Lubing The Piston Of My 149

[hari317]

The pen that I had been patiently waiting for in the mail for around 18days, arrived today from USA. A modern 149 with the tricolor STOD nib which I had won on ebay. The nib was advertised as a medium, but much to my pleasant surprise it turned out to be what I am guessing an OBB from the width it makes. Wow what a nib!

 

The piston was just a tad stiff, so I decided to take apart the filler (with shaking hands) to investigate and lube it up. I had got the piston filler removal tool from Francis Goossens (fountainbel) who hand makes these tools for MB DIY enthusiasts. The modern meisterstuck piston fillers share the same slot dimensions so a common tool will fit all the modern pens.

 

The filler is screwed into the barrel with RH threads, the spanner tabs should be engaged into the slots and the filler cone should be closed over it to prevent tool slip. Holding the spanner, I rotated the barrel and the filler unit unscrewed out neatly.

 

The filler unscrewed from the pen and the lead screw and the piston rod disengaged from the brass connector.

http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii197/hari317/MB149/IMG_3266.jpg

 

A closeup of the connector, the green stuff is some sticky sealant that MB had used, I had to pick/thread it out with a brass shim. Also observe the trim ring at the filler cone, it has a flat face and the other side has a small step, the filler shoulder mates flush with this step. I did not use any sealant while putting it back.

http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii197/hari317/MB149/IMG_3267.jpg

 

A closeup of the piston seal, it is the later type inverted cone seal as documented by Niksch in another illustrative post.

http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii197/hari317/MB149/IMG_3268.jpg

 

The filler unit all ready to be assembled back into the pen. It is quite fun to readjust the stroke of the piston rod till you have optimised it so that the filler cone closes flush and also max. piston extension is obtained.

http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii197/hari317/MB149/IMG_3270.jpg

 

MB precious resin, fragile? will shatter at a mere breath? look at the barrel thickness, as thick as my ebonite pens.

http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii197/hari317/MB149/IMG_3269.jpg

 

I hope you would have found this useful.

 

Cheers,

Hari

[jigesh]

Thanks for the info and pictures. You must be very brave....

[hcsk8ter]

hari317, excellent pictures! And yes, the barrel is QUITE thick. This topic should be PINNED.

[Wideguy]

Hari you are a modern day Hero ~

I would never ever do that to my 149............

thank you for another wondrous article

[hari317]

I would never ever do that to my 149............

 

Adambhai, namaste, bring your preciousss with you the next time you visit, I will happily show you how to open it.

[Blade Runner]

Hari,

Thanks very much for another look "under the hood".

Your efforts are well appreciated.

Cheers

[Ed Ronax]

Hari,

Thanks very much for another look "under the hood".

Your efforts are well appreciated.

Cheers

 

What a wonderful way of putting it.

 

Nice work Hari.

[georges zaslavsky]

nice job

[stevlight]

WOW Thanks for showing us this--what did you use to lube up the piston with? What did you use to reseal it? I may have to get one of these tools!! Can you give a link to the site with the tool?

[Diamondback]

Hari,

 

Great tutorial in pictures. Thanks for sharing.

 

Mark

[f22pilot72]

Great pictures!

 

-Michael

[meiers]

Great job Hari.

 

How is the pen working now?

 

Matt

[MidnightBlue]

You're a go getter my son and show a lot more courage then me. Hope you found it all rewarding

Thanks

[niksch]

Isn't this a fun hobby? You can always count on guys like Hari to help others out.

 

I lubed two 149s tonight, and am looking for a hairline crack in the barrel of another that may be the cause of a leak at the threads.

[hari317]

WOW Thanks for showing us this--what did you use to lube up the piston with? What did you use to reseal it? I may have to get one of these tools!! Can you give a link to the site with the tool?

 

I used Dow Corning Hi-vac silicone grease for the elastomer seal. I have not sealed the piston filler brass threads (green area in picture) since ink never gets there and that part does not need sealing, MB put a sealant in there probably to prevent inadvertent unscrewing out of the filler unit, more like a retainer, the remains of the old sealant did that job in my case.

 

I bought the tools from fountainbel on FPN, you may PM him for details. Higly recommended.

 

 

How is the pen working now?

 

Just great, the piston is very smooth now, the OBB nib is like a paintbrush, dunno however how to use it other than to address envelopes.

 

I lubed two 149s tonight, and am looking for a hairline crack in the barrel of another that may be the cause of a leak at the threads.

 

Thanks Niksch, your post have been extremely informative and helpful.

 

Regards,

Hari

[Wideguy]

Dear Haribhai, Namaste to you too and also Happy Durga Puja !

Indeed, next time I come down, I will bring my preciousssss with me, but a little unsure whether the travel insurance covers 149 open heart surgery in Mumbai ?!!!!

How many 149s do you have now !!???

BEST wishes & respect to you sir

Adam

[hari317]

Dear Haribhai, Namaste to you too and also Happy Durga Puja !

 

Thank you Adam!

[Abhijit]

What a wonderful post!!

 

Thank you, Hari, for sharing.

 

Regards,

Abhijit

[Abhik]

Wonderful effort Hari!

[hari317]

Wonderful effort Hari!

 

Thank you, Hari, for sharing.

 

Thank you Abhik, Abhijit. Abhijit, is that an Electra or a TB in your avatar?