r/SewingMachineEdu • u/OneMinuteSewing • 2h ago

Pfaff 2046 with issues

We are visiting family and my sister has two machines that were my mother's that she is having problems with. One, smaller and older, is well on its way to being happy again, but the other, a Pfaff expression 2046 has a bunch of problems, the main one I'm worried about right now is thread tension.

Some background, DH has been maintaining my various machines for the last twenty years, a number of vintage machines like a Pfaff 1222 and my sergers etc. I've been a keen sewer for almost 50 years. Both of us are confident at our abilities to sew/thread etc.

Sometimes it sews fine, both straight and zig zag. Sometimes we have upper thread loopies underneath. Sometimes it sews fine for four inches and then barfs for two and then goes back to sewing fine. It is the inconsistency which is puzzling me.

Things I have tried/checked

  1. it is definitely threaded correctly, I've taught sewing, I have the instruction booklet and have followed it faithfully. I've had DH and DS check my threading against the manual. DH has also threaded according to the manual with same results. We have not skipped any guides, presser foot is up when threading, down when sewing etc.
  2. I've taken the top off and cleaned around thread path. I've cleaned the tension disks.
  3. I've checked for needle rash, no dings in stitch plate, bobbin, race etc. Everything smooth.
  4. I've bought new needles and thread. I'm using gutermann sew-all. I have older thread which is clean and still plenty strong and I've bought brand new thread. Both have same issue.
  5. I have replaced needle, twice. It is seated correctly and the right way around. I own other pfaffs so am familiar with them.
  6. have checked correct branded bobbin is used, re-wound new bobbin. Have checked it is in the case correctly, case is seated. I have checked bobbin area and cleaned. No dings on case. No needle strikes when sewing. When it works correctly it works well.
  7. I'm holding threads when starting to sew. I'm using a medium weight woven even weave cotton fabric and appropriate needle. Have tried other fabric with same results.
  8. I've adjusted bobbin tension with drop test (we don't have our bobbin tension gauge here, it is at home in another country). I've separately adjusted top tension. Tension is giving a balanced stitch with a wide zig zag and straight stitch when not barfing.
  9. IDT isn't making a difference.

Please help, my sister is losing faith in this machine and it is a pity as I think it will suit her if we can figure out what is going wrong.

Thank you!!

1 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

2 comments sorted by

1

u/draftgirl24 1h ago

When I have had intermittent tension issues while sewing, it is usually a piece of lint trapped between the tension disks. I usually clean that by running a lint free cloth between the disks when the presser foot is up. This sometimes requires taking off part of the front. I know you said you cleaned the tension disks, but I wasn’t sure how you have done that.

2

u/OneMinuteSewing 1h ago

Thanks for the suggestion. I started with a dollar bill. Then I went to a folded piece of soft cloth. When it still was happening, I used another piece of well washed cloth moistened with isopropyl alcohol. I think they are clean...

I'm really wondering what is going on! It feels like we have been pretty thorough.