I think I was getting 7-8 or more stitches per inch before, getting under 6 now which is really good on this 1/8 inch, 3mm, leather.
I'm very pleased with the results or this repair and makes me feel better that the head and shuttle mechanisms might not be that worn out.
The old part caused about 1/4 inch slop, or backlash, as it went up and down. This reduced the stitch length some and caused a lot of missed stitches and I had to have the needle turned slightly to make it pickup the thread somewhat.
No more slop now.
I made a thing.
It's a needle bar piston joint for a Singer 29-4 patcher sewing machine. The old one was worn and abused, not sure if an owner along the way ground the tip down or the factory did because the bottom of the hole wasn't as big or the hole had a bushing put in the bottom.
I drilled out the hole in the drive arm, turned a new piece on the lathe to match the hole, then shaped the rest of it mostly by hand and drill press.
