or 3 of these motors they all didn't work properly and I figured it really was a waste of time an money trying to repair them (BTW I had no luck). When they run - great - keep em running - if they do not run just scrap them and buy a servo motor. It´s is a nice idea to "revitalize" old motors to save resources, avoid waste and to save money and so forth - I absolutely agree - but honestly if you invest more than $25 (not speaking of your time) it is not worth it. And you don´t know how long they will "survive".

I have tried several types motors and setups but the best solution for me (yet) is a servo motor + speed reducer. Lot´s of control, lots of torque (if needed) and you have energy.

My 2 cents.

 

EDIT:

check the timing belt of your Adler 67 - if it is brownish and brittle / has cracks - do not buy it - changing the timing belt on an Adler 67 class is a real pain. I did it once and and don´t want to do it again.

Edited December 30, 2018 by Constabulary

[Badem]

38 minutes ago, Constabulary said:

Since I have an interest in sewing machines I came across 2 or 3 of these motors they all didn't work properly and I figured it really was a waste of time an money trying to repair them (BTW I had no luck). When they run - great - keep em running - if they do not run just scrap them and buy a servo motor. It´s is a nice idea to "revitalize" old motors to save resources, avoid waste and to save money and so forth - I absolutely agree - but honestly if you invest more than $25 (not speaking of your time) it is not worth it. And you don´t know how long they will "survive".

I have tried several types motors and setups but the best solution for me (yet) is a servo motor + speed reducer. Lot´s of control, lots of torque (if needed) and you have energy.

My 2 cents.

 

EDIT:

check the timing belt of your Adler 67 - if it is brownish and brittle / has cracks - do not buy it - changing the timing belt on an Adler 67 class is a real pain. I did it once and and don´t want to do it again.

thanks for your input ! Would you consider $800 a fair value for the Adler 67?
The Pfaff 561 was only $343 , maybe better keep it and change it to servo? Ahh choices..  

[blue62]

I would put a servo on the Pfaff and call it good, it seems everything for the Adler machines is very expensive in comparison to others.

[Badem]

5 minutes ago, blue62 said:

I would put a servo on the Pfaff and call it good, it seems everything for the Adler machines is very expensive in comparison to others.

true, though the Adler has triple feed, the Pfaff 'only' needle feed. I've considered the upgrade to triple anyway for the near future as my materials are all slippery and in times very thick to sew a multi-feed is a requirement.

After an additional websearch I've found now also an Adler 67 - 73 for only $285 but with a clutch. Maybe get that one and change it to servo, which I can get for about $230. 
Is changing clutch/variostop to servo an operation I can do by myself or requires a specialist? 

[blue62]

When I changed mine it was pretty straightforward, the servo mounted in the same holes as the efka, I needed a different belt and had to lengthen the rod to the pedal.