Singer 29k shuttle carrier

[setup]

Hello dear Leather Workers!

I recently got Singer 29k31 patcher and while checking if everything is on place I found that shuttle carrier is kinda loose.
At my place I only got 130/705 H needles and cant really see if the patcher works correctly at the moment, so I'm about to order right needles and I wonder if its typical for this machines for having that loose, or I gotta order new shuttle carrier either.

Heres the video showing my doubts: https://youtu.be/WQPcjIgAn3E

[Wizcrafts]

The gear that drives the shuttle carrier must be really loose, or maybe even missing. It shouldn't move more than about 1/16". It's also possible that the teeth on the gears are worn out. Finally, there is an eccentric screw under the main body that connects to the rack gears under the arm and it could be backed out too far, or shot.

There is a small screwdriver hole on the rear of left end of the arm, where you can use a 1/16" blade screwdriver to try to tighten the set screw on the driving pinion gear. You will need to rotate the hand wheel until the screw is lined up with the hole in the arm.

You can use 1.75" long System 29x3 and 29x4, or 135x16 and 135x17 needles in it. Household needles are much too short.

[setup]

Thanks for quick response @Wizcrafts , that was the case. Shuttle carrier is definitely more stable now.
There is still a bit of loose on the gear, but I guess its acceptable? https://youtu.be/Q2XzR5anfTE
I will need to replace screw that holds shuttle carier because whole head is missing and I couldnt tight it well enough, so it may come loose again in the future.
Needles I got are too short for hook to pick the loop, so on Monday gonna hit local store and look for these you mentioned. Thank you 

Edited November 1, 2020 by setup

[Wizcrafts]

23 minutes ago, setup said:

Needles I got are too short for hook to pick the loop, so on Monday gonna hit local store and look for these you mentioned.

It will have to be an industrial sewing machine store to get those needles. You won't find them where they sell domestic zig zag and embroidery sewing machines.

[setup]

@Wizcrafts They had needles I needed, however I still had problems with loosy screw and picking up loop by the hook.
I dont have any experience with patchers and I just starting my sewing journey after years of watching my mother doing this, but in my opinion shuttle hook does not go back far enough and starts moving forward before needle create loop that is big enough to be taken by the hook.
Unfortunately I forgot to record a video, because I focused on that tiny broken screw that took me good amount of time to unscrew it out. But I found from where loose come from... Hole in the base pin is badly worn, so probably even new screw pinion i already ordered will not gonna hold shuttle carrier good enough.
While theres whole variety of parts for 29k patchers on web, there is no single shuttle carrier that match my Singer 29k31, with part number #81953.
Any luck that shuttle carrier from different patcher may work here?
Other idea that comes to my mid is welding up the hole a bit, that pinion screw gonna sits there more tightly. Maybe any of you have some better ideas? Praying for the best 

[shoepatcher]

Take the large spool of thread OFF the spool pin.  It puts too much tension on the needle thread as it unwinds.  You need a thread stand behind the machine and a fine  hole in the spool pin to act as a thread guide. common mistake made by a lot of people with this machine.

You will have a very hard time finding the small screw for the shuttle carrier.  No longer made and the newer screws are different threads.   hole in shuttle carrier needs to be welded up and re-bored.

glenn

[setup]

Thanks @shoepatcher, this will save me a lot of time and money. If recent parts not match I will look through local services. There are also some original driving gears that comes with the screw listed locally.
My pinion screw missing only a chink for screwdriver, so I can probably make a new chink and still use it anyway. Only doubts I have are about making new hole on shuttle carrier in right position for correct timing, but there is one good welder that fixed lot of parts for old letterpress used in my work, so I gonna try to figure it out.
I was able to sew for a while by positioning shuttle manually before each loop and noticed tension issues with big spool, so thats a good tip. I think that I seen photo of thread stand made with two wires somewhere on the forums. Gonna try it out

Edited November 2, 2020 by setup

[setup]

Id like to thank for help that gave me hope and pushed forward. I managed to fix my shuttle carrier by welding up the hole and making new one. I also grinded new chink on top of original pinion screw
and both parts are now totally fine.
Whole repair may seem silly, but for me the hardest part was measuring place for new hole so I could keep correct timing of the shuttle. Previously it didnt move back far enough to pick the loop and because I never seen patcher in work, it kinda overhelmed me trying to imagine without any references how correct timing of the shuttle should look like. Luckily position of new hole turned out to be made in the right spot and timing of the machine is now perfect!
https://youtu.be/WnabZs9Xr9s
Complete machine with trip to nearby city and welding service took me about 125€, so sounds like not a bad deal for this beauty. Length of single stitch is 4.1mm, and thats more than my needs so I'm very satisfied with final results.
I'm also glad that I found this forum where I read lot of useful informations. Now its time to get deeper into practice
Peace

Edited November 12, 2020 by setup

[Wizcrafts]

Bravo! Now, check for excess movement in the presser foot mechanism. any free motion forward and backward translates into lost stitch length. That requires brazing up or replacing the feed motion cam that rides inside the ring on the bottom of the revolving bushing in the head.

[Constabulary]

4.1mm is a very good score for a machines of this type and age. When you increase the foot lift and decrease the foot pressure it may improve the stitch length a little bit.

[shoepatcher]

also check the spring i in the needle bar above the needle clamp,  Machine sews good but a lot of slack in the needle thread as it enters the leather you were sewing,  Spring may have a grove worn in it or be broken.

glenn

[AndrewRespawnShoes]

привіт всім У мене також є модель Singer 29k 31 і я маю дуже маленький стібок (2 мм), який більше не регулюється, з чим це може бути пов'язано? Дякую і перепрошую за мою англійську, тому що я пишу вам через перекладача.

[AndrewRespawnShoes]

Hello everyone. I also have a model singer 29k 31 and I have a very small stitch (2mm) which is no longer adjustable, what could this be related to? Thank you and I apologize for my English, because I am writing to you through a translator.

[Constabulary]

Increasing the foot lift and decreasing the foot pressure can help to gain a little bit stitch length. Other than that it most likely is the bell crank lever tip that is worn down. You can buy made in China Bell Crank levers new but you often have to modify them to make them work for the ancient 29K models. Some years ago I did that on a 29K1 and it worked. Or you rebuild the bell crank lever tip by brazing or welding and file it into shape again. The tip diameter is ~5mm on a new bell crank lever. But keep in mind other parts on your machine may be worn too so it could be more than just the bell crank lever.

This was my restoration 10 years ago:

https://leatherworker.net/forum/topic/60554-29k1-pre-christmas-barn-find/

And this is the bell crank lever

https://www.ebay.com/itm/162385595622?