Basic Maintenance on
Class 51700 & 51800 Machines

Union Special Corporation's Class 51400, 51700 and 51800 two-needle and four-needle flatbeds are the sewing machines of choice in the sewn products industry for handling a wide range of hemming and elastic attaching operations.

Known for their long life and durability, these puller equipped, wide gauge flatbed machines can be counted on to provide years of trouble-free service with a minimum of maintenance.

Routine maintenance, performed twice a year or every 2,000 operating hours, is the only basic preventative maintenance required on Class 51400, 51700 and 51800 puller equipped flatbed machines.

1. To drain the oil, remove the drain plug from the right end of the casting and carefully tip the machine until all the oil is removed, Figure 1. (Note: Figure 1 shows the hand wheel removed. You do not need to remove the hand wheel to remove the drain plug).
    
2. The cloth plate should be removed so the machine can be thoroughly cleaned, Figure 2. All lint and other contaminants should be removed from all parts by means of compressed air, a small brush or rag, Figure 3. Excessive lint build-up can cause sewing problems and even damage to machine parts.
    
3. The oil reservoir covers should be removed. The gaskets should be checked for cracks and dry rot and replaced if necessary. Wipe clean, removing excessive oil and any other contaminants from the oil reservoir area with a rag or small brush, Figure 4. Contaminants in the reservoir area can cause excessive heat and machine failure.
    
4. Check the connecting rods and be sure there is a slight left to right shake. This shake is vital to the machine running smoothly and to prevent the bearing pins from overheating, Figure 5.
    
5. The oil holes in the close-couple puller should be hand oiled daily to maximize puller efficiency and working life, Figure 6.

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