Damas Report post Posted February 19, 2019 (edited) Hello, I am new here and this is my first post on Leatherworker.net Its been a few month now that I am reading with great interest leatherworker.net forums as it is such a fantastic ressource ! I am in a process of retraining and will start a six month traineeship provided by a professionnal. The goal is to obtain a certificate of profesionnal competence (french diploma), the key to start to work by myself. I will mainly learn traditionnal hand sewing techniques but because I know sewing machines are being also very usefull with leatherwork I have bought two second hand machines, based on what I have learned here. The first one is the light one, it is a singer 31k15, an allrounder for textiles and for light and supple leather. It was in perfect condition, bought it for 35$ complete, with table and motor to it's first owner who stopped sewing because of her age. I have cleaned it, oiled it because it's been kept in a garage since "a while". Original motor was a racing beast and I haven't been able to tame it, despite all my efforts. I then bought a 550 w chinese servo motor and it is now perfect ! I really love it and it works like a charm : The second one should allow me to sew heavier leather, it's a walking foot, a Mitsubishi DU-105 22 (large hook/bobin). It's I guess an old machine, and according to what it looks like, a heavy worker for years, but I did not payed much for it, about a 100$, with table and motor : According to what I have learned, it's a Juki lu-563 clone (large hook/bobbin) I have oiled it, as it was as dry as the Sahara, but no hard point in the mecanism. The clutch motor is OK (from 1978 !), not as wild as the one I got with the 31K15 and easy to slow down and control, despite it's big pulley. Even though, I think I will change for a servo because it's so much confortable. This machine seems to work well but I had a terrible time trying to get a nice even tension. I ended up with a relatively nice stitch (but not as perfect as I want) with almost no tension in the bobin thread, and a lot of tension in the upper thread. Well I thought I had a lot of tension, because when pulling my textile at the end of sewing was really hard. I then realised that tension was not released when the presser foot was up. Tension discs stayed tightly joined Searching on this forum I saw Uwe's video about replacing a thread tension release guide on a Tacsew T1563 which is also a clone of LU-563 Uwe's video And I then realized that thi part was missing and some others too. The machine has been modified. We can here see that thread tension release guide is missing : The long spring under the arm of the presser foot is missing too and the arm itself was modified, I believe to adapt a pulling system in order to release the presser foot (the system is working) but this arm moves a lot, it's loose, holded only by the big screw on the right. My questions are : 1. What are the consequences of the missing thread tension release guide and big spring : - can this explains the difficulty I am encountering to adjust tension, even though I have carefully forced the thread between the two discs to be sure to have tension. I believe my thread path to be OK. - should I replace both parts and if yes, where can I find them 2. Is a 550w servo motor powerfull enough to run a walking foot machine or do I have to see bigger I also have watched Uwe's others videos on hook timing, and other settings that must be applied to this kind of machine and I believe these points to be OK (but I can still be wrong, I am a novice) Sorry if I don't make myself very clear or use approximative words as english is not my mother tongue ! Thanks for reading ! Edited February 19, 2019 by Damas Pictures not showing up Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Damas Report post Posted February 19, 2019 Ooops... I have a problem to insert pictures Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wizcrafts Report post Posted February 19, 2019 @Damas Welcome to Leatherworker.net and the Leather Sewing Machines forum. I see you are having trouble uploading your photos to your post. There is a rather small file size limit per photo so you may have to reduce the photos considerably to upload them. There are a number of online and offline programs that can reduce both the dimensions and quality to bring down the file size to under our limit. I recommend FastStone Photo Resizer. Sometimes you have to transfer photos from a phone or tablet to a computer to place them on a forum like ours. Try that after reducing their sizes. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Damas Report post Posted February 19, 2019 Hello Wizcrafts, thank you for your prompt support and welcome ! My pictures are actually hosted by google, not on my computer or phone. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Damas Report post Posted February 19, 2019 Problem solved, images are now showing up. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
shoepatcher Report post Posted February 20, 2019 The Mitsubishi DU-105 looks like a copy of the Singer 211. It has reverse like the Singer but it is a large hook machine so it is one of the later subclasses Singer built in the 211 series. glenn Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CowboyBob Report post Posted February 20, 2019 The tension release only works when you pick up the foot,it has nothing to do with tension settings.Have you taken the adjuster nut off & taken the discs out to check for grooves & or lint or dirt on them? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Damas Report post Posted February 21, 2019 Hello CowboyBob, When you say "pick up the foot" does this mean when you lift it ? If yes, I confirm that it isn't released when lifting the foot. I am glad to here that this problem has nothing to do with the quality of the stitch itself. I have checked the discs, they were clean but it looks like thread has digged a path in it with time. I'll take a picture and post it here. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Damas Report post Posted February 21, 2019 Yes Shoepatcher, it's true, it looks like the Singer 211. I've read that this Mitsubishi is a Singer 111W clone Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Damas Report post Posted February 21, 2019 Here is a picture. I have circled in red the path carved by thread in both tension discs. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
shoepatcher Report post Posted February 21, 2019 Replace those tension discs. They have groves worn in them. glenn Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Damas Report post Posted February 21, 2019 Right, thank you, I'll do that straight away. I just need to find them... Hard to find mitsubishi parts Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gregg From Keystone Sewing Report post Posted February 21, 2019 DU-105 Parts Book CLICK HERE See attached owners, we sold one of these a few years ago. Top Japan quality up there with old world Seiko and Juki. Mitsubishi DU-100, -120 Instruction Manual.pdf Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Constabulary Report post Posted February 21, 2019 (edited) Tension unit looks a bit like a Pfaff tension unit. Since you are from France I´d check with college sewing in the UK. https://www.college-sewing.co.uk/mitsubishi-industrial-sewing-machine-spare-parts/ You may find other useful parts or maybe a servo motor there. it worth browsing their website. The DU-105 for sure shares some parts with the Singer 211 so checking Singer parts could be also helpful. Edited February 21, 2019 by Constabulary Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Damas Report post Posted February 21, 2019 (edited) Hello Gregg, Thank you very much ! Very helpfull ! Hi Constabulary, very interesting but very high shipping costs for such small pieces (about 20€ !) I'll sure have to combine.. About servo, do you have any advice regarging it's size for this walking machine ? There is so many Edited February 21, 2019 by Damas Answer Constabulary Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
