Hotrodding a Pfaff

So my favorite sewing machine has a problem. It has a motor that is 50 or 60 years old. It is one of those old universal Safety Motors made by the Mercury company. Plus the pedal is one of the type every sewing machine guy tells you to replace because it is a fire hazard. You know, the kind with either German resistance wire or nichrome in it. Where they basicly made a toaster to use power in order to control motor speed.

So being as I use the Pfaff a LOT, and in the interest of not burning the house down, I am thinking of making some changes. Besides there is a really loud hum on this machine when it is running, and the motor (which has no vents!) is starting to heat up faster and hotter all the time.

Has anybody here ever upgraded their motor? What did you use?

Anybody upgraded an old motor with one of those new servo motors? I have to say having the thing start up immediately without having to turn the flywheel is a dazzling concept. Being able to begin with both hands on the work, and starting at a constant speed are tremendous sale points.

I am looking at this one:

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But I need to do more research first. The current motor is 1/13 horse, a jump to 1/2 seems like quite a lot. I would want to make sure the machine could handle it, though heaven knows I could use the torque on some leather projects.

DH is already having a joyous time researching pedal possibilities. I have been treated to lectures on the differences between hand and foot controls, adapting potentiometers to foot pedals, and all such fun stuff. He is curretly having fun figuring out how to build controls into an old Cybaby WahWah pedal (a guitar effect). Just because he thinks it would be majorly cool to have me running the sewing machine with a wahwah pedal.

Oh! It is a Pfaff 130. Which is why I suspect it could handle a half a horse.

NightMist maybe I should shop for wee bitty flame decals while I am at it.

Reply to
NightMist
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Pfaff 130s were being bought up by the carload to take to India and environs to put in factories where the machines are run off a central motor, so I doubt that the machine would have a problem with a bigger motor. It's an all-metal, all-mechanical machine, so it will go as fast as you can drive it - though you should slow down if it starts to glow red. ;-)

Perhaps Ron or gwh will turn up to comment on this, since they are the resident experts in the field. I am sure that you can replace both the motor and the controller, but I don't have the knowledge to advise you on what you could use for the substitution.

Reply to
Pogonip

If you have the correct table to mount the industrial motor on then as long as you keep it on the low speed and the machine oiled well you should be ok. It is over kill however for a home sewing machine. If your going that route no need to look into foot controls as it does not use one. On the other hand many folks use the 1.5 amp universal home motors and coupled with an electronic foot control no heat build up.

Reply to
Ron Anderson

I suggest you take Ron's counsel on this - the motor he's suggesting would not likely overheat, as he says, and would give you everything you want. Ron knows his stuff.

Reply to
Pogonip

DH tells me mounting should be a minimal issue.The current motor is on a "universal mounting plate", and if the new motor doesn't like that one, another more suitable one can be obtained.

I know the servo motors don't require a foot pedal, but I would want one modded in, more or less an on off switch so I can start up with both hands on the work when needed. I sew a lot of silk, and I sew a lot of leather, and I sew a lot of long seams on both since I am doing repeat work for a lady who wants 6 and 9 foot plus finished widths of both. Both silk and leather are materials that you do not want to let roam free when you are sewing acres of it at a go. Since the leather is usually upholstery grade, running 5 to 8 ounce weight, I want a little oomph when I need it. Which is why I was looking at an industrial level upgrade. Besides when I work I work. If I am putting in an 18 hour day on something or other, I do not want to have to keep taking breaks to let the machine cool down. Bad enough that I have to take breaks to keep my fingers from cramping or to keep from hardening in postion at the machine! (G)

NightMist

Reply to
NightMist

You know those central motor factory set ups are why my dad's side of the family thinks sewing professionally is a very dangerous buisness. Though I am not quite sure why they keep repeating the sad tale to me since all my machines have their very own motor, and it would take some doing to kill myself on one save by the most bizarre mischance.

Apparently one of my great aunts was working in a factory like that way back in the nineteen teens or twenties. The story goes that one of her hairpins came out and when she stood up the loose lock got caught in the overhead belt and yanked her right off her feet and broke her neck.

I don't know how true that is. This is the same family that claims one of my uncles drowned because he went swimming too soon after eating and got a cramp. Actual witnesses to the event report that he went boating while drunk, lost an oar, jumped in after it, and was too drunk to swim. It was a Moose Club picnic so there were a LOT of witnesses.

NightMist Big family, gallons of whitewash

Reply to
NightMist

ROFLOL!! Family stories do have a way of getting embellished - and whitewashed. It's hard to see how auntie got her hair caught.

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managed to sew through a finger, though.

Reply to
Pogonip

My guess is DH has never seen this motor save the photo on the web page. Likely does not comprehend it weighs in at 35 pounds or so, You can NOT modify it to use a foot control. First off foot controls are able to handle only 1.5-2.0 amps the Servo motor is more like 4-5 amps. Also the electronic in it would go berserk if you mess with it. Just my advise. Not really worth the much unless you believe 30 years as a technician means anything.

Reply to
Ron Anderson

I second this. Ron knows his stuff, and all of our machines very well. And he's incredibly generous with that knowledge. If he says "don't" I really wouldn't.

Sharon

Reply to
Sharon Hays

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