UNION SPECIAL 56300VF (01) PDF Document

The oil has been drained from the UNION SPECIAL 56300VF before shipping, so the reservoir must be filled before starting to operate. Maintain the oil level in the OPERATE position and add oil when the needle reaches the black line located to the left of the OPERATE zone. The machine is automatically lubricated and no oiling other than keeping the main reservoir filled is necessary.

Use a straight mineral oil with a Saybolt viscosity of 90 to 125 seconds at 100 degrees F. Before operating, fill the machine with oil. While filling, check the gauge. When the proper oil level is reached, the gauge needle will register on the black line marked FULL. Oil must be added when the gauge needle registers on the black line marked LOW. Although the machine can be operated safely when the gauge needle registers in the OPERATE zone, it is recommended to always check the oil level before operating to be sure the machine is filled with oil to the FULL mark. Do not overfill the machine. Oil must be changed every 2000 operating hours to minimize wear.

To recalibrate the oil gauge, follow these steps in sequence:

Step 1. Place the UNION SPECIAL 56300VF upright on a level surface.

Step 2. Remove the plug screw and tip the machine forward to drain all oil from the reservoir.

Step 3. Remove the lower crank chamber cover on the back of the machine.

Step 4. Fill the reservoir until the oil is even with the bottom of the knee press shaft bushing.

Step 5. Loosen the locknut and rotate the calibrating screw as required until the gauge needle registers on the black line marked LOW.

Step 6. Tighten the locknut, then replace the plug screw and lower crank chamber cover.

Step 7. Fill the machine with oil until the gauge needle registers on the black line marked FULL.

Insert the looper into the looper rocker, pushing it all the way down and tightening the screw against the flat on the shank of the looper. Turn the handwheel in the operating direction until the point of the looper moving to the left is even with the left side of the needle. Note the height of the eye of the needle with respect to the looper point. Turn the handwheel in the reverse direction until the point of the looper moving to the left is even with the left side of the needle. If the height of the eye of the needle with respect to the looper point are the same, the looper and needle motions are synchronized. A variation of .005 inch is allowable. If the distance from the eye of the needle to the point of the looper is greater when the handwheel is turned in the operating direction, the looper drive lever rocker shaft will have to be moved slightly towards the rear. Moving the shaft towards the front acts the reverse.

Insert a new needle, type and size as specified. The looper gauge is 5/32 inch for the UNION SPECIAL 56300VF. Set the looper so the distance from the center of the needle to the point of the looper is 5/32 inch when the looper is at its farthest position to the right. If adjustment is required, loosen the nut and nut on the connecting rod, and turn the connecting rod forward or backward to obtain the 5/32 inch dimension. Retighten both nuts. Make sure the left ball joint is in the vertical position and does not bind after adjustment.

Set the stitch to the required length. This is accomplished by loosening the locknut on the end of the stitch regulating stud and turning the stitch adjusting screw located under the left end of the cloth plate, in the head of the main shaft, which is marked with L and S. Turning the screw clockwise shortens the stitch by moving the stitch regulating stud toward the S and turning it in a counterclockwise direction lengthens the stitch by moving the stitch regulating stud toward the L. Retighten the locknut securely. To prevent destructive damage to the feed drive bearing, the key screw must engage the U shaped key slot in the ferrule.

Set the rear needle guard horizontally so that it does not quite contact the needle at its most forward point of travel. A clearance of .005 inch is permissible. It should be set as low as possible, yet have its vertical face approach within about 3/64 inch of the needle, until the point of the looper, moving to the left, is even with the needle. To move the needle guard forward or backward, loosen the screw, move the needle guard as required, and retighten the screw. To raise or lower the needle guard, loosen the screw and turn the screw clockwise to lower the needle guard or counterclockwise to raise it. Retighten the screw after the guard is properly set.

Tension on the needle thread should be only sufficient to produce uniform stitches on the under surface of the fabric. Pull the needle thread through the eyelets and set the needle thread tension at 3 ounces. Looper thread tension is applied at the cast-off support tension disc assembly, and the adjusting nut should be set so that the tension on the looper thread is just sufficient to steady the thread.

With the needle bar at the top of its stroke, set the needle thread take-up wire so its lower extended surface is 1 7/16 inch above the centerline of the needle lever thread eyelet hole and 3/4 inch across the centerlines of its vertical surfaces. Set the looper thread guide eyelet so its left outer surface is 3/4 inch from the left side of the looper take-up. Adjust the looper thread tension to the minimum required for controlling the looper thread. Set the thread index eyelet on the adjusting plate at 3. Changing the thread tension only balances the stitch so that when 6 inches of sewn seam are raveled back, the needle thread is approximately as long as the looper thread. A 1 inch difference in length is permissible.

Remove the presser spring regulator and presser spring. Adjust the long stop screw in the presser bar guide against the bed casting as required to ensure a clearance between the guide and the top of the presser bar bushing, yet so the guide is pulled up quickly by the lifter lever link when the foot treadle is activated. Tighten the locknut on the stop screw. As a preliminary setting, adjust the spring regulator nut on the feeding presser foot so the distance from the top of the spring to the yoke is 5/8 inch. Assemble the feeding presser foot to the presser bar. With the presser foot resting on the throat plate and the feed dog down, press down on the spring regulator nut until the marks on the presser foot bottom line up with the centerline of the needle, while keeping the needle in the center of the needle slot, then tighten the screw securing the presser bar guide to the presser bar, making sure that the stop screw in the presser bar guide is resting on the bed casting. Replace the presser spring and presser spring regulator. Turn the presser bar spring regulator screw down until the threaded portion is level with the head casting.

The cutting edge of the lower knife should overlap the thread opening by 1/64 inch to cut properly. The back edge of the knife should not enter the thread opening forming a triangle where the thread chain could get caught. The lower knife is driven by the feed bar. To adjust the lower knife, remove the screws. Loosen the screw and move the lower knife holder forwards or backwards for correct knife travel, with the knife at its farthest travel to the right.

The standard recommended needle for the UNION SPECIAL 56300VF is Type 128 GBS. It has a round shank, round point, short, double groove, struck groove, ball eye, spotted, ball point, chromium plated and is available in sizes 080/032, 090/036, 100/040, 110/044, 125/049, 140/054, and 060.