Originally Posted by denise d
Help, clearly my internet search skills are lacking.
I have a model 27 that I installed a belt on this morning.
Let me preface this with... this is my first ever treadle and I am learning (using a big curve) ;)
Anyway, I have the belt on, but it seems really hard to get started and then as I get the peddle moving the belt seems to slip. Is it operator error in the form of not knowing the proper "treadle technique" or is my belt too loose?
Any help you can give would be much appreciated!!!
Denise, have you oiled the treadle iron joints and pedal joints? If no, you need to do that, if yes you probably have oil in the belt groove. You will need to wipe the belt groove off in the treadle irons and on the wheel belt groove. You also need to wipe the belt to make sure there is no oil residue on the belt itself from when you cleaned and oiled the machine. Also, if your belt is old and hardened leather, slick feeling, you probably need to get a newer more pliable belt. I had trouble with my Free treadle's belt slipping because it had an original belt that had hardened. I put a new belt on and solved the problem.
Your belt should be loose enough that you have a little play in it, but not so loose it can be removed from the wheel easily. And, yes when I started to learn to treadle I had a LOT of operator error with my feet. I would go back and forth and just break threads! My husband had no problem at all -- so irritating! It takes practice! I learned on a 27 -- loved to sew with that old gal.
Nancy