8556 Nib Repair

[wtisaac]

I finally managed to land an 8xxx series nib on fleabay, this one, mounted to a beautiful copper dollar pen. The problem is it won't write. It appears that the nib isn't seated correctly against the nib. Hopefully the pictures will show what I mean: On the vertical plane the feed sits off center from the nib's center line. On the horizontal plane, there is a gap between the top surface of the feed and the bottom surface of the nib. If this weren't a screw in nib, I'd use a nib block to knock the nib and feed out, realign and re-seat them. But how do you accomplish this with a screw in sleeve? Is it possible to fix? Suggestions?

[Hobiwan]

Looks like someone tried to unscrew the nib without soaking and wasn't holding it properly.

 

First, unscrew the point from the pen and see if it's lined up properly with the indentation in the sleeve. That'll tell you if the nib is out of line with the sleeve or the feed is out of line with the nib/sleeve.

 

First thing I'd try would be to re-align the nib and feed by hand. Maybe reversing the "unscrewing" process might do it.

 

If that doesn't work, you might just have to knock it all apart and re-assemble. I screw the assembly into a beat-up section to hold it by the threads and position it over a hole that'll accomodate the nib and feed.coming through. A few very gentle taps with a drill bit end positioned on the feed will do it. They come apart quite easily. It's the re-assembly that'll be a chore. I've been able to "horse" one back together, but I'm sure there are others on this board that can tell you how to properly do it.

 

Definitely a point worth recovering. Good Luck

[ac12]

The nib also looks bent.

When you get the nib out, spend some time carefully straightening it out.

[FarmBoy]

The nib also looks bent.

When you get the nib out, spend some time carefully straightening it out.

Not going to be easy.

[ac12]

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Not going to be easy.

 

Yes, and NO plier please.

[johnmc2]

If the collar is like the one at the bottom, there is no problem with knocking out the nib and feed as usual. But if the collar has an indentation like the one at the top, you run the risk of breaking the collar. Some have two indentations.

One approach with indented collars is to remove the nib by itself first, then rotate the feed to disengage it from the indent and work/knock it out. Warming the collar before you start work will help. This method was given to me by Ron Zorn, and I have used it successfully myself to disassemble a 1555 unit with indentations. Reassembly is much more straightforward, you should be able to reinstall the nib and feed together, making sure the indentations line up with the feed.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v493/scienceteacher3/esterbrook_collars_zps7ba8353e.jpg

[pajaro]

It's easy to align the nib side to side to center it on the feed. It's more difficult to put the nib in contact with the feed. The nib is rising off of the feed at the front. I think heat is sometimes used to fix this.