Servicing Piston Of Stipula Etruria

[LMO]

Hi,

 

I have a question about the large converter from the Ambra Convertible version. Does the metallic part can be separated from the plastic part? Can be unscrewed, to have access to the piston inside?

Here is the picture.

 

I've tried to unscrew it, but without putting too much force. I need yours advice.

 

thanks,

Liviu

[wimg]

Hi Liviu,

 

I've never taken one apart, but it does appear to have screw threads at the top end for the piston mechanism. Since it doesn't want to budge at all when using just manual force, I am actually a little wary to give this a go with tools, especially as these converters are very hard to come by these days, and are rather expensive too.

 

What appears to be the problem with yours?

Or do you want to get the rubber piston out for use with the 991 piston converter?

 

Warm regards, Wim

[efchem]

I agree with Wim that it looks like it should unscrew and then slip over the turning rod. Then the piston can be pulled out. You could try soaking the whole thing in water for a little while and then get something rubbery that would allow you to grip it and try again by hand. I would not use a tool for the reasons that Wim said. I would also have to ask why you want to do this?

 

 

Also, if you look in my repair thread #2, you will see how my internal mechanism comes apart which seems very similar to yours.

[LMO]

Hi,

 

The reason why I'm trying to unscrew it, is because the piston is broken, the head of the piston stick in the aluminum barrel, while the part of the screw rod came out. I want to see if can be glued back together.

 

Indeed it seems, it should unscrew, but it didn't. I soaked for one night, with no result. It is like being glued. I even used some tools (probably not the right one) and some masking tape to grip it better and protect it. In the process, I scratch the back part, , and it reveals being metallic too. Only the turning tube being from plastic.

 

Wim, the converter from the 991 is working well (by itself), just the "O" ring from the top. is a bit loose, and need to be changed.

 

efchem, could you please share the tools you used for dismantling your Ambra?

 

thanks,

Liviu

[wimg]

Hi,

 

The reason why I'm trying to unscrew it, is because the piston is broken, the head of the piston stick in the aluminum barrel, while the part of the screw rod came out. I want to see if can be glued back together.

 

Indeed it seems, it should unscrew, but it didn't. I soaked for one night, with no result. It is like being glued. I even used some tools (probably not the right one) and some masking tape to grip it better and protect it. In the process, I scratch the back part, , and it reveals being metallic too. Only the turning tube being from plastic.

 

Wim, the converter from the 991 is working well (by itself), just the "O" ring from the top. is a bit loose, and need to be changed.

 

efchem, could you please share the tools you used for dismantling your Ambra?

 

thanks,

Liviu

Hi Liviu,

 

If need be, I can supply you with a new big metal piston converter, just contact me backchannel.

 

I'll ask Etruria about the 991 converter and its O-ring.

 

Warm regards, Wim

[efchem]

Liviu,

 

I only had to use my hands to unscrew the piston mechanism. I do not have one of the converters like yours so I do not know if they were meant to be unscrewed or taken apart easily. You also replied in the other thread I started where you can see what mine looked like and if you click the link in post #23, you will see it take apart some more.

 

Erick

[LMO]

Liviu,

 

I only had to use my hands to unscrew the piston mechanism. I do not have one of the converters like yours so I do not know if they were meant to be unscrewed or taken apart easily. You also replied in the other thread I started where you can see what mine looked like and if you click the link in post #23, you will see it take apart some more.

 

Erick

 

Hi Erick,

 

I know that are two different pens. I'm interested in the tools you used to get to the piston mechanism since I have a similar pen (another one), a little bit newer than yours, but still the old Ambra Grande with sterling silver trim. On mine, the piston is working, but not very easy. So, I may need to grease it. Before seeing your post, I was thinking to send it to Stipula, but now, I can try to break it by myself

 

thanks,

Liviu

[wimg]

Liviu,

 

I only had to use my hands to unscrew the piston mechanism. I do not have one of the converters like yours so I do not know if they were meant to be unscrewed or taken apart easily. You also replied in the other thread I started where you can see what mine looked like and if you click the link in post #23, you will see it take apart some more.

 

Erick

 

Hi Erick,

 

I know that are two different pens. I'm interested in the tools you used to get to the piston mechanism since I have a similar pen (another one), a little bit newer than yours, but still the old Ambra Grande with sterling silver trim. On mine, the piston is working, but not very easy. So, I may need to grease it. Before seeing your post, I was thinking to send it to Stipula, but now, I can try to break it by myself

 

thanks,

Liviu

Liviu, no need to take it apart, other than pulling the nib and feed, in order to grease it.

 

In short, make sure the pen is clean and empty, and the piston in the filled position (up IOW), and pull nib and feed. With a toothpick apply the tiniest dots of transparent silicone grease through the hole in the piston filler mechanism right at the top just underneath the piston against the PF tube on the inside. Just go around with the tooth pick and dab it several times while going around.

 

Next remove toothpick again, and move the piston down a little bit, and up again, down a little further, up again, etc., until you reach the full ink expelled position, in incremental steps IOW, with the piston all the way down. If you find it doesn't move as if greased, just repeat the process with a little more silicone grease.

 

When finished applying the grease this way, reinsert nib and feed, and all is done.

 

Warm regards, Wim

[efchem]

Liviu,

 

I only had to use my hands to unscrew the piston mechanism. I do not have one of the converters like yours so I do not know if they were meant to be unscrewed or taken apart easily. You also replied in the other thread I started where you can see what mine looked like and if you click the link in post #23, you will see it take apart some more.

 

Erick

 

Hi Erick,

 

I know that are two different pens. I'm interested in the tools you used to get to the piston mechanism since I have a similar pen (another one), a little bit newer than yours, but still the old Ambra Grande with sterling silver trim. On mine, the piston is working, but not very easy. So, I may need to grease it. Before seeing your post, I was thinking to send it to Stipula, but now, I can try to break it by myself

 

thanks,

Liviu

 

Liviu,

 

Although Wim gave you some very good advice and I would not have taken it apart unless I knew it was not working properly. That being said, I will answer the question you asked me. This is the order I would do it in. Remove the nib and feed. Use some tool to remove the collar (a large paper clip bent into a like a double LL worked). Then turn the piston knob counterclockwise. When the piston is all the way down, pull up on the piston know and continue unscrewing. You might here some clicking. I could not pull out the piston mechanism so I pushed it out slowly with a blunt object from the nib side. After that, everything could be removed by hand. I unscrewed the piece on the piston and pushed the piston and all other pieces out. The newer models, the piston pulls out. I have to fix mine before I can put it back together.

 

Good luck,

Erick

[georges zaslavsky]

very good post and very nice pens eric

[LMO]

Thanks Wim, Erick!

I'll let you know the result, I just need to make some time to deal with it.

 

Liviu

[LMO]

Hi,

 

So, I've tried to pull out the nib to grease the piston, but it did not move a bit.

Maybe I should try to unscrew it? From the other posts I've read, pulling out the nib should always work, for all, old or new Etruria version.

 

I need your advice how to remove the nib. I have used no tool, only some grip tape.

Here is the pen:

A nib close up:

And compared with a new version, the nib assembly seems to be different:

 

thanks,

Liviu

[wimg]

Hi Liviu,

 

I normally use some flexible rubber matting to increase grip. Maybe you need to let it soak for a bit first.

 

And yes, the nib unit is slighttly different between old and newer. The newest are slightly different again, as are the ones on the Etruria retractibles (normal nib unit collars don't fit on those). However, they all have the same threading. Having said that, I found that the ones with the slits and slightly wider lips often are glued to the section or piston filler mechanisms, which means that one has to pull nibs and feeds.

 

Warm regards, Wim

[efchem]

Liviu,

 

The soak is a good suggestion. That helped loosen up a few pieces on mine when I was dismantling it. The nib and feed pulled out easily on all my Stipula's. I just grabbed it firmly up high near the section and pulled. The other option would be to grab just the nib near the shoulders and gently wiggle it and pull it to see if you can get the nib out first, then the feed. Good luck and go slowly. The good news is if you damage the feed, they are easy and cheap to replace. The collar and the nib are another story.

 

Also, what serial number is your Ambra? This might help tell what type of filling mechanism you have inside.

 

Erick

Edited January 3, 2012 by efchem

[LMO]

Hi,

 

It is no 2629. I've soak it, no result. It is simply stuck inside. I've tried to pull out the nib&feed from another one, it came out so easily.

As I am not the first owner of this pen, I suspect the nib was changed in the past, because it has a 14k nib. Does these Etruria Ambra piston fillers were sold with 14k nibs or only duotone 18k nibs?

 

I'm afraid something went wrong during the nib swap and now it is glued inside. The collar slits are not clean and seems to be filled with something (glue?).

 

I am going to review my options:

- remove only the nib, if I can catch it gently;

- use some pliers, I have one with plastic pads;

- give up and send it to Stipula, but I'm wondering what will be their options: a drilling machine?

 

kr,

Liviu

[efchem]

Did you try to gently unscrew it also? And you said the collar slits are filled? I can not really see it in your photos. I will let Wim talk about the nib but I would guess it originally had an 18K nib.

 

2 options I thought of but I am not an expert either, just a tinkerer.

1) Heat the nib, feed, and collar with a blow dryer and see if it is like some section sealant instead of a permanent glue. It might loosen up when warm and allow you to get it out.

2) You could unscrew the piston knob and try to remove the filling mechanism from the back. If you just need to grease the piston, this will allow you to do that. Also, you might be able to look down the barrel and see what it going on with the nib.

 

Good luck,

Erick

[wimg]

Both my original Etrurias, vermeil trim and silver trim, have 18 K nibs, so I reckon it was replaced at some stage indeed.

 

I'd go with the suggestions by Erick first.

 

Warm regards, Wim

[LMO]

Hi,

 

The nib and feed is out. Always more force is welcome :embarrassed_smile: . Well, a better grip on both nib and barrel, solved the issue.

Pretty soon, after removing the nib&feed, I realized that I can not reach the piston head without removing the collar.

I've cleaned up the two collar slits with a toothpick, the material inside was quite flexible and adherent, like a gum, not easy to remove. I do not know how the sealant is but looks more like glue to me.

So, I've tried from the back, as Erick suggested. Removing the knob was easy. Soon after knob removal I found the problem. In fact the issue is not with the inside piston, but with the rotating plastic tube of the piston mechanism, which is turned by the knob. It seems that is somehow tear, and slips over when turning the know. Piston works well turning by hand. I've a look inside the barrel and it seems the piston mechanism has some metallic parts ( brass) , not all plastic as the Erick one.

 

I could not pulled out the piston, I probably have to unscrew the collar first, I did not tried, it seems quite difficult without a proper tool. I do not think the teared tube can be replaced . probably just the whole piston assembly ?

Here is a picture.

 

thanks,

Liviu

[LMO]

Hi,

 

I was able to completely disassemble the pen as soon as I took out the collar. I've made a dedicated tool to unscrew the collar, as I was expecting to need some force, supposing the collar was glued. It wasn't the case, the substance I thought being glue in fact revealed to be some sealant (wax?), as Erick suggested.

The collar have threads for the section and threads for the piston mechanism.

There was indeed some flexible glue, as Wim said, or the same sealant used for the section-collar, on the piston filler mechanism - collar thread.

 

So, for this version of old Etruria (no 26xx) the piston mechanism is made from some sort of transparent, and thin plastic. Very fragile, should be treated carefully. It seems to be the intermediary piston version between the oldest, all made of plastic, and the newest, with aluminum reservoir.

 

There are some cracks on it, possible from the tension produced when I removed the piston knob, without removing the collar first, or from the previous users. It does not seems to leak, but I'll try to paste it with something if I can not find another new mechanism to replace it.

 

When I had the piston out, I've greased the piston anyway, even there was no need, as it was working well.

 

Putting back the pen, took me a lot much time.

Even now, after I've analyzed the complete pen assembly, I'm not sure of the operations order (removing first the piston knob or the last). Here are the steps how I did:

To disassemble:

1. pull out the nib and feed;

2. assure the knob is turned all the way clockwise, piston is up, as filled with ink;

3. unscrew the collar wising the right key, and pull it out from the section;

4. unscrew the piston knob, counter clockwise, the piston mechanism freely rotating inside the barrel;

5. pull out the piston mechanism with piston knob attached, from the barrel;

6. pull out the piston knob from the piston mechanism.

 

To assemble:

1. assure the piston head is in up position (reservoir filled with ink);

2. attach the piston knob by sliding in the piston;

3. pull in the barrel the piston mechanism;

4. rotate clockwise the piston knob all way in, assuring the piston head remain in the up position;

5. pull the collar in the section and screw it using the key, assure the know is not rotating;

6. put back the feed and nib;

 

Where are my doubts: should the piston know be removed first or the last?

When I first remove the piston know, without removing the collar, the clicking heard, I think it was the sound of piston knob inside slits, tearing the piston. I think so, but I'm not sure. Screwing out the piston knob ( counter clockwise) make the piston head go down, expelling the ink, but the throw is not as long as with the piston mechanism unscrewed from the collar. The piston rod, is always in contact with the rotating tube (I don't know how is called, sorry), while with the collar removed if you unscrew it too much, the piston rod is completely inside, and you can not reverse it, without pushing back the piston head from outside.

 

Anyway, the good thing is that I was able to fill the pen with ink, and it writes well.

I had to replace the old feed with a new one, and now I can pull out/in the nib easily.

The bad thing is that after the whole experience, the piston know is still hard to turn .

 

Here are the picture with the pen disassembled (Old Etruria Ambra), and the tool I've made to unscrew the collar.

 

Wim , Erick, thanks for the guidance so far.

Liviu

[efchem]

Liviu,

 

Well done. Did you use silicon grease on the piston rod, the piston tube and the piston knob threads? With all those and the piston greased, it should move smoothly.

 

I also have small cracks on the clear plastic part that I am going to solvent weld when I have time. I am also going to solvent weld the end of the piston rod where it tore and see if I can have a working pen again. I just need to find the time.

 

And congratulations on the FPN Etruria's. I am getting similar pens but with silver trim instead of the gold.

 

Erick