Pfaff 145 needle and/or foot not lining up

[24602]

Hello, new here and first time poster. I was a shoe making apprentice 15 years ago but kids and life got me off track. Now the kids are grown and i am wanting to try and get back to the most enjoyable ‘making’ I’ve ever done. 

I was given a pfaff 145 by a brother apprentice and have cleaned and figured out (i think) all the adjustments. However, there is an issue with either the needle or foot. The needle hits the center of the feed dog but is way off center (L/R) with the inner foot. Before I start disassembling, I thought I might should ask advice to determine the most likely source of the problem and approach to determine and repair. So excited to get to work but have to get this straightened out. Thanks in advance for any help y’all are willing to offer. 

 

I’ll try to post a photo. 

Edited January 6, 2020 by 24602
added photos

[Constabulary]

I´d open the face plate and check if the guide for the needle bar rocking frame is properly positioned and if the pivot pin and NB rocking frame are all the way to the right.

 

[24602]

Yes,sir. Just checked and the guide is tight to the NB rocking frame and the rocking frame and pin are all the way to the right. While looking at those things, it does seem the inner foot is sitting off to the right. Not centered in the outer foot. Not sure it is enough off to put the needle back in the center of the hole but offering more info. Can be seen in the second photo. 

[JJN]

Try putting a new needle in the machine. I think the needle is good because it is lined up to the feed dog hole. I suspect the foot is bent. Do you have any other feet that you can try?

Where in Oregon are you located? I am in Grants Pass.

Edited January 6, 2020 by JJN

[24602]

Hey there. I’m in Roseburg. I did try a couple needles and they looked the same. I don’t have any other feet but have grown quite suspicious, like you, that feet/foot might be the issue.  I guess i need to get my hands on one a see what happens.  There are a couple others in out community. I looked one yesterday but the inner foot is a different style than mine. Will try to see the other one soon. If the feet are the same type maybe i can borrow them to check. 

[JJN]

24602, I have a Pfaff 545 laying around here that I can borrow the feet from and send to you to test with. Just send them back when you are done.

[24602]

JJN, that’s a very cool offer. Let me first check with my friend over the hill to see what his looks like. There are three of use here who apprenticed under the same teacher and have good relates. 

[DanishMan]

I suggest you download the 245/1245 service manual. It describes the different steps in setting up a machine.

it is very explanatory and 95% applies for a 145/545.

https://www.supsew.com/wpfb-file/pfaff-245-1245-246-1246-service-manual-pdf/

Good Luck

Danishman

 

[24602]

Danishman, Thanks for the suggestion.. I do have a manual and used it to make all the adjustments.  Quite a learning process.

I looked over the presser feet and they seem to be tool steel hardness and likely very hard to bend.  At this point I'm doubting bent presser feet. 

Check out the photo below.  Wondering if the machine was dropped or severely mishandled at some point and the presser foot bars might be bent. Possible??  Does the foot lifter look bent or is that how they look - bent off at a slight angle? how do I check the straightness of the presser foot bars? Disassemble? I saw mention, somewhere, of a disassembly manual.  Is that real thing?

So want to get to sewing.  

Edited January 8, 2020 by 24602
spelling

[DanishMan]

From what I can see from the photos, the needle enters the feed dog and the vibrating presser slightly offset (to the left).

From the 245/1245 service manual, I would try to work a bit on the sideways adjustment.

I had a 145, which was causing me a lot of problems in sideways adjustment. I did find that the needle bar rocker (as indicated by Constabulary) was able to pivot slightly sideways, which messed up how the needle entered the feed dog.

[DanishMan]

[24602]

So that did help move the needle to the right a little but did not improve the relationship between the needle and vibrating foot.  actually both feet appear to be too far to the right. 

[24602]

Alright, a little progress...  i remove the outer foot bar and it is definitely bent although not as I would have expected. It is bent at the top of the bar. Removing the inner foot bar seems a bit more involved so will study that a bit today. 

I did quick search and easily found a replacement for the outer bar but the the inner seems a bit scarce. Can anyone help with a US source for these bars?

[24602]

Appears the inner foot bar is bent at the foot mounting stub. 

Is straightening these commonly done or is replacement the only way to go?

[shoepatcher]

Contact Luke At MJ Foley.  He should be able to get you the bar in either genuine or generic.  They were and are still Pfaff dealers.

glenn

[24602]

Thanks for the connection. I haven’t been able to get to talk to Luke but another gal took my information and is supposed to call me back.  I am having a bit of trouble understanding the parts list. My machine an 145 H4 and I don’t see that listed on the pages. What pages do I use for my machine? 

Edited January 15, 2020 by 24602