How To Deep Clean A Passap Duomatic
Happy Birthday to me.
It’s my first blogiversary. To celebrate, I’ve prepared a photo tutorial on how to take apart, tear down, and deep clean a Passap Duomatic knitting machine.
Although I used an older Pinkie as my demonstration machine, it is almost 100% identical to tearing down a Duomatic 80. Its retainer bar is held on a bit differently. A photo tutorial for just the Duo 80 pusher bar can be found here. You will still need the pinkie pdf for everything else on the Duomatic 80.
In my usual fashion, there are a ton of pictures for your maintenance enjoyment – 18 pages worth.
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September 29, 2007
43 comments
Terrific instruction, very good detail, WELL DONE!!
Hello Kathryn, Your guide to cleaning machine got me started – it is all done – it’s a quite beautiful old lady – now I have to learn to use it and no manual. (cross my fingers hope it was only dirty and that it works)
The only mishap that happened to me is I lost the black label on the back lock – (my garage door was wide open and windy today so it flew away – I have tried to find a picture clear and close enough I could retype and reglue to its place but no luck, so I come to you again if you know of a site giving the guidelines on this label for the pink lady or if you could email me the table.
I’d be very grateful.
Thank you for your answer.
Enka.
Hi Kathryn,
Wow, you really are game to try that one. I have downloaded the PDF file and am going to attempt to follow your extremely clear instructions as I
bought an old pinkie yesterday and it is as stiff as ever. It will be very interesting to give this a go.
Thanks a million.
Lorraine
Lorraine,
You are most welcome. Look over the photos a few times, take a deep breath, and go for it. The only piece on this sturdy machine that needs a bit of care when being removed is the long spring. It lifts right out so it isn’t a problem. Just make sure you don’t stretch it out.
Most of the overall stiffness in Passaps is usually due to old Bellador oil that has solidified. Denatured alcohol is your friend. It and a cheapie bristle brush will dissolve that sticky goo.
Thank you for the cleaning instructions! Really, many, many thanks!
These are the best illustrated instructions for this task I have ever seen. Congratulations and thankyou.
Hi Kathryn,
Thanks for your wonderful tutorial.
I just got a very old Duomatic (guess it’s the first generation). I’m going to follow your instructions to buy all the supplies to deep clean it.
Since I’m a complete newbie, do you think I need to replace any of the parts, e.g. spring, needles, pushers, etc.?
BTW, I’m missing the yarn ball holder in my bundle. I don’t see it in the supplies list of Passap Canada. I’ll try to create one. Shouldn’t be a biggie, right?
Enka, I’ve got the manual. You may email me offline as to how I can get it to you.
Many thanks and regards,
Celinda
I am quite sure that I have damaged a channel on my Passap E6000, the needle is very stiff and the butt is raised and catching on the lock, and I don’t know how to change it. The metal point on my blue stripper caught in the hook of a needle and when I tried to remove the needle I didn’t break off the damaged hook!! It caught on the brake spring and tangled it up. It’s a hard lesson learned. When I Googled Passap Maintenance I discovered your wonderfully clear and informative instructions for the old pink duo and I wondered if they would work on my 6000? I would love to strip it down and give it a good clean and overhaul but never having done this and I am sixty six it would be a daunting task but, your instructions seem so clear that I wouldn’t mind having a go if they are compatible with the 6000.
I am knitting Aran Jackets as a fund raiser for my church’s re-decorating fund and I still have seven ordered so I really would be obliged if you could give me a reply ASAP.
Many thanks
Jean
Thank you for your deep cleaning notes as I was given a Duo 80 It appears know to be going great but still not checked with yarn
Hi!
Great tutorial! I love my old pinkie!
Just one problem you didn’t address: the slider — the thing that does the knitting — on my machine hangs up after a few passes. So far I got it going again with WD 40, but I’d love to know how to deep clean it, so it will work like new again.
I’d appreciate your help with that!
Sonja
thanks for this *awesome* tutorial!! I recently found a passap duomatic in the trash with all the accessories, patterns books AND manuals!! the machine was very stiff & definetly needed a good cleaning. Your tutorial saved my butt & now my passap is running as good as new! I will totally be mentioning your site in my new blog & i’ll be back frequently to check out your informative tutorials.
Just a FYI note to your readers, the magnetic pick up tool is IMPERATIVE!! not for getting the nuts and washers off, but for putting them back on. If I didn’t have it, I wouldn’t have been able to put my machine back together!
Hello kathryn.
Thought your tutorial was brilliant. Was given a dm80. It was going to be taken to the tip. It is very dirty, not been used for many years. I can’t seem to be able to move the pusher rail. Could this be because of the grime. Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks anita
Bristol UK
How can I obtain your instructions on how to deep clean the Passap Duo 80?
Would you suggest a new set of needles when you deep clean the machine, and if so can you supply these?
Yours sincerely
Jean Adkins (England)
Kathryn,
My husband purchased the Passap 6000 a while back for a Christmas present. I was supposed to get unlimited lessons until I was comfortable with the machine. After three lessons, she was never available when I would be or wasn’t in when I called to set up an appointment. I was very discouraged. However, I did manage to complete some swatches and then it sat and sat. Now we are planning to move now that I am retired and I hope to renew this pursuit. Disassembling the machine was scary and the instructions I have left a lot to be desired. So, I surfed the web and found your site. I am so glad and have added you to my favorites. Thank you for your amazing assembly/disassembly instructions. I know without it, I would have made a mess. Look forward to future visits to your site.
Forever in your debt
Terry Parks
I bought an Passap Duomatic 80 off ebay. The seller didn’t send any assembly instructions and I cannot put the machine together. I attempted to download your pdf file and my computer will not let me open it. Can you email me a copy, please? I paid $1000 and would like to know if the machine works or not.
Thanks,
Elizabeth J Peters
I’m sorry, I don’t do that. You will need to find a computer that can download it and open it. You may need to go to Adobe.com to download the free Adobe PDF reader application. Sounds like that is where your problem originates.
Stupid question. How do I know if my machine needs a cleaning???
I just inherited an old (and, I believe, barely used) Duomatic Pinkie and am really looking forward to using it.
I’m an avid crafter but this machine is just slightly intimidating… mainly just the thought of tearing it apart and attempting to put it back together myself, when I don’t even know how to work it yet!!
I figure cleaning the beast will get me a little more in tune with how she works for the future, just wondering how much time I should put aside to do it (if it’s even necessary).
Kathryn,
thanks for the deep cleaning tutorial for the pinky, it is a lifesaver!
I do have a question though, when reassembling the needles, spring, and rail, can you tell me these 2 things?
1. Do the needles sit ON TOP of the spring or vice versa?
2. Does the rail encompass and “ride” over the black H screws, to keep it in line?
All the rails fell off when I had the machine turned over, so not sure of the sequence.
thanks for your help.
Linda
Hi, I’m seeking a way to sell my Passap Duomatic 80. Do you have any suggestions as to how I can find potentially interested persons? I inherited mine and realized that I don’t have the ambition to learn how to use it. It’s in working condition and I have all the parts/accessories, plus many how-to books and instructional videos. I would really appreciate any suggestions. I don’t want to just turn it over to Good Will. I’d rather find someone who knows what this machine is about and would love to use it.
Thanks,
Angela
I loved this PDF, but there weren’t really any tips on how/what to clean the passap with, once it’s in pieces. Any chance of a volume two?
I’m very fond of my knitting machine and would hate to damage it by using the wrong chemicals etc….
I only use denatured alcohol on the metal parts. Soap and water and sometimes Simple Green on the greasy plastic parts. Keep any type of moisture away from the electronic parts.
Kathryn,
A big hello from Sydney, Australia.
Thank you for such an informative and necessary instruction guide.
I have just purchased a Duo 80 and it is in urgent need of a thorough clean, the front bed also needs replacement of some missing needles and I can see the brake spring has sprung and needs replacing. All this before I even learn how to use it.
I am off tomorrow to purchase a nut driver & extension the only 2 items missing from my home tool kit.
I will start on the back bed first as it looks like nothing there needs replacing.
I have already manually pulled/blown out fuzz balls from the 2 locks.
Is there any other maintenance that the locks need?
Thanks
Jennifer
Kathryn,
Thanks so much for the instructions. I have cleaned my pink passap (identical to the one you have in the demo) and I am wondering how to thread it. I have a single mast and no instructions. How do I thread this baby?
Thanks so much,
Elizabeth
I have found the bottom of a passap duomatic. Idid not know what it was till I looked on line. If interested get in touch.
Hi,
I own a passap duamatic 80 for years but wasnt using for good 15years. It makes me very old and cant remember how to use this machine. Would love to make something for my grandchildren but dont even remember how to start. I am sure all parts are there but cant remember where to thread the yarn.
I have lots of books but none of them show any beginning instruction.
Can you help? I live in Rochester, NY do you know of any companies near by (any in NY state) that work with Passap?
I would appreciate any help from you.
Thanks Perla
Thank you for the deep cleaning pdf. I have the rose passap duomatic. I can not find a typenumber.
I”m trying to clean a Passap Duo 80 and the blocking rails wont release to allow me to remove the pushers. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
mark
Help!!!!I downloaded your deep clean pdf, but it doesn’t seem to have the instructions on cleaning or reassembling, just breaking down. Any idea how I can get those two parts?
Thanks
Lesley
Thank you for the deep cleaning tutorial.
I followed your instrutions and my Pinkie is now clean and – believe it or not – working fine!
I am so happy!
Hilde
Pink Passap which has been stripped down, cleaned and put back together again but something is not quite right.
The machine knits well for about 20 or so rows then has problems on the left to right movement, ‘grornches ‘ and the needles and carriage lock. GX/GX , strippers removed to move the carriage. It seems that the problem is with the front bed but I can’t seem tofind what is wrong.
I have removed the top rail , removed the needle retaining bar,repositioned the spring, replaced the bar and the top rail from the right hand side but after tightening the nuts etc, still have the same problem with the carriage and needles grinding to a halt.
What have I done wrong?
Can you help?
Jo
Oh my gosh, I am so glad to find your blog, I bought a used Duomatic 80 a number of years ago and although the lady demonstrated it, I have never managed to get it to work.
I have a Brother Convertible KH 400 but it is a single bed so limited.
Not having all the instructions books I decided that I should just sell it to someone who does know how to use it rather than have it collecting dust in my basement.
Your site gives me hope and yes deep cleaning would be a good plan at this point.
Thank you
Hellow
l hope someone is reading me, l just bought an occasion passap duomatic S green color, and l need to adjust the thread, l need help as y would like to starting with cotton that need in knitting hand needles numner 4 1/2 and do not know how to set the machine
thank you for your help
gigil
Pink Passap which has been stripped down, cleaned and put back together again but something is not quite right.
The machine knits well for about 20 or so rows then has problems on the left to right movement, ‘grornches ‘ and the needles and carriage lock. GX/GX , strippers removed to move the carriage. It seems that the problem is with the front bed but I can’t seem tofind what is wrong.
I have removed the top rail , removed the needle retaining bar,repositioned the spring, replaced the bar and the top rail from the right hand side but after tightening the nuts etc, still have the same problem with the carriage and needles grinding to a halt.
What have I done wrong?
Can you help?
Thanks for your deep cleaning pdf. I bought an old pink duomatic (“she” was born in 1973). At first I didn’t know anything about knitting machines, but now I know my pink old lady very well thanks to deep clean pdf. I cleaned it and learned how to knit and now i love my pinkie. We don’t have many opportunities to learn these things in Finland (If you don’t find an old lady who used to own Passap, it is very hard to find help), but thanks to you, I can learn it my self at home.
I have passape 6ooo and my last pusheron the front bed came out and i can’t put it back ,need help . i am also looking for a simple cardigan pattern .Thanks pauline
To Angela MacLeod,
Hello Angela,
Please contact me by e-mail. I would like to buy some of your Passap DM 😯 instructions.
Thank you in advance,
Mildred Browne
Hi, would like to know if I can use a 6mm socket on the Duomatic 80?
Hi,
Thank you for such detailed instructions! I just bought a Passap Duomatic 80 in the UK. I am planning on taking it on the plane or shipping back to the states.
How do I take apart the beds so they lie flat? Also, any ideas on how to safely package the machine?
Any advice would be appreciated!
Are you going to do a similar tutorial for the E6000? If not, are you aware of any?
Hi
I have recently acquired a Passap Duomatic 80, I have found it a lot easier to cast on than the brother and I am impressed with the way it knits, especially the fishermans rib. We have cleaned it as per instructions and it was working for a while, now for no reason after knitting a few rows it knits across ok, then to go back it gets very hard then eventually gets jammed, a bit like what (Herbert Hirsch) said.
Help!! Any ideas please!!
Thanks Kathryn Your instructions are wonderful.
I really appreciate all you have done.
Many Many Thanks
Happy 2014 to you
Martha
[…] website which is full of useful information about knitting machines but has a particularly good article on cleaning the passap so I figured I had nothing to lose and began stripping it down to clean it. It was in a mess with […]
HI Katheryn
I found your how to clean your pink passap just now. I have been strugeling with a toothbrush dishsoap water and a hairdryer to clean my machine. Thank you for sharing this with me. I am going to do this with my husbands help. I like to ask you if you know where I can get instructions on my mashine. I have been looking on the net but can´t find any. I would be very thankful if you could help me. I live in Iceland and it is not possible to get that here. Thank you so much for sharing.
Sinserely yours
Elisabet Nonnudottir