Brother RH-981A, RH-981A-00, RH-981A-01, RH-981A-02, RH-981A-52 Specifications

RH-981A 1/8

2002.10

RH-981A

Electronic Eyelet Button Holer

RH-981A-

□□

□□□□

□□

Specifications

Specification -00 -01 -02 & -52

Application Men’s and ladies’ closes Jeans and work clothes

Sewing speed 1,000 – 2,200 rpm (100-rpm steps)

Stitch length

5 – 50 mm 5 – 38 mm

L1: 14 - 18 mm L5: 28 - 32 mm
L2: 18 - 22 mm L6: 32 - 36 mm
L3: 22 - 26 mm L7: 36 - 40 mm
L4: 26 - 30 mm

Stitch pitch

0.5 – 2.0 mm

Stitch width

1.5 − 3.2 mm

Tacking length

0 – 20 mm

Work clamp height 12 mm

16 mm

Starting method Dual switch (cloth presser switch and start switch) or single switch

Feed method

Intermittent feed by three pulse motors (X, Y, θ)

Needle

DO × 558 Nm 80 − Nm 120 (Schumetz)

Safety equipment

Built−in emergency stop function and automatic stopping device which stops the machine

when the safety circuit is activated.

Motor

Inverter−type induction motor

Air pressure

Main regulator: 0.5 Mpa

Knife pressure regulator: 0.3 Mpa

Air consumption 43.2 l / min (8 cycle / min)

Noise level 85 dB at max. speed of 2,200 rpm, measured according to ISO 10821

Dimensions

1,200 mm (W) × 590 mm (D) × 1,120 mm (H)

Work table legs

T−shaped height−adjustable type

Power supply

Single−phase 110, 220, 230, 240 V

Three phase 220, 380, 415 V

Max. electric power consumption: 1kVA

Weight 163.5 kg

Lower thread trimmer

Upper
thread

trimmer

Long

type

Short

type

Fly indexer

Upper gimp

guide

Special lapel

cutting device

-00

{

- - - Option Option

-01

{{

- - Option Option

-02

{

-

{

Option Option -

-52

{

-

{{

Option

(L1-L4)

-

*-02 and –52 specifications are further divided into L1 – L7 specifications in accordance

with the stitch length. Please be sure to specify the stitch length when ordering.

RH-981A 2/8

2002.10

Replacement parts list for specification changes

The sewing machine can be changed to any one of L1 to L7 for –02 and –52 specifications by replacing the
specified parts with the appropriate parts given below.

-02 specifications

Plate R assemblySpecifications

(buttonhole length)

Replacement parts set

Plate L assembly

Hammer Specification harness

S38576-301 S37702-001 (S12)L1

（14 - 18mm）

S44238-001

S38577-201 S37704-001 (S16)

S43337-000

S38578-301 S37704-001 (S16)L2

（18 - 22mm）

S44239-001

S38579-201 S37706-001 (S20)

S43338-000

S38580-301 S37706-001 (S20)L3

（22 - 26mm）

S44240-001

S38581-201 S37708-001 (S24)

S43339-000

S38582-301 S37708-001 (S24)L4

（26 - 30mm）

S44271-001

S38583-201 S42053-001 (S28)

S43340-000

S41470-101 S37197-001 (26)L5

（28 - 32mm）

S44272-001

S41471-101 S37199-001 (30)

S43341-000

S41472-101 S37199-001 (30)L6

（32 - 36mm）

S44273-001

S41473-101 S37201-001 (34)

S43342-000

S41474-101 S37201-001 (34)L7

（36 - 40mm）

S44274-001

S41475-101 S35093-001 (38)

S43343-000

Note: There is 10 mm of difference in the knife cutting position between L1 – L4 and L5 – L7 specifications.

-52 specifications

Plate R assembly

Specifications

(buttonhole length)

Plate L assembly

Hammer Specification harness Cloth feed plate R

S38576-301 S37702-001（S12）

L1

（14 - 18mm）

S38577-201 S37704-001（S16）

S43360-000 S43809-001

S38578-301 S37704-001（S16）

L2

（18 - 22mm）

S38579-201 S37706-001（S20）

S43361-000 S43809-001

S38580-301 S37706-001（S20）

L3

（22 - 26mm）

S38581-201 S37708-001（S24）

S43362-000 S42139-101

S38582-301 S37708-001（S24）

L4

（26 - 30mm）

S38583-201 S42053-001（S28）

S43363-000 S42139-101

S41470-101 S37197-001（26）

L5

（28 - 32mm）

S41471-101 S37199-001（30）

S43364-000 S43809-001

S41472-101 S37199-001（30）

L6

（32 - 36mm）

S41473-101 S37201-001（34）

S43365-000 S42139-101

S41474-101 S37201-001（34）

L7

（36 - 40mm）

S41475-101 S35093-001（38）

S43366-000 S42139-101

Note: There is 10 mm of difference in the knife cutting position between L1 – L4 and L5 – L7 specifications.

RH-981A 3/8

2002.10

Special lapel cutting device

*When sewing straight buttonholes, needle rotates 6 mm in front of the tip of the eyelet buttonhole knife, so

that the seam length for straight buttonholes will be as shown in the table.
*The standard hammers are 5 mm and 7 mm.
*The special lapel cutting device can be used only when the feed bracket is set to the front position.

Specifications Eyelet buttonhole Straight buttonhole

RH-981A-00 5 – 50 mm 5 – 44 mm
RH-981A-01 5 – 38 mm 5 – 32 mm

RH-981A 4/8

2002.10

Ref. No. Part name Part code Q’ty

15 Special lapel cutting device S53906-101 1

15-1 Selector assy, hammer S53907-001 1
15-1-1 Support plate, cylinder S53908-001 1
15-1-2 Setting plate, cylinder S53909-001 1
15-1-3 Bolt, socket SM3.57x8 154965-001 2
15-1-4 Washer, plain 105161-004 2
15-1-5 Screw, pan M3x6 062300-605 2
15-1-6 Setting lever, hammer S53910-001 1
15-1-7 Bolt, socket SM3.57x8 154965-001 1
15-1-8 Partition plate, sensor S53914-001 1
15-1-9 Set screw, SM3.57-40x4.5 144458-001 1

15-1-10 Sensor, hammer home position S53915-000 1
15-1-11 Sensor, hammer position S53916-000 1
15-1-12 Sensor bracket, MS-GL8 S53917-000 2
15-1-13 Screw, pan M3x8 062300-805 2
15-1-15 Rotary cylinder assy S53918-001 1

15-1-1 Rotary cylinder plate assy S54026-001 1

15-1-15-1-1 Setting plate, sensor S53913-001 1
15-1-15-1-2 Bolt, socket M3x16 018301-636 2

15-1-15-2 Throttle tube joint S19900-000 1

15-1-16 Tube elbow, w/valve S16603-000 1
15-1-17 Air tube, 4x2.5-60 S53920-000 1
15-1-18 Air tube, 4x2.5-61 S53921-000 1

15-2 Band, PLT1M S04557-000 1

15-2- Sensor plate assy, B-hole S53923-001 1
15-2-1 Setting plate, cloth sensor S53924-001 1
15-2-2 Y-driving shaft holder S31568-000 1
15-2-3 Bolt, socket M5x16 018501-622 1
15-2-4 Bolt, socket SM4.37x8 018680-822 2
15-2-5 Washer 100645-003 2
15-2-6 Photo sensor S53925-000 1
15-2-7 Screw, pan (S/P washer) M3x8 0A4300-805 2
15-2-8 Harness, B-hole sensor S53926-000 1
15-2-9 Band, PLT1M S04557-000 1

15-3 Setting shaft, sensor S53922-001 1
15-4 Valve assy S53927-000 1

15-4-1 Valve, VZ3120-F S53928-001 1

15-4-1-1 Valve, VZ3120 S13578-000 1
15-4-1-2 Bracket S53929-000 1

15-4-2 Half union S04905-000 1
15-4-3 Elbow union, 4M5 S11426-000 2

15-5 Wood screw, round M3.5x16 032361-602 2
15-6 Valve harness S53930-000 1
15-7 Hammer plate, 7 S53911-001 1
15-8 Bolt, socket M3x5 018300-536 2

15-9 Bolt, socket M4x8 018400-832 2
15-10 Cord holder, 6N 146202-000 1
15-11 Screw, pan M4x16 062401-616 1
15-12 Washer, plain M6 025060-236 1
15-13 Band, PLT1M S04557-000 3
15-14 Half union, ;KQH04-01S S04910-000 1
15-15 Air tube, 4x2.5-62 S53939-000 1
15-16 Cover, H ;N-rotation S53937-001 1
15-17 Cord holder, 10N 552907-000 1
15-18 Indexer cord S43359-000 1
15-19 Selector harness S59739-000 1

16 Hammer plate, 5 S53912-001 1

RH-981A 5/8

2002.10

Fly indexer specifications (−−−−52 specifications)

Standard size

Large size

Applicable specifications

L1 (Buttonhole length : 14 - 18 mm), L5 (Buttonhole length : 28 - 32 mm)
L2 (Buttonhole length : 18 - 22 mm), L6 (Buttonhole length : 32 - 36 mm)
L3 (Buttonhole length : 22 - 26 mm), L7 (Buttonhole length : 36 - 40 mm)

L4 (Buttonhole length : 26 - 30 mm)
Distance between button
holes

38.1 mm, 50.8 mm, 44.45 mm

38.1 mm, 50.8 mm, 44.45 mm, 57.15 mm

No. of buttonholes

1 - 4 holes

1 - 6 holes

Horizontal sewing margin

(L1 - L4) 9 - 21 mm, (L5 - L7) 9 - 11 mm

Vertical sewing margin

30 - 40 mm

Max. horizontal feed amount

152.4 mm

285.75 mm

*If the standard-sized fly indexer is used for sewing with a non-standard distance between buttonholes and a

non-standard number of buttonholes (up to 9), you need to make additional holes in the cloth feed bar (F)
assy (optional part). For this processing, refer to the instruction manual supplied with this optional part.

Part name

Part code

Applicable specifications

Cloth feed bar (F) assy (L1, L2)

S45193-101

L1, L2, L5

Cloth feed bar (F) assy (L3, L4)

S45194-101

L3, L4, L6, L7

Part name Part code Applicable specifications

S44279-101 L1, L2, L5

Fly indexer assy, 981

S44281-101 L3, L4, L6, L7

RH-981A 6/8

2002.10

Different parts list
Work clamp

*10mm to 50mm work clamps are available for –00.
*10 to 38 mm work clamps are available for –01.

L

S35455−001 S39929−001 S35197−001 S39931−001

R

S35454−001 S39930−001 S35198−001 S39932−001

<10 − 18 mm> <18 − 22 mm> <22 − 26 mm> <26 − 30 mm>

S35453−001 S35200−101 S37679−001 S37677−101
S35452−001 S35199−101 S37680−001 S37678−101

−00
&

−01

<26 − 38 mm>

<38 mm> <50 mm> <50 mm>

L

S37755−001 S37689−001 S37691−001 S37759−001

R

S37754−001 S37690−001 S37692−001 S37758−001

L1 <14 − 18 mm> L2 <18 − 22 mm> L3 <22 − 26 mm> L4 <26 − 30 mm>

S41848-001 S41486-101 S41488-001 S43408-001 S43410-001
S41483-001 S41485-101 S41487-001 S43409-001 S43411-001

L3W <22 − 26 mm> L4W <26 − 30 mm>

−02
&

−52

L5 <28 − 32 mm>

L6 <32 − 36 mm> L7 <36 − 40 mm>

<For waist belt presser>

RH-981A 7/8

2002.10

Different parts list
Needle plate

*Both 38mm and 50mm needle plates are available for –00.
*Only 38 mm needle plates are available for –01.

L

S35308−101 (L) S35307−101 (SL) S37683−101 (L−50) S37681−101 (SL−50)

R

S35309−101 (R) S35306−101 (SR) S37684−101 (R−50) S37682−101 (SR−50)

−00
&

−01

<38 mm>

<38 mm> <50 mm> <50 mm>

L

S37643−101 (L1L) S37645−101 (L2L) S37647−101 (L3L) S37649−101 (L4L)

R

S37644−101 (L1R) S37646−101 (L2R) S37648−101 (L3R) S37650−101 (L4R)

L1 <14 − 18 mm> L2 <18 − 22 mm> L3 <22 − 26 mm> L4 <26 − 30mm>

S40823-001 (L5L) S41480-001 (L6L) S41482-001 (L7L)

S40822-001 (L5R) S41479-001 (L6R) S41481-001(L7R)

−02
&

−52

L5 <28 − 32 mm>

L6 <32 − 36 mm> L7 <36 − 40 mm>

Knife

S35439−101 S35437−101 S35480−101 S35482−101

S55247-001

S35408−101 (S)

<38 mm> <38 mm> <38 mm> <38 mm> <38 mm>

<38 mm>

S35438−101 S35436−101 S35481−101 S35483−101 S35409−101 (S)

<50 mm> <50 mm> <50 mm> <50 mm> <50 mm>

RH-981A 8/8

2002.10

Different parts list
Hammer

Size (mm) 10 12 14 16

Part code

S37211−001 S37210−001 S37209−001 S37208−001

Size (mm) 18 20 22 24

Part code

S37194−001 S35092−001 S37195−001 S37196−001

Size (mm) 26 28 30 32

Part code

S37197−001 S37198−001 S37199−001 S37200−001

Size (mm) 34 36 38 50

−00
&

−01

Part code

S37201−001 S37202−001 S35093−001 S35479−001

Size (mm) S10 S12 S14 S16

Part code

S37701−001 S37702−001 S37703−001 S37704−001

Size (mm) S18 S20 S22 S24

Part code

S37705−001 S37706−001 S37707−001 S37708−001

Size (mm) S26 S28

−02
&

−52

Part code

S37709−001

S42053-001

Harness

Specification -

-00 & -01
Part code S43336-000

Specification L1 L2 L3 L4

Part code S43337-000 S43338-000 S43339-000 S43340-000

Specification L5 L6 L7

-02

Part code S43341-000 S43342-000 S43343-000

Specification L1 L2 L3 L4

Part code S43360-000 S43361-000 S43362-000 S43363-000

Specification L5 L6 L7

-52

Part code S43364-000 S43365-000 S43366-000

Optional parts
Double chain stitch looper mechanism

Use

Eye Looper

Looper, R

Spreader, L

Spreader, R

Standard

S35411-001

S35413-101

For heavy

S35471-001

S35472-101

For single chain stitch

S49078-001

S35410-001

S49079-001

S35412-101

Throat plate

Use

Throat plate

-00 and -01

A = 1.8 mm B = 4.6 mm

S47033-001

-00 and -01 (For small hole)

A = 1.8 mm B = 4.6 mm

S47034-001

-02

A = 1.8 mm B = 4.6 mm

S37752-001

For straight bar tack

A = --------- B = 4.6 mm

S39923-101