SCHACHT SK7770 Sidekick Folding Spinning Wheel Instructions
- September 6, 2024
- SCHACHT
Table of Contents
SK7770 Sidekick Folding Spinning Wheel
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Product Specifications:
- Model: SK7770
- Product Name: Sidekick Spinning Wheel
- Manufacturer: Schacht Spindle Company
- Address: 6101 Ben Place Boulder, CO 80301
- Contact: 303.442.3212
Product Usage Instructions:
Assembly:
Your Sidekick shipped fully folded. Follow these steps to set up
for spinning:
-
Remove the flyer from the left treadle by sliding it back and
then pulling it forward to remove it from the storage strap. -
Detach the treadles by unscrewing the footman knobs and folding
them down. -
Slide the treadles together and lock them in place using the
quick release lever. -
Attach the footmen by inserting the footman knob shafts into
the holes at the front of the metal tabs and screwing the knobs
into the ends of the footmen. -
Unfold the front maiden by opening the quick release lever,
flipping it into a vertical position, and sliding it away from the
front maiden stop.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ):
Q: Can I adjust the tension on the Sidekick spinning
wheel?
A: Yes, you can adjust the tension using the Scotch tension
brake located on the wheel.
Q: How do I fold the Sidekick spinning wheel for travel?
A: To fold the wheel for travel, follow the directions provided
on page 6 of the user manual. Make sure to save the box for future
travel or shipping.
Q: Where can I find more spinning accessories for my Sidekick
spinning wheel?
A: Visit our website at schachtspindle.com for a variety of
spinning accessories compatible with the Sidekick spinning
wheel.
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SK7770
SIDEKICK TM SPINNING WHEEL
Assembly, mAintenAnce & WArrAnty
Find out more at schachtspindle.com Schacht Spindle Company 6101 Ben Place
Boulder, CO 80301 303.442.3212
© 2023 Schacht Spindle Company, Inc.
08.24
Thank you for choosing the Sidekick spinning wheel. We hope you will have many pleasurable years together creating wonderful yarn. Please DO read the instructions, even if you usually skip this step. Happy spinning!
CONTENTS
Main box: folded wheel with flyer, whorls, and
1 travel bobbin stored onboard
whorl
rear maiden & rear bearing
footman & crank
bobbin flyer orifice
front maiden & front bearing
drive wheel
Accessory box: orifice hook 2 travel bobbins carrying strap
rear maiden quick release lever
whorl storage (both sides)
front maiden quick release lever
left treadle
right treadle– serial number underneath
drive band pulleys (behind brake)
poly drive band
flyer storage
treadles quick release lever
Scotch tension brake
NOTE: for wheels made before May 2023, pulleys will be on one shaft attached to the right side of the wheel. The drive band fits over the pulleys in the same way, no matter when your Sidekick was built.
Visit our website for more spinning accessories.
2
SIDEKICKTM SPINNING WHEEL
Assembly
Your Sidekick shipped fully folded. Remove the wheel and all accessories from
the box. We suggest that you save your box for future travel or shipping.
When you want to travel with your wheel, you can fold it following the
directions on page 6. To unfold the Sidekick and set up for spinning, follow
these steps:
1. Remove the flyer from the left treadle: Slide the flyer toward the back of
the wheel until the orifice comes out of the hole in the treadle support bar
(Figure 1A). Then angle the flyer and pull it forward to remove it from the
storage strap (Figure 1B). Set the flyer in a safe place until Step 6.
2. Detach the treadles: Unscrew the footman knobs that secure the treadles to
the sides of the wheel (Figure 1B). Fold down the treadles.
3. Slide the treadles together until they meet in front of the drive wheel
(Figure 2A). Press down the handle of the quick release lever to lock the
treadles in place (Figure 2B).
The quick release lever was set at the factory; you should only need to flip
its handle left or right. If you have to loosen or tighten it, hold onto the
knob in the center brace and turn the handle as needed (Figure 2B).
storage strap
hole in treadle
A
support bar
footman knob
B FIGURE 1: REMOVE FLYER AND DETACH TREADLES
A
B
knob
FIGURE 2: SET UP TREADLES 3
treadles quick release lever
4. Attach the footmen: From underneath the treadles, insert the footman knob shafts into the holes at the front of the metal tabs. Screw the knobs into the ends of the footmen (Figure 3).
footman metal tab
footman knob
There are two holes in the metal tab at the end of each treadle. When the wheel is folded, use the hole at the rear of the tab to attach the treadle to the side. When the wheel is unfolded for spinning, use the hole at the front to connect the footman.
for spinning
5. Unfold the front maiden: Open the front maiden quick release lever (Figure
4A). Flip the front maiden into a vertical position, then slide it away from
the front maiden stop, as far as possible (Figure 4B). Leave the quick release
lever open for now.
6. Unfold the rear maiden: Open the rear maiden quick release lever (Figure
4A). Flip the rear maiden into a vertical position, until it rests against the
rear maiden stop (Figure 4B). Close the quick release lever.
7. Set up the flyer with bobbin and whorl: One bobbin was stored under the
maidens; remove it and place it on the flyer shaft, with the large end at the
back of the flyer. Choose one of the whorls attached to the wheel and add it
to the flyer shaft (Figure 5).
Whenever you install the flyer on the
for storage only
FIGURE 3: ATTACH FOOTMEN
front maiden
rear maiden
quick release lever quick release lever
front maiden stop
stop
A front
Scotch tension rear
maiden peg
maiden
front maiden– all the way forward
rear maiden– pressed against stop
wheel, you can change bobbins and/or
switch whorls.
8. Unhook the drive band and Scotch tension brake: When the wheel is
completely folded, the drive band and Scotch tension brake hook around the
Scotch tension peg (Figure 4A). To set up for spinning, slip them both off the
peg. Keep hold of the drive band so it stays in position on the drive band
pulleys. (When the rear maiden is unfolded, you can hook the drive band and
tension brake around it.)
B FIGURE 4: UNFOLD MAIDENS shoulder of flyer shaft
whorl
orifice FIGURE 5: SET UP FLYER
large end & groove
4
9. Install the flyer on the wheel: Lift the drive band and Scotch tension
brake, holding them tightly so the drive band stays in position on the tension
pulleys. Slide the flyer through the Scotch tension brake and under the drive
band. Place the flyer shaft in the rear bearing. Place the orifice in the
front bearing, then slide the front maiden back until it rests against the
front maiden stops. Tighten the quick release lever on the front maiden.
The front maiden must be vertical; the rear maiden must be vertical and pushed
tightly against its stop (Figure 6A). When the maidens are correctly
positioned, there will be a gap of about 1/16″ between the front bearing and
the shoulder of the flyer shaft. If there is no gap, see “Adjusting the Rear
Bearing” below.
10. Set up Scotch tension: Place the Scotch tension brake into the groove on
the bobbin. Stretch the drive band (shown in red) over the whorl and set it
into one of the whorl grooves (Figure 6A). Then check that the drive band
travels from the front of the drive wheel, behind the left pulley, around the
whorl, and in front of the right pulley, and down the back of the drive wheel
(Figure 6A). There should be no twists in the drive band.
The orifice hook can hang from the slot in the front maiden for convenient
storage (Figure 7).
front maiden pushed back
Scotch tension brake gap
drive band
A
drive band goes up over whorl
left pulley
right pulley
holder for Scotch tension brake
left side
right side
B DRIVE BAND AS SEEN FROM ABOVE FIGURE 6: SET UP SCOTCH TENSION
If you wish to use the carrying strap, clip it to the metal rods at the back of the wheel, on the rear maiden and the center brace (Figure 8).
rod for carrying strap on rear maiden
orifice hook
FIGURE 7: STORE THE ORIFICE HOOK
rod for carrying strap on center brace
FIGURE 8: ATTACH THE CARRYING STRAP 5
Using yoUr Wheel
The Sidekick spins in Scotch tension mode, with the drive band going around
the whorl and the Scotch tension brake (also called the spring-and-string)
going around the bobbin. Always set up the bobbin with its large end at the
back of the flyer.
It’s easy to increase and decrease take-up (the speed at which yarn winds onto
the bobbin). Start treadling until the flyer spins. To increase the take-up of
yarn onto the bobbin, adjust the Scotch tension peg to stretch the spring. To
decrease the take-up, adjust the peg to relax the spring.
USING DIFFERENT FLYER WHORLS
The type of fiber you are spinning and the kind of yarn you want to produce
will determine which flyer whorl to use. Your spinning wheel comes with a
medium speed whorl and a fast speed whorl. We offer other whorls so you can
spin any type of yarn you wish. The general rules to remember: the larger
(slower) the whorl, the thicker the yarn, the less the twist, and the greater
the take-up.
WHORL RATIOS
The extra slow whorl is not recommended for the Sidekick.
Whorl Slow Speed Medium Speed (included) Fast Speed (included) High Speed Super High Speed
Ratio 4:1 / 4.8:1 5.7:1 / 6.8:1 8:1 / 9:1 10:1 / 12: 1 11:1 / 13:1
Remove the whorl from the flyer shaft. Install a new bobbin with the large end
at the back of the flyer. Reinstall the whorl or change whorls. Reinstall the
flyer and set up Scotch tension (see Steps 9 and 10 above).
FOLDING THE SIDEKICK
Reverse the steps for unfolding:
Remove the flyer, bobbin, and whorl. Hook the Scotch tension brake and the
drive band over the Scotch tension peg. Remove the whorl and attach to a wheel
side with a whorl knob. Remove the bobbin and set it in the notches at the top
of the sides. Fold the rear maiden down over the bobbin. Fold the front maiden
down over the rear maiden. From underneath the treadles, remove the footman
knobs. Open the treadles quick release lever and slide the treadles away from
each other. Fold the treadles up against the sides. Insert the footmen knobs
through the rear hole in the metal tab, then screw into the hole on the wheel
side. The treadles are now attached to the sides and the footmen will swing
freely. Store the flyer on the left treadle, oriented so that the hooks are
next to the treadle. Insert the flyer shaft through the storage strap, then
slide the orifice into the hole in the treadle support bar.
You can now easily transport the Sidekick with the carrying strap.
CHANGING BOBBINS
Open the front maiden quick release lever and slide the front maiden towards
the front of the wheel. Remove the flyer shaft from the rear bearing and the
orifice from the front bearing. Lift the flyer, bobbin, and whorl from the
wheel. Hook the Scotch tension brake and the drive band over the Scotch
tension peg or the rear maiden.
6
ADJUSTING THE REAR BEARING
If the flyer has been correctly installed (see Step 9 above) but does not spin
when you treadle, check for a gap of about 1/16″ between the front bearing and
the shoulder of the flyer shaft. If there is no gap, use a #2 Phillips
screwdriver to loosen the screw in the rear maiden (Figure 9). Position the
flyer correctly, with the gap. Then tighten the screw in the rear maiden.
USING THE TENSIONER
The poly drive band has a memory and can be used with any whorl. Sometimes you
will need to tension the drive band, especially when you move from a slower
(larger) whorl to a faster (smaller) whorl. If you find that the drive band is
slipping, place the drive band over the pulley of the tensioner, located at
the back of the wheel on the center brace (Figure 10).
When you are not spinning, remove the drive band from the tensioner; this will
extend the life of the drive band.
gap rear bearing screw
FIGURE 9: ADJUSTING THE REAR BEARING
FIGURE 10: TENSIONER
tensioner
LUBRICATING MOVING PARTS
Your wheel was lubricated and tested at
the factory before it shipped, but it may
have sat unused for a while since then.
Before spinning, and for every few hours
of spinning, oil it with a medium-weight oil
such as 20- or 30-weight SAE motor oil.
A
Use a drop of oil on the flyer shaft where it touches the bobbin ends (Figure 11A). where the footmen connect to the cranks (Figure 11B).
The front and rear maiden bearings are self-lubricating and do not require oiling, although oiling will not damage them.
oil here oil here
oil here oil here
B FIGURE 11: OILING
7
MAINTENANCE
A regular schedule of care and maintenance will ensure you and your Schacht
spinning wheel many productive years together. Periodically clean excess
fibers from all parts of your wheel. Clean dust and dirt from the drive wheel
with a damp cloth. Periodically lubricate the moving parts. Touch up worn or
chipped areas with fine sandpaper and Danish oil. Check screws for tightness.
(Changes in the environment and the action of spinning can cause screws and
nuts to loosen over time.)
STORAGE
Try to keep your wheel in a dry, moderate climate and avoid extreme
temperatures– store away from direct sunlight.
THE FINISH ON YOUR WHEEL
Your wheel has been finished with Danish oil, which penetrates into the wood.
If you need to touch up chips or scuffs, lightly sand the worn area and apply
a small amount of finish using a soft, lint-free rag. Use Deft natural color
Danish oil, following the directions on the container. Always clean and
dispose of applicators and oily rags according to the manufacturer’s
instructions.
If your wheel needs more thorough cleaning (for example, dirty treadles), wipe
it down using mineral spirits and a rag, then reapply Danish oil as described
above.
SERIAL NUMBER
Your wheel’s serial number is stamped in the wood on the underside of the
right treadle. The first four digits are the month and year of assembly;
remaining digits are the wheel’s identifying number. ·
TWO YEAR LIMITED WARRANTY
Schacht products are warranted, to the original consumer purchaser, by Schacht
Spindle Company to be free of defects in material and workmanship. Schacht
Spindle Company’s obligation under this Warranty shall be limited to the
repair or replacement of any part or parts which may prove defective within
two (2) years following the date of original purchase by the consumer, and
which Schacht Spindle Company’s examination shall disclose to our satisfaction
to be thus defective.
If a problem with this Schacht Spindle Company product develops during the
warranty period, first contact the Schacht Spindle Company dealer from whom
you made the purchase. If the problem cannot be handled through your dealer,
contact our customer service department. At our option, it may be required
that the product be returned to our factory, freight prepaid, for inspection
and repair and/or replacement.
This Warranty covers normal consumer use and does not cover damage which
occurs in shipment or damage that results from alteration, accident, misuse,
abuse, or neglect.
This Warranty gives you specific legal rights, and you may also have other
rights that may vary from state to state.
This Warranty is not valid for equipment that has served as dealer floor
models that have outlived the term of the warranty or products that have been
purchased through a third party.
Proof of purchase date and a serial number when applicable are required for
all Warranty claims.
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References
Read User Manual Online (PDF format)
Read User Manual Online (PDF format) >>