Transporting Industrial Sewing Machine

[fredk]

May I add a few suggestions?

1. if you have to unscrew or unbolt a piece, put the screw or bolt back into its hole. A bit of duct tape over it will help hold it from unscrewing again

2. put any removed parts into plastic bags with a big piece of paper saying what it is and where it came off.

3. during any dismantling take loads of photos, to show the part in place and that place without the part

learnt by experience of not doing the above    

[chrisash]

Being Pfaff I guess many bolts will be Metric

[kgg]

1 hour ago, LePoisson said:

I head out in a couple hours so if I need to add anything to the kit, I'd love your suggestions.

The only thing I would add is a Cordless drill and bits.

kgg

[LePoisson]

Thanks again to everyone! I just got home with the machine. 

All teh tools I ended up needing was a #2 robertson screwdriver to take off the thread "tree." 

The machine and table went on a flatbed dolly across the shop and then the staff guy and I were able to just lift it into the back of the van. I put a couple load straps on it to keep the table upright for the drive home, and now here we are... ready to shunt it into the garage. My next post will likely be trying to figure out how to get this thing up and running.

[LePoisson]

For the record, here's how a Pfaff 545 fits in a (badly abused) 2004 Sienna minivan. Now it's time to start the cleanup.

[DrmCa]

Perfest! I am still in the Kansay Special and Pfaff 335 mode (facepalm). They are much taller. Also, K-legs can be collapsed as well if needed.

[kgg]

2 hours ago, LePoisson said:

For the record, here's how a Pfaff 545 fits

Glad you did get it home in one piece.

kgg

[LePoisson]

Thanks for the kind comments folks.

I got it into the garage this morning - it was heavy, but I've moved heavier equipment for woodworking, so not end of the world. It is missing one of the slide plates, and it has a clutch motor. I'm thinking my next steps should be a thorough cleaning and a once-over to make sure everything runs OK. Then I can determine whether a trip to a sewing machine repair place for a tune up is worth it. After that I'll look at a servo motor and whatever other doo-dads will make it magical.

For a price benchmark - I got this at auction with a winning bid of $325 CAD. Once sales tax and buyers premium were tagged on, it came to $433 CAD. I think I did OK. Of course it comes with a Texas guarantee, and I've never seen it run/sew, so who knows. I bought it with money from selling a lathe that was just gathering dust, so as far as shop toys go, there is no change.

[DrmCa]

Sellers have a tendency of selling their servo motor on eBay and then slapping their old clutch motor back on, prior to selling the machine. Just like they sell floor mats and roof racks, before selling a car.

The price sounds about right.

Plates can be found on Aliexpress quite cheap. I know a few sellers, CKPSMS, Germany Quality Store and Evernice come to mind, if you are agreeable to wait for a month or so. Otherwise GSM Sewing is the way to go.

[kgg]

1 hour ago, LePoisson said:

After that I'll look at a servo motor

Checkout Japan Sewing Machine & Supply Co (146 West Beaver Creek Rd Unit 5, Richmond Hill, (905) 764-0100) ask for Chris good service and excellent prices. The price of $433 for the PFAFF was a pretty decent price. They aren't a overly popular brand name in Ontario which probably has to due with upfront new machine cost and aftermarket access to parts / accessories being expensive.

kgg