Sewing for guys: knee lift install (industrial sewing machine)

[@JebbAdams]

I have a knee pedal for my Singer 401A motor. This pedal has a better knee pad; looks larger, more comfortable, than the skinny metal one that came on the table. I'm gonna try one. Awesome channel! I binge here! I like your vids on Sailrite's & the Thompson Mini; there is a Reliance brand here in Canada. Reliance makes other products besides quality "industrial" type machines. I'll be up in the garment district this week; so I may see all 3 models, used perhaps. Greetings from McGill Ghetto, Montreal, Canada. Thank you very much!! Merci beaucoup!

[@MarithaAndersen]

Hi, do you know if any machine can be fitted for a kneelift, or is it only machines that have something different in them that can have it? Asking because I only have one arm and it's hard to take the foot up and down at the same time as holding the fabric in place.. Didn't think about that, when I bought my machine🤦‍♀️

[@thejasonofalltrades]

Hi! Most industrial sewing machines should have the necessary components for a knee lift, although they may vary from machine to machine. There are some domestic sewing machines that are equipped with a knee lift, but I don't know of any that can be retrofitted with one (without some serious custom machine work, anyway!). If you have an industrial machine, look underneath for a lever or a place where the knee-lift lever would interact. There may be a rod coming up through the bed of the machine that connects to linkage that travels over to the presser foot lift. This linkage could be inside the arm of the machine in some cases. In your case, it might be helpful to buy or make some soft fabric weights; small bag/pillow-like objects filled with sand, beads or other heavy-but-conforming material. You could keep a few next to the machine to place on the fabric to hold it in place when you need to lift the foot. It's not a perfect solution, but it might at least keep the fabric from falling off of the machine when the foot comes up. If an industrial machine is a good choice for you, a knee lift in combination with a servo motor with needle-position would be extremely helpful to you. Some modern, higher-end domestic machines may also have some of the same advantages. My Bernina Record 930 has a knee-lift and the ability to stop sewing needle-down, and to lift the needle using the pedal, for instance. These are typically not inexpensive options, though. I hope that helps, if you have other questions feel free to ask!

[@postholedigger8726]

The straight piece of the torsional spring goes in the hols and the hook portion goes around the bolt. david

[@thejasonofalltrades]

Thanks!

[@elizabethweiss1913]

What does it do.? What's the purpose?

[@kathygeffen256]

I have the same machine and it has the bracket but no lift. I need the lift -. All my others have one! Thanks for showing how it works on this machine.

[@adrielrowley]

Chuckled at the sign. ;) Going through the channel from the beginning as great content and understand where came from to possibly where heading.

[@sorasoramimi7491]

I'm by no means a specialist, but I believe that spring is a spare to the spring that's inside the sewing machine in the area you touch with the lever to raise the presser foot. At least, that's the case in the machine I bought. So if the presser foot lift stops working and there's nothing wrong with the lever, you can see if the spring in the machine needs replacing.

[@thejasonofalltrades]

That's great information! I no longer have this machine to check, but that sounds like that might be right. Thanks for watching and for answering my question!

[@karnvirsingh9460]

Hi can you please help i got singer 20 u 125 c knee lift does not control the zig zag width

[@thejasonofalltrades]

Hi! Sorry for taking so long to reply. If you look under the bed of the machine, there are TWO small levers that the knee lever can interact with; one controls the presser foot lift, the other provides control for zig-zag. You will need to loosed the knee lever and reposition it to control the zig-zag. It will no longer control the presser foot lift (it can't do both at the same time). I hope that helps! Thanks for watching!

[@rgmfilms5325]

Hi, I’m thinking of trying to make my singer 4411 a knee lift, any suggestions?

[@thejasonofalltrades]

Hi! I honestly don't know that there is a reasonable way to convert that machine to a knee-lift. Anything is possible, but you would need to completely engineer something specifically for that machine. The domestic machines that have knee-lifts (like the Bernina 930) are designed with internal mechanisms for the knee-lift, which won't be present in your machine. (The Singer 20U in this video is similar to a high-end domestic machine with an internal mechanism for the knee-lift.) Industrial machines (or machines like the Singer 1200) have an external linkage with a hole through the bed, and a pivot point in the back of the arm of the machine. Converting a 201 using the 1200 as a pattern would be pretty simple; they're the exact same machine, and drilling and tapping a hole for the pivot would be simple enough. I'm a huge fan of overcoming limitations in unexpected and ingenious ways, but honestly, I believe you'd be far better off saving the money and time you'd spend and just getting a machine that has a knee-lift (depending on your sewing needs, a walking-foot machine might be in your future, anyway). All that said, there is a thread somewhere on an old Sailrite forum somewhere where a guy used bicycle brake cable to make a knee-lift for a Sailrite Ultrafeed. I suppose a solution like that is possible for your machine. I've known about this idea for at least 7 years, and there is a reason I have never pursued it myself, but your mileage may vary. If you end up making something work, I would love to hear about it! Good luck!

[@rgmfilms5325]

@@thejasonofalltrades thank you for the bike brake cable idea. I was thinking of maybe making something in CAD that would either pull the existing lever up or maybe somehow make a pulley system. I do agree with you though about better off saving up.

[@bigguisy]

Is this possible on a 15-90?

[@thejasonofalltrades]

Hi! For a knee lift to work on a machine, it has to have the mechanism in the machine to facilitate it; the 15-90 does not. As an example, the Singer 1200 is a special version of the 201 that is equipped with a knee lift. To use the knee lift from a 1200 on a regular 201, you would have to drill holes in the body/frame of the machine, tap some of those holes to the proper thread for a bolt to be inserted, and I think change (or add to) the presser foot bar in order for the lift to actuate it. So, someone with some machining experience could technically make something that would work with a 15-90, but it would be a labor of love and probably not a worthwhile investment. There is definitely not a "plug and play" option, though. I hope that helps, thanks for watching!

[@elizabethweiss1913]

Did you ever find out what the spring was for with the knee lift.

[@thejasonofalltrades]

A couple of people commented with ideas, but I had sold the machine before receiving those comments, so I wasn't able to confirm them, sorry!

[@ciscospice]

One guess - the spring is useful for the zig zag control - basically to add tension so that managing the stitch length can be done with more control. This is a highly desirable machine for the variable zig zag capabilities.

[@bafoonboy5238]

Is the black lever at the bottom of the machine that lifts the presser foot able to be operated by hand? I just purchased a singer 20u83 and im trying to install my knee lift but even when i use my hand to push it, its not lifting the presser foot. Even setting up the knee mechanism up and testing it doesnt do anything. Any suggestions?

[@thejasonofalltrades]

Hi, I don't have my 20-33 anymore, but if I recall, there are two levers under the machine - one to raise the presser foot, and one to initiate zig-zag - and the knee lever can be used to activate either one. Are you sure you're pressing on the foot lift and not the zig-zag? Other than that, yes, it should be able to be moved by hand with some effort. It could be stuck by old lubricant that has varnished. If so, a thorough cleaning and lubricating may free it up. I hope that helps!

[@laverneh2030]

Hello. I know it’s been a while, but please tell me how you solved the lift problems. I have the same issues with a 20u-83. The knee lever spins on the rod trying to push the lever to raise the pressure foot.

[@TrimzzDotNet]

@@laverneh2030did you figure it out. I am having the same issue but trying to figure out which way the bar goes to lift the lever. I also cannot push it up with my hand.

[@TrimzzDotNet]

@@thejasonofalltradesMine does not move by pressing with my hand either. still having a hard time figuring out which way the bar goes that pushes on the lever to lift it.

[@randallrun]

Thanks for your tip regarding knee lifts on the Sailrite Ultrafeeds, you mentioned on another video. More specifically, about using a bicycle cable hooked from the lift arm to an added on knee lift. I easily found that old Sailrite forums post you mentioned , and am seriously thinking about attempting it. Do you ever think about doing it with your LS-1?

[@thejasonofalltrades]

I considered it, but I honestly don't think it's worth it for me, simply because I have two industrial walking-foot machines with knee-lifts. I think the benefit of the portable walking-foot machines like the Sailrite is that they are portable. Going to the expense and trouble of putting it in an industrial-style table and fabricating a knee lift seems to result in an undersized, cobbled-together almost-industrial walking-foot machine, rather than just having the real thing. I could see a case for it if you truly needed to only have one machine, and mostly used it in a table but still needed portability sometimes. I'm up to 21 machines, though lol!

[@eliezerriveraperez3054]

Hi,that spring is for the pedal return to the original position some time stock on the travel.😀

[@thejasonofalltrades]

Thanks! I no longer own this machine, but I appreciate the info!

[@narendravispute8567]

Sir wich model of u r sweing machine

[@thejasonofalltrades]

Hi, This machine is a Singer 20-33 (a version of the 20U). I hope that helps!

[@jeffk444]

Hi,liked your video.I am having a problem with the juki walking foot machine I bought.Apparently juki makes an amazing machine but a crappy,cheap knee lift.Only after having the machine for less than a month the pin that locks my knee lift bar decided to break and fall out.I put it back in one too many times and I stripped the threads where the pin screws into.Called the company to complain and they are sending me out another knee lift but I am certain it will be the same crappy cheap knee lift.Now after that long intro to my question-can I use the knee lift you got for your machine on other machines like a juki?Your knee lift looks way more sturdy and less likely to fall apart.Any help you can give me would be greatly appreciated.

[@thejasonofalltrades]

Hi Jeff, The knee lift I used in this video is a universal one, so I think it would probably work. I bought it from Ralph's Power industrial sewing machine shop in Denver. You might give them a call, they are very knowledgable and can definitely tell you if it will work, or direct you to the right one if it won't. Good luck! (Side note - I don't have much experience with Juki machines, but a co-worker likes his so much that he insisted on bringing it to work to use instead of the Pfaffs the company uses.)

[@DundoMarinko]

For better tread cut tread with sharp scissors only for clat never paper on angle 45%, Put little be wax or vaseline on finger .Cut white credit card or strip harder paper and position behind needle whole raise needle to top and you see much better ,.The spring got to be to fill resistance on lag look other similar machine .I will need to do that for friend all the best from Chicago,

[@Romidear]

You should upload a video about how to assemble an industrial sewing machine 20u33 o something like that...

[@jihadalmistarihi2429]

Hi I always watch your videos and find them very useful I have the same machine Can you kindly help me and show how to adjust the feed dogs upward/downward and forward/backward. Thanks

[@thejasonofalltrades]

Hi, Sorry for the slow response to your question! I no longer own this machine, so I'm afraid I can't help you. Singer machine manuals for all of their machines are available on their website, maybe you can find the answers you need that way. Good luck!

[@colin101981]

Looks to me like you've done a great job, it works and by the look, smoothly. Thanks for posting this. I've an industrial blind hemmer and the knee lift on that is pretty 'rough', not that sleek, but like you say it works. It definitely pays to shop around doesn't it? Cheers, Colin

[@master.afzaal]

👍

[@jeremiahjohnson7329]

Hey I found this online showing where your spring should be installed on the knee bracket. leatherworker.net/forum/topic/44628-anybody-know-how-to-hook-up-a-knee-lift-on-a-consew-226r-1/

[@thejasonofalltrades]

I sold this machine some time ago, but thanks for sharing this information!

[@tripwire4727]

thanks!

[@inpreetsidhu432]

nice

[@annstewart1983]

You installed the lift yet you manually lifted the foot. Lol

[@thejasonofalltrades]

Old habits die hard!