Am Totally Heart Broken

[launderess]

Well here is me running around trying to get things done, and sat down to change the roller padding and cover on my beloved Pfaff ironer.

Got every thing off, and began winding the new roller pad on, and was distracted for a moment, then it happened. There was quite aloud "crack" sound and the roller stopped turning. Turns out while I wasn't paying total attention, part of the roller padding got stuck beind one of the posts, and held the roller back. Peeked inside the roller from the side and sure enough can see a plastic gear snapped in two. Can also hear something rattling inside the roller as it is turned. Have been crying these last few hours.

Pfaff does not sell these ironers in the United States, so Pfaff USA is not going to be of help. Not sure if the entire roller can be replaced, (on Miele ironers they can), but even if it was possible, do not have a local service person who knows about Pfaff ironers, and do not have the service manual to do the job either.

Have been up all night lining up phone numbers in the UK and Germany to see what can be done. Am wondering if some how a Miele rotary ironer roll can be used a a replacement. Cannot believe there is that huge a market for these units that both Pfaff and Miele source their rollers from different vendors and or specs.

Think am going to be ill.

L.

 

[panthera]

Laundress,

Pfaff is notoriously difficult to work with; they demand exact data or they won't sell you the part. That's me, speaking from over 25 years of owning Pfaffs and living *down the street* from a Pfaff dealership. Literally.
Drop me an email with all the data and, if possible pics. Today through Monday (well, tomorrow is a half grocery day) are holidays. But I can run down Tuesday and see what they say.
They've always come through for me in the past, after lecturing me for half-an-hour on my carelessness, of course. German appliances are not really sold to you, you are merely permitted to borrow them against a deposit.
Miele and Pfaff and AEG did, at times, share parts and ideas on various projects. You may be onto something there.

 

[launderess]

Here's My Baby

There are several on eBay now, but his is my model

Bitte entschuldigen Sie die Störung...

 

[launderess]

Another Shot

From another eBay in Germany auction. This one shows a closer view of the roller.

Bitte entschuldigen Sie die Störung...

 

[launderess]

My ironer is a Pfaff "Electronic" 858 ironer. Will be dropping you an email, and would GREATLY appreaciate any assistance you may render.

Shall now probably take to my bed the whole of Good Friday, and may not even rise for Easter dinner at mama's.

I am really so careless sometimes. Shouldn't have bothered when wasn't giving the thing my total attention. Shouldn't have bothered.

L.

 

[panthera]

Take heart

At least it is a newer model. I first had imagined one of those 250 lb., 3600 Watt 1950's ironers.
Write me, as I said, I'll go down Tuesday and see what they have to say.

 

[panthera]

We've got two exclusive

Pfaff dealers here - one more than I knew of. And several repair shops certified to work on them. This is good because it means there is bound to be a parts depot here, too.
I am sure it is no fun, but be sure to send me pics of the broken part, too...I promise not to give Pfaff any data to track you down with. But I am going to pretend this is for a favorite aunt in the US...not going through one of their lectures again. When I snapped the drive belt to my 75, I really thought they were going to come to my house and pick it up...posting my picture at every dealer in Europe...forcing me to buy a Singer...

http://69.20.122.246/pfaff/germany/ny_dealers/dealers.asp?PLZB=&Ort=M%FCnchen&submitButtonName=Suche+starten

 

[launderess]

Thank You!

Cannot send snaps of any kind, including of the broken part since one does not have a digital camera at hand. Also the broken part or parts are inside the roller, and without a service manual was not able to remove the thing. Got the end covers off, but that was as far as things went, and didn't wish to make things worse by tampering with things didn't know about.

L.

 

[launderess]

Actually Do Not Care If Pfaff Hunts Me Down

Long as my ironer is repaired, I'll even have cake and coffee waiting.

L.

 

[panthera]

We'll whump 'em

If I could survive 25 years in Germany with my American accent (never mind my German citizenship, over here I am an "American"...ironic, considering the way ex-pats are treated in the US...anyway, we'll get it.)
Try to borrow a camera, it really helps to have things tracked down as best as possible. We may end up having to exchange snapshots of schematics. Sounds like you are going to need to do this yourself, so I will also ask whether special tools are needed or just the stuff you have lying around. Can't be any worse than air-conditioners...probably easier.
I already know the dealer around the corner from me won't tell me how to do it, they just barely let me buy double needles...with the warning every bloody single time that I am *not* to use zig-zag with them (they saw the marks on the presser-foot about 20 years ago when I, er, ahm, sort-a-forgot and still haven't forgotten or forgiven). But that is ok, the Italian shop on the list is always friendly - considering the business my Necchis bring them, that's no surprise...

 

[launderess]

Thank you for helping!

Well, don't know how the roller is secured in place, but it does not take standard socket wrench, nor does what I though was a hex key nut, take any such thing.

Will try and take some snaps, but there really isn't much else to see or tell. Whatever is going on is inside that roller and there is my problem. If one could get the roller off, could see if generic gears would do as a replacement, and if anything else "popped" and needs repair.

Wish could simply open up the roller and take a peek, but the thing is metal and welded shut. Damn German high quality construction!

Going to try and see if Miele will send me a schematic/repair guide for one of their ironers. Even tough it is supported only on one end, may provide some information as how to crack this nut.

l.

 

[panthera]

Yeah, well

according to my partner, that tough German skull of mine is not just welded shut, it is solid granite covered in C4 Edlestahl...the granite part being the Celt in me...
I won't know more until Tuesday, but I am sure some of our other German members know these better than I do. Have been racking my brains trying to think if I know anyone with one of these.
They kind of went out of fashion here about the time women realized that the more you did for your partner and kids, the more they expected.
That screw which looks like a hex is probably a "Torx". You can take an impression with play-doh or similar and get what you need at any decently stocked store. That one arm is sort of like the single-side axles used on some motorcycles or the one bearing support in front loaders - built pretty solidly. Of course, that will make things easier for you in the end. Imagine having to take both ends off.
Probably not a real gear but more a "spacer" which is keyed or cogged onto the drive shaft. If push comes to shove, it may be possible to glue it back together temporarily and flat-bed scan it. I'm not pessimistic about this, so don't you be.

 

[launderess]

My ironer does have both ends,just like the photographs above.

From peeking inside the roller, can see what the difference between old Ironrites and this Pfaff ironer are in some respects.

Inside the roller diameter there are metal teeth, which are turned by the "plastic" gear which in turn, I believe is turned by another gear on the post. In short the "motor" is inside the roller, rather than mounted on the side (like Miele), or back (like Ironrite).

L.

 

[peterh770]

I'm sure someone has an Ironrite around here that you can borrow...

 

[launderess]

Thanks Pete

I've got an Ironrite, and while they are fun to use and do a good job, if you have ever used a larger flatwork ironer, you'd know my pain.

The Pfaff ironer besides having a larger roller, and steam boiler runs much slower than Ironrites, just like commercial ironers. One pass is all that is needed to iron and dry long as the item is at the right moisture level.

*Sigh*

Haven't even been to bed yet, and am running up a HUGE phone bill to Europe, calling around for parts/information. Don't know why one bothers,every thing is shut until Monday or Tuesday for Good Friday and Easter Monday, but one likes to feel one is doing SOMETHING!

Thanks again,

L.

 

[nmaineman36]

Launderess I never knew you to be a size Queen..the things you find out on here...lol.

 

[kenb]

German Customer Service

Launderess, sorry to hear about your Pfaff.

My elderly aunt has a Thor Automagic Gladiron that I'm getting from her next weekend. Would that help...? Seriously, I'm sorry to hear about your Pfaff.

BTW, I'm including a link to an interesting site devoted to the "Magical World of Electric Irons".

Panthera, I'm sure there are other members who have read your posts that simply can't comprehend some of what you said about dealing with German customer service.

I had a very similar experience while living in Frankfurt when the accelerator cable on my 1977 VW Passat broke. I received a long lecture from a man at the parts department at Autoschmitt in Frankfurt. He went on and on about how that sort of thing simply doesn't happen to German automobiles...they unlike American cars a finely engineered and the accelerator cable would not break unless I had done something wrong. Needless to say Autoschmitt did not get my business...

_Guide to Ironing Technology_

 

[launderess]

Thank Goodness For Freedom of Information

Have been scouring the Internet, and happy for moi, found the original patent by Pfaff for my ironer. One can see details by clicking the link below.

Guessed correctly that the motor,gears and such are inside the roller, verus on the ends or elsewhere as with other ironers. It also means one could be royally done depending upon the damage. Hopefully only the gears have been damaged, and can be replaced and or rebuilt. If worse comes to the worst the entire roller assembly may have to be replaced if everything was "built in" to the roller. Have to doubt that because how would anyone build anything into a roller? My guess (and am hoping with all my might), everything slides or some how comes out.

Sadly it does't seem like using a Miele roller would solve my problem, as while the outside may be the same, Miele has it's motor and gear mounted on the side.

Wish could figure out what sort of screws are holding the roller in. But then again best leave well enough alone until one hears from Panthera, or Pfaff Service in the UK about how to proceed.

The part(s) that are broken (from what one could see) are number 20 in figure #2. It is a white colour gear wheel, well that is what it looks like to moi, not sure what it is called.

Thanks for listening folks, keep those suggestions coming.

L.

 

[launderess]

Thor GladIron

Thank you for the offer, but you keep and enjoy your Grandmama's ironer.

Have had two such units, and while they are fun, they are not the larger sized ironers like a Pfaff or even Miele. Besides already have an Ironrite portable ironer, so am covered in the small portable ironer department.

Mind how you move that ironer, Thor used a very brittle cast iron for the base and frame. One sudden movement the wrong way, and that base plate will snap apart. It is under great pressure keeping that heavy ironer down, and the laws of physics are always itching to break out.

Still have the original owner's manual somewhere, along with several cardboard roller covers and sets of side wings. All saved from units that went to the crusher.

L.