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-   -   Anyone know about Phaff Tiptronic 2020 (https://www.quiltingboard.com/vintage-antique-machine-enthusiasts-f22/anyone-know-about-phaff-tiptronic-2020-a-t261597.html)

mcfay 02-21-2015 04:58 PM

Anyone know about Phaff Tiptronic 2020
 
Mine all of a sudden hung up. I was sewing quilt blocks and had just finished a seam and started another one. I was chaining them off. It stopped and made a side step. I had to hand wheel the needle backup. I was about half way through a bobbin so I'd been using off it for a while. Had not had to re thread the needle. Had not sewn over a pin, (I do not use pins when I piecing). There was a tiny piece of ling came out when I pulled the fabric away. I took off the throat plate, cleaned it really well.

When I try sewing it does the same thing. I can hand wheel it and the hook is picking up the top thread buy is not dropping it for the next stitch. There will be two loops on the hook, if I continue there will then be three loops on the hook. That is when it then hangs up. It never completes the stitch.

miriam 02-21-2015 05:07 PM

I know just about nothing about Pfaff machines. Have you tried different needle and thread and new bobbin - well just take it all off and redo it. Look at your thread path to be sure everything is flowing smoothly - some times thread will do it's own thing and stuff happens.

mcfay 02-21-2015 05:32 PM

Yes to all the above. I changed, needle, thread, bobbin. Put the drop of oil on the bobbin race like the manual said. I was thinking it jumped time, but would the hook even pick up the top thread if it had jumped time. It runs great when it is not threaded.

mcfay 02-21-2015 05:33 PM

By the way, don't know if it makes any difference but it's a front loading bobbin. I have no idea how to get the hook and race out.

quiltedsunshine 02-21-2015 05:56 PM

1 Attachment(s)
It's a front loading rotary hook. First, you need to remove the needle plate and see if there's thread wrapped around the hook, and remove it if there is. The needle plate just pops off, no screws. Or, the "finger" that holds the race in place has moved out of position. I'll try to attach a picture. The red arrow points to the "finger," and the blue arrow points to the bracket that holds it in place. I don't have a Pfaff picture, so this is a Bernina, but they are the same concept. You'd loosen the screw on the bracket, put it back in place, which isn't all the way tight. It's more like barely holding it in place. Then re-tighten the screw. It might be something you'd rather have your repair tech do. But here's a picture...

mcfay 02-21-2015 06:18 PM

Thank you, tomorrow I will go out and check it out. I hope that is all that's wrong.


Originally Posted by quiltedsunshine (Post 7100252)
It's a front loading rotary hook. First, you need to remove the needle plate and see if there's thread wrapped around the hook, and remove it if there is. The needle plate just pops off, no screws. Or, the "finger" that holds the race in place has moved out of position. I'll try to attach a picture. The red arrow points to the "finger," and the blue arrow points to the bracket that holds it in place. I don't have a Pfaff picture, so this is a Bernina, but they are the same concept. You'd loosen the screw on the bracket, put it back in place, which isn't all the way tight. It's more like barely holding it in place. Then re-tighten the screw. It might be something you'd rather have your repair tech do. But here's a picture...


coopah 02-22-2015 06:18 AM

I have the Pfaff Tiptronic 2030, but have never had this problem. If you have a good tech, I'd leave the problem to them. The Tiptronics were made for piecing and are workhorses. Sorry you're having this problem and hope it gets solved soon.

ArchaicArcane 02-22-2015 03:37 PM


Originally Posted by mcfay (Post 7100227)
I was thinking it jumped time, but would the hook even pick up the top thread if it had jumped time.

Typically not, no. It's easy to check timing to rule it out. We've been discussing timing in this thread: http://www.quiltingboard.com/vintage...ml#post7097563

I don't think your Pfaff has a timing line on the needle bar anywhere though does it? That makes it a little harder to check. Make sure your needle is set to the center position and put it on straight stitch. The Pfaff service manual for that machine says that you check it at this point:

Turn the handwheel until the needle is all the way down, then continue turning until it has risen 2.2mm. At that point - the hook point should be exactly behind the centerline of the needle.
1 inch = 25.4 mm so that check is done at 0.0866" or just a little more than 1/12". This is a little less friendly than the Singer machines and wanders into feeler gauge territory. You should be able to sort of eyeball it though to get an idea.

If it's to the left or to the right, the timing is wrong and needs to be checked. I ran into this problem with a Bernina and for the life of me I can't recall what the cause was but the take up lever was also a problem on that machine too.

mcfay 02-22-2015 05:48 PM

When this weather clears up I'll try to get a picture of bobbin and how the thread stays on the hook. Right now it's been raining all day here and suppose to freeze tonight and sleet tomorrow. My sewing studio is in a separate building so It will probably be a couple days.

I checked it this morning and it doesn't look just like the picture Quiltedsunshine posted. Made a little different at the top.

blueheavenfla 02-22-2015 11:18 PM

I have a Pfaff 2170 and had this same thing happen just 2 days ago. I did all the usual with the thread path, rethreading (in spite of the fact that it had just been sewing fine and started the problem mid seam). I had just, the evening before when I finished sewing, given it a thorough cleaning out so I didn't think it was a lint problem. Just to be sure, I checked and there was no visible lint. BUT just to be sure I took my brand new tiny stiff brush and pushed it in everywhere it would fit and pulled out one tiny bit of fiber that had either escaped my brush (the tiny ones like we used to use on the spouts of our percolators many years ago) the night before or had somehow entered the bobbin area while I was sewing (with a different color thread) that morning. I know my level of frustration and can certainly imagine yours. I hope you are as lucky as I was and have just the right brush/tool to get any nasty lint that may be causing your problem. You can do it; just keep trying. Get up and walk away for a few minutes if you need to but go back when you feel calm again and it may just magically get fixed with your next try.

Lena1952 02-23-2015 04:48 AM

When was your machine serviced last? If it hasn't been serviced in the past year have it done. You'd be surprised how many times that fixes the problem when i take in machines for repairs. Good luck.

mcfay 02-23-2015 07:32 AM


Originally Posted by Lena1952 (Post 7101871)
When was your machine serviced last? If it hasn't been serviced in the past year have it done. You'd be surprised how many times that fixes the problem when i take in machines for repairs. Good luck.

That I couldn't say, I just bought it used about 3 months ago. It was pretty clean when I got it, and has been sewing beautifully. I even went through all the decorative stitches. My problem is I will have to drive at least an hour to a dealer. Just can't be done at this time. I'm sure glad I have backup machines.

hairquilt 02-26-2015 06:20 AM

My 2020 has done that same thing. I usually try all above suggestions & it eventually was OK-not sure which thing I did fixed it. Machine is over 10 yrs old but I do love it still!! IDT is the way to go for me!

quiltykiwi 02-26-2015 06:17 PM

A friend of mine with a Pfaff machine ( vintage unknown) had this very problem last Wednesday at our sewing meeting, she cleaned out underneath and used a new bobbin. still no go, top thread looked fine but she took it off the machine and noticed that the top thread had flipped out of the tension guide. Once rethreaded the machine gave no further cause for anxiety or vexation ! Good luck with yours

mcfay 03-19-2015 06:42 PM

Update, DH finely decided to look at it this morning. He just kept hand turning it and he saw a tiny piece of thread. He used my serger tweezers and pulled it out. I retheaded it and it is sewing like it's suppose to again.

quiltedsunshine 03-19-2015 07:59 PM

Yea! Good to hear that you're back in business!

coopah 03-21-2015 03:43 AM

Thank goodness for helpful hubbies! YAY!

KenmoreGal2 03-21-2015 03:47 AM

I am always amazed at how a tiny piece of thread can gum up the works. The tolerances on sewing machines are minuscule.


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