Fischbein Model D bag closer

[BarnyardEngineering]

I picked up this bag closer at an estate sale for a few bucks, mostly as a curiosity. Maybe I'll start selling bagged corn in the future, you never know...

The machine is threaded according to the manual, but it keeps breaking the thread. When threaded per the instructions, the thread has to go around a couple of severe angles and is just about impossible to pull, so it is no wonder the thread breaks. Eliminate any one of the angles, and the thread pulls easily and smoothly, but the machine just wads up the thread under the cover.

Does anyone have one of these, and has any tips or tricks to threading it so it actually works?

 

[Determined]

Other than seeing one in use once I don't know much about them.

A quick search came up with the following;

Inpak systems Fischbein model D troubleshooting

Troubleshooting

-Stitch is too loose. Check the thread tension.
Check the sharpness of the feed dog and throat plate teeth.

-The needles keep breaking. Check the looper and needle alignment.
Check the needle alignment to the throat plate and presser foot needle guide.

-The thread keeps breaking. Replace needle.
Is the thread unrolling easily from the cone?
Check the thread tension.
Check the thread guides and make sure they are clean.
Check timing procedures listed in item #2.

-The machine is skipping stitches or does not make a thread chain at the end of the bag.
Check the thread tension.
Make sure the thread guides are clean and that thread can easily pass through them.
Is the thread unrolling from the cone easily?
Check the teeth on the feed dog and the throat plate. Replace them if they are dull.
Check if the needle is bent, loose, or misaligned (replace it).
Check if the looper is loose, worn or needs to be reset.
Make sure the machine is properly threaded.
See our tips page for other suggestions. Approximately one-third of all machines received in our shop for service have the needle inserted incorrectly.

 

[mtf]

Here are a couple pictures of mine. If twine is routed right,
then you need to oil it up good. It has lots of oil cups.

 

[TimWafer]

Is the thread old? I had a couple spools of old thread for mine and it would constantly break. Got some new spools and it worked just fine.