Pfaff 487 Guide

ADJUSTMENT MANUAL
296-12-18 646/002
Justieranleitung engl. 06.09
This Adjustment Manual is valid for machines
from the following serial numbers onwards:
# 2 756 862
487

The reprinting, copying or translation of PFAFF Service Manuals, whether in whole or in part,
is only permitted with our previous authorization and with written reference to the source.
PFAFF Industriesysteme
und Maschinen AG
Hans-Geiger-Str. 12 - IG Nord
D-67661 Kaiserslautern

Index
Contents ..................................................................................Page
1 Adjustment......................................................................................................................... 4
1.01 Notes on adjustment ............................................................................................................. 4
1.02 Tools, gauges and other accessories for adjusting ............................................................... 4
1.03 Abbreviations ......................................................................................................................... 4
1.04 Explanation of the symbols.................................................................................................... 4
1.05 Checking and adjusting aid .................................................................................................... 5
1.06 Adjusting the basic machine .................................................................................................. 6
1.06.01 Balancing weight.................................................................................................................... 6
1.06.02 Needle in needle-hole centre................................................................................................. 7
1.06.03 Neutral position of drop feed ( Adjustment with the gearcase closed................................... 8
1.06.04 Adjustment with the gearcase opened.................................................................................. 9
1.06.05 Actuating lever under the reverse-feed control.................................................................... 10
1.06.06 Feeding motion of drop feed................................................................................................ 11
1.06.07 Lifting motion of drop feed .................................................................................................. 12
1.06.08 Height of drop feed dog....................................................................................................... 13
1.06.09 Clearance between presser foot and needle plate ............................................................. 14
1.06.10 Top feed actuating link ......................................................................................................... 15
1.06.11 Neutral position of top feed ................................................................................................. 16
1.06.12 Feeding motion of the top feed dog .................................................................................... 18
1.06.13 Vibrating presser clearance.................................................................................................. 19
1.06.14 Top feed lifting motion ......................................................................................................... 20
1.06.15 Position of lifting presser ..................................................................................................... 21
1.06.16 Synchronizing the top feed .................................................................................................. 22
1.06.17 Stitch length alignment ........................................................................................................ 23
1.06.18 Eccentric hook shaft bearing and hook-to-needle clearance................................................ 24
1.06.19 Final adjustment of needle rise, needle height, and bobbin case position finger..................25
1.06.20 Bobbin case opener height .................................................................................................. 26
1.06.21 Adjustment of the bobbin opener........................................................................................ 27
1.06.22 Bobbin case opener motion................................................................................................. 28
1.06.23 Needle thread tension release............................................................................................. 29
1.06.24 Thread check spring and thread regulator ............................................................................ 30
1.06.25 Bobbin winder...................................................................................................................... 31
1.06.26 Knee lever resting position .................................................................................................. 32
1.06.27 Knee lever play..................................................................................................................... 33
1.06.28 Knee lever stroke limitation ................................................................................................. 34
1.06.29 Position of vibrating presser in relation to lifting presser ..................................................... 35
1.06.30 Pressure of the vibrating- and lifting pressers...................................................................... 36
1.06.31 Stitch length limitation ......................................................................................................... 37
1.07 Parameter settings (only on machines with EcoDrive and control unit P40 ED).................. 38
1.07.01 Parameter list....................................................................................................................... 38
2Circuit diagrams ................................................................................................................ 39

Adjustment
4
1 Adjustment
Please observe all notes from Chapter 1 Safety of the instruction manual! In
particular care must be taken to see that all protective devices are refitted
properly after adjustment, see Chapter 1.06 Danger warnings of the instruc-
tion manual!
If not otherwise stated, the machine must be disconnected from the electrical
power supply.
Danger of injury due to unintentional starting of the machine!
On the PFAFF 487 do not use a screw clamp on the needle bar!
The special coating of the needle bar could be damaged.
1.01 Notes on adjustment
All following adjustments are based on a fully assembled machine and may only be carried
out by expert staff trained for this purpose. Machine covers, which have to be removed and
replaced to carry out checks and adjustments, are not mentioned in the text.
The order of the following chapters corresponds to the most logical work sequence for ma-
chines which have to be completely adjusted. If only specific individual work steps are
carried out, both the preceding and following chapters must be observed.
Screws, nuts indicated in brackets ( ) are fastenings for machine parts, which must be loose-
ned before adjustment and tightened again afterwards.
1.02 Tools, gauges and other accessories for adjusting
● Set of screwdrivers with blade widths from 2 to 10 mm
● Set of open-ended spanners, 7 to 14 mm across-flats
● Set of allen keys, 1.5 to 6 mm
● Metal rule, part No. 08-880 218-00
● Adjustment pin (5 mm dia.), part No. 13-030 341-05
● Adjustment gauge, part. No. 61-111 639-49
● Adjustment link, part No. 91-069 375-15
● Adjustment foot, part No. 61-111 639-20
1.03 Abbreviations
TDC = top dead center
BDC = bottom dead center
1.04 Explanation of the symbols
In this adjustment manual, symbols emphasize operations to be carried out or important in-
formation. The symbols used have the following meaning:
Note, information
Service, repair, adjustment, maintenance
(work to be carried out by qualified staff only)

Adjustment
5
1.05 Checking and adjusting aid
By blocking holes 1 to 6 with a pin it is possible to accurately fix the required
needle bar positions.
●Turn the balance wheel until the needle bar is roughly in the required position.
●Insert the blocking pin in the required hole and press against it.
●Turn the balance wheel slightly back and forth so that the pin enters the cutout in the
bearing plate behind and thus blocks the machine.
Hole 1 = 0.6 mm past top dead centre of the needle bar (0.6 past t.d.c.)
Hole 3 = 0.6 mm past bottom dead centre of the needle bar (0.6 past b.d.c.)
Hole 4 = 1.8 mm past bottom dead centre of the needle bar (needle rise position)
Hole 5 = top dead centre of the needle bar (t.d.c.)
Hole 6 = 4 mm past bottom dead centre of the needle bar (4 past b.d.c.)
Fig. 1 - 01

Adjustment
6
1.06 Adjusting the basic machine
1.06.01 Balancing weight
Requirement
With the needle bar at b.d.c. the underside of the needle bar must be at a distance of
approx. 16.5 mm from the needle plate.
●Re-position needle bar 1(screws 2) according to Requirement.
Fig. 1 - 02
1
2
16,5 mm

Adjustment
7
● Set the needle immediately above the needle hole.
● Loosen screws 1, 2 and 3.
● Reposition needle bar frame 4according to the Requirement both crosswise and
lengthwise of the feeding direction.
● Tighten screw 3firmly and screw 2 just a little.
● Turn screw 1to take up the guide pin behind it against the eye of the needle bar frame
and tighten it.
● Take out the needle.
● Loosen screw 2, turn the balance wheel a few turns (to remove any binding) and tighten
screw 2firmly.
1.06.02 Needle in needle-hole centre
Requirement
The needle must enter exactly in the centre of the needle hole.
Fig. 1 - 03
1
4
2
3

Adjustment
8
● Set feed regulator lever 1in its lowest position.
● Turn bush 2(screw 3) so that mark 4is facing downwards and the edge of the milled
surface is at an angle of approx. 45° to the front side of the machine.
● (For the final adjustment, see Chapter 1.0.06.16 "Top feed synchronization".)
● Insert a suitable pin or allen key in hole 5of tensioning ring 6and hold shaft 7with it
firmly.
● Turn shaft 7(screw 8) according to Requirement.
Fig. 1 - 04
56
8
7
45°
2
3
4
1
1.06.03 Neutral position of drop feed ( Adjustment with the gearcase closed
Requirement
At stitch length setting "O" the drop feed must not make any feeding movement when the
balance wheel is turned.

Adjustment
9
● Set feed regulator lever 1in its lowest position.
● Turn bush 2(screw 3) so that mark 4is facing downwards and the edge of the milled
surface is at an angle of approx. 45° to the front side of the machine.
(For the final adjustment, see Chapter 1.0.06.16 "Top feed synchronization".)
● Turn crank 5(screw 6) according to Requirement.
1.06.04 Adjustment with the gearcase opened
Fig. 1 - 05
56
45°
2
3
4
1

Adjustment
10
1.06.05 Actuating lever under the reverse-feed control
Requirement
At the longest stitch length setting, reverse-feed control lever 3must have a slight play
(approx. 0.3 mm) when pressed lightly.
● Loosen screws 1and 2.
● Make sure that reverse-feed control lever 3is resting on stop 4, move actuating lever 5
lightly against the reverse-feed control and tighten screw 1again.
Leave screw 2loose until the top-feed neutral position is adjusted
(Chapter 1.06.11).
Fig. 1 - 06
1
2
3
5
4

Adjustment
11
1.06.06 Feeding motion of drop feed
Requirement
At the longest stitch length setting and with the needle bar in position 0.6 past t.d.c. (blo-
cking hole 1) the feed dog must not move when the reverse-feed control is operated.
● Turn feed eccentric 1(screws 2) according to Requirement. Make sure that the cutout
in the feed eccentric is visible.
Fig. 1 - 07
2
1

Adjustment
12
● Turn lifting eccentric 1(screws 2) according to Requirement.
Make sure that there is slight play between lifting eccentric 1and the crank
lever behind it.
Fig. 1 - 08
1
2
1.06.07 Lifting motion of drop feed
Requirement
At stitch length setting "0" and with the needle bar in position 0.6 past t.d.c. (blocking
hole 1) the feed dog must be at t.d.c.
The cutout in lifting eccentric 1must face roughly vertically downwards.

Adjustment
13
1.06.08 Height of drop feed dog
Requirement
At stitch length setting "0" and with the needle bar in position 0.6 mm past t.d.c.
(blocking hole 1) the feed dog must:
1. be centred in the feed slots of the needle plate both crosswise and lengthwise,
2. be at top dead centre and resting against the adjustment gauge throughout its length.
● Reposition feed bar 1(screws 2) according to Requirement 1.
● Lower presser foot onto gauge.
● Turn eccentric 3(screws 4) and eccentric 5(screws 6) according to Requirement 2.
Fig. 1 - 09
3
4
5
6
2
1

Adjustment
14
● Lower presser foot onto needle plate using lifting lever 1.
● Reduce pressure on the presser bar by unscrewing regulating screw 2(knurled nut 3).
● Loosen screw 4, push pin 5out and swing link 6out of the fork of lever 7.
● Set lever 8at its outermost position by turning the balance wheel.
● Place the feed-dog adjustment gauge, cutout facing downwards, under the presser foot.
● Loosen screw 10 and push pin 11 out.
● Loosen screw 12.
● Position the presser foot crosswise so that its edge is parallel with the needle plate
cutout
● Move lifting piece 13 fully down and tighten screw 12.
Leave screws 4and 10 loose for the next adjustment.
12
11
7
6
2
1
3
13
Fig. 1 - 10
8
6
4
7
11
10
5
7
1.06.09 Clearance between presser foot and needle plate
Requirement
When lifting lever 1is raised there must be a clearance of 5 mm between the presser foot
and the needle plate.

Adjustment
15
● Lower the presser foot using lifting lever 1.
● Loosen screw 2.
● Swing link 3into the fork of lever 4, insert pin 5and tighten screw 6(check for free
movement and set lever 4if necessary).
● Set stitch length at "0".
● Position vibrating presser at centre of lifting presser cutout and tighten screw 2.
● Loosen screw 7.
● Align the hole in lever 8with the elongated hole of lever 9, without any lateral play, if
necessary re-position or set lever 8.
● Insert pin 10 with its eccentric lobe facing downwards into the holes of levers 9and 8
and tighten screw 11 .
● Move lever 12 to its outermost position.
● Push lever 8in feeding direction until you feel it move into contact, and tighten screw 7.
● Position the vibrating presser crosswise so that it does not touch the lifting presser
(screw 13).
1.06.10 Top feed actuating link
Requirement
1. All moving parts of the top feed must move freely but without any play.
2. The vibrating presser must not contact the lifting presser.
Fig. 1 - 11
8
9
11
4
6
7
2
1
10
13
12
3
4
5

Adjustment
16
● Raise the presser foot.
● Loosen screws 1, 2and 3.
● Set crank 4parallel with crank 5and tighten screw 2.
1
910
2
54
17
18
Fig. 1 - 12
14
13
16
22
8
7
6
21
20
3
19
1.06.11 Neutral position of top feed
Requirement
With the stitch length and top feed set at "0" and with adjustment link 9fitted, drive lever
22 must not make any movement when the balance wheel is turned.

Adjustment
17
● Set feed regulator levers 6, 7and 8at "0".
● Fit adjustment link 9onto pins 10.
● Rotate the balance wheel and turn crank 11 (screw 12) so that the vibrating presser no
longer moves.
● Loosen nut 1.
● Move linkage 14 up and down several times, and while doing so adjust lever 16
(screw 15) so that the vibrating presser no longer moves.
● Set linkage 14 at the top end of the elongated hole and tighten nut 1.
● Set feed regulator levers 6, 7 and 8at "3".
● Move crank 17 axially and radially against crank 18 and tighten screw 1.
● Remove adjustment link 9.
● Push feed regulator levers 6, 7 and 8fully to the top.
● Set a clearance of 0.5 mm between reverse-feed lever 21 and actuating levers 19 and 20
and tighten screw 3.
Fig. 1 - 13
12
11
15

Adjustment
18
● While continuously operating the feed reverse key, adjust eccentric 1(screws 2) so that
the slot is pointing towards the operator and lever 3does not move.
1.06.12 Feeding motion of the top feed dog
Requirement
When the needle bar is positioned 0.6 mm past t.d.c (adjustment hole 1) and the maximum
stitch length is set, lever 3should not move when the feed reverse key is operated.
Fig. 1 - 14
1
2
3

Adjustment
19
1.06.13 Vibrating presser clearance
Requirement
When the presser foot is touching the needle plate and the vibrating presser is at top dead
centre, depending on the top feed version, with the stitch length set at “0” there should
be the following clearance between the needle plate and the vibrating presser:
1.3 mm when the vibrating presser is operating behind the needle
3.2 mm when the vibrating presser is operating in front of the needle
When sewing thin materials, on machines with the vibrating presser operating
in front of the needle, the top feed stroke can be limited to 2.0 mm by pushing
bolt 9(nut 10) up as far as possible.
● Increase the presser foot pressure somewhat on screw 1(nut 2).
● Lower the presser foot onto the needle plate.
● Position the eccentricity of pin 3(screw 4) facing the needle bar.
● Position the eccentricity of pin 4(screw 6) facing downwards.
● Turn the balance wheel until link 7is in its far rear position.
● Push lever 7(screw 8) down and insert the corresponding feeler gauge (see
Requirement) between the vibrating presser and the needle plate.
● If fine adjustment is required, turn eccentric pin 5(screw 6) accordingly.
Fig. 1 - 15
34
6
5
7
8
1
2
9
10

Adjustment
20
● Turn eccentric pin 1(screw 2) according to Requirement.
1.06.14 Top feed lifting motion
Requirement
With the stitch length set at "2" the lifting presser must rest on the bottom feed dog (see
arrow) when the rising bottom feed dog has reached the upper surface of the needle plate.
Fig. 1 - 16
2
1