Free Motion with Pfaff 1471 questions, help please!
 

Please give me some hints, as I am starting to lose hope of finding the answers online so far.

I have a darning foot on the machine, and am trying to quilt but neither foot up or foot down is working. I have the feed dogs dropped, so not sure what I am doing wrong.

Any pointers will help. thanks!!

Pam,
I not sure what is not working. Are you unable to move your fabric for free motion quilting? If you could explain a little more, perhaps we can help.
Val

Do you have a little icon on the right, that you're supposed to touch, looks like a presser foot with a vertical arrow next to it? I have one on my Pfaff 2170, but I don't know if you have the same thing.

Have you raised the equal feed attachment. I can't remember if it is possible to leave it down with the darning foot on but that would certainly stop it moving. I seem to remember when I used the 1471 for SITD the quilt kept pressing the buttons and changing the settings so you also need to watch that if you solve the other problem. It can be very confusing.
I assume you are using a straight stitch - sounds stupid but it could be that simple. I bet when you find the reason it is very simple and you will kick yourself.

There might be a position between up and down that the lifter will rest on. Gently nudge the presser foot lever back as you lower it and see if the FMQ position is there. My QE will only work FMQ properly when in this position, think it has something to do with the tension being engaged without being in the down mode.

FMQ w/Pfaff 1471
 

Judi is absolutely correct! You must raise (or lower) the presser foot while nudging the lever to the back, and you will feel a "resting place" before it is completely lowered. This engages the tension but leaves the darning foot up enough to move your quilt underneath. I have a #1475, and #1171...and that's how they both work. You want to also make sure the IDT foot is raised (the walking foot).

To see where the 1/2 way mark is lay your machine on it's back and look up into the area where the needle shaft goes into the machine. It should be where the pressure foot lever raises and lowers. You just have to move the pressure foot lever towards it when you lower it.

I have the 7570 and I put just a bit of pressure towards the back of the machine on the pressure foot lever and it catches the 'hook'.

Good luck!

yes! I needed to find that half way mark with the presser foot, and now there are no birds nests on the bobbin side, etc etc!!! yay! thanks everyone!!