146 & 149 Piston Removal Tool

[Joe in Seattle]

I am not terribly handy. I have two 146s where the piston sticks a little. Should I buy the tool, or send them to an expert?

[risingsun]

I think I read on here somewhere about someone making a MB nib removal tool out of a fork...

 

Yes, here it is:

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php/topic/258071-home-made-piston-removing-tool-for-the-mont-blanc-146/

Edited September 9, 2014 by risingsun

[ziptrickhead]

Not sure if boutiques will regrease pistons for free in house or not (or if you're anywhere near a boutique to begin with). Personally I believe stuff like greasing a piston is something that can be done regularly at home. I made my own piston tool after I ran into an older 149 that wouldn't budge with a paper clip.

 

 

TWSBI wrench, a small sanding wheel on a dremel to gap the prongs properly, pair of pliers, and a few minutes of my time and I got myself a piston tool. Doesn't look pretty but works well enough and a hell of a lot cheaper than the $100 piston wrenches you see for sale. I think it's worth a shot with a paper clip first if you can't make your own wrench. Just go very gently and if it doesn't easily unscrew then send it off to someone. Of course there's always the risk of breaking something or scratching something but that was a risk I was willing to take with several MBs. Hell of a lot easier now and I can open them without much concern after I made the wrench versus back when I used the paper clip.

[hari317]

I am not terribly handy. I have two 146s where the piston sticks a little. Should I buy the tool, or send them to an expert?

if you are not handy, I would suggest you send them them to a pen tech.

[Maxpens]

Check this link, there is also a professional tool to remove the mechanism for modern 146.

 

http://www.penboard.de/shop/whatsnew/08?setla=en

 

kind regards

[Pravda]

Ok here's the bottom line:

 

Some boutiques (like one time in Bond Street, London) the store employee was so nice he took it to the back, returned 5 minutes later and my 149 was fully lubricated and smooth as new at no extra charge.

 

Others like here in Dubai, they want to charge $100.

 

In that case, I attempted exactly what you are proposing- going from newbie to expert- in 4 hours or so.

 

I used a paper clip.

Took 1 hr to make a good design.

The piston was hard to budge for 2nd hour.

Then it came off.

Lubrication took 5 seconds.

Putting back together seemed like child play.

But I did it incorrectly and mechanism got stuck.

Then managed to get unstuck and put it back together perfectly.

Saved my $100 and was the happiest person in the world.

 

I would order the tool.. saves a lot of headache and makes things a lot more fool-proof. The experience overall was fun, made me feel accomplished.

 

Good luck

[meiers]

I purchased the pison removal tool from Max. It works like a charm and yes I am not handy.

[meiers]

I am not terribly handy. I have two 146s where the piston sticks a little. Should I buy the tool, or send them to an expert?

It's not a complicated operation. I purchased the tool and this initial investment plus the $8 for silicon grease already payed for itself because now all my 146 and 149 Meisterstuck pens have a smooth piston action.