Nice, did you have to sew the seat base to the back or is it 2 pieces?

When I’m doing inserts I sometimes staple the 2 pieces together which makes sewing it up real easy. Like John says… do some practice pieces, I’ve learned to sew a little shy of the seam allowance helps to keep the corners neat if you are going to topstitch the insert.

I’d try putting some baby powder on the vinyl to reduce the friction or….. change to a single fold binder. I use a Sailrite Swingaway singlefold with great results

Looks great…. and as an added bonus the body and rollbar look better with the new seats too

I will run a 138 on top and a 92 in the bottom sometimes when I’m topstitching smaller projects, as long as the stitches are linking up in the middle of the fabric I don’t see a problem.

Looks like it could be UHMW or HDPE, both very popular plastics in the industrial world. A google search should come up with vendors in your area

I do my fair share of these and won’t give a price until I’m positive it was assembled conventionally and won’t add hours to the job because someone built it that doesn’t know how. This lesson was learned the hard way. Basically for me it’s the materials cost plus markup and then I estimated my labo...

The needle has to rise about 2mm before the hook reaches the scarf and at that point it should be in the middle. The needle must rise to form the loop, at bottom dead center the thread is held tight against the needle, it is the rising that creates the loop for the hook to catch. I don't know the s...

Wow, what a big endeavour for your first one, looks great!

May I please ask... Why on earth would you want to go back to a clutch motor from a servo? What are the "various reasons"? I admit that I'm a relative newcomer to industrial machines but all I know is that folks should replace clutch motors with servos. If you watch any of Cechaflo’s YouT...

I always do a big clean and oiling and timing of the bottom end (hook timing) when something like this happens along with what everyone else said. I have a few spools of thread that don’t pull off the spool smoothly that can aggravate the situation.

Maybe I’m reading this wrong but…. If you had to move the needle down in its holder you probably have the wrong needle for this machine?

And McMaster Carr if your in the USA
https://www.mcmaster.com/circlips/

Circlips, automotive stores handle them

This is the best place I’ve found, you should consider taking the online course here John offers.

When I want my top stitching to stand out I go to a 138 thread on top (normally run a 92) and increase the stitch length, that way it seems to really make the contrasting color pop.

Even if you find the correct color it’s doubtful it will match as the chances of it coming from the same dye lot are lower than winning a lottery.

The position sensor also allows you to tap the treadle with your heel so the needle goes all the way up for clearing the material at the end of a run…. extremely convenient!

Beautiful workmanship