Champion 77 Foot Pedal Ergonomics

After just a few runs I recognized that the left foot pedal is very high off the floor.
If you have run the machine you notice that the pedal needs a full push; if you make a slow or partial pedal actuation the machine reacts slowly and without the necessary force or speed to make a firm stitch.

The problem with the amount of pedal travel is how far off the floor your toes are when the pedal is full up. Basic Human Factors dictates that the operators ankle angle should be no less than 85 degrees; or the ball of foot should be no more than 5 degrees off the floor as measured from the heel.

Very simply I attached a 2 x 4 to a 5/8" piece of plywood. I will adjust the shape and size of things if necessary in the future as I gain more time on it but the results so far are much better. You need a hole to allow the foot pedals to pass the plywood.

With your left foot extended as high as it needs to be (without the foot pad) you are almost standing on one foot, which doesn't help you stitch concentration at all! Stitching is such a concentrated effort and so pressing the pedal needs to be as effortless as possible. All of your thoughts should be on the next stitch and not on how cramped your left foot is.

In classic automotive occupant packaging the drivers foot is shown at 85 degrees of flexion. We place the accelerator pedal so that when the car is at idle with no pedal deflection (waiting at a traffic light or stop and go traffic) the ankle angle is no more than 5 degrees from perpendicular to the lower leg.


Also I forgot to add this YouTube that helped more than just about anything: Instructional: McKay Stitcher

Thanks to grahamsshoeservice


Update 11.07.16
Foot pedal foot rest fine tuning; I added a slope to the end of the 2x4 making it easier to tip my toe down while leaving my heel engaged

AND I wanted a dust cover over the thread so I waited for the right plastic container to come along and voila!

11.11.18
Added another riser to the foot pedal board
Now that I'm running the machine entirely by hand (having given up on making it work with electricity!)

So now my right foot is on level with the left foot, but you need space for your presser foot action in between the two risers.