Vintage Mb Telescopic Pistons

[jar]

Always glad to see this thread resurrected, purely for Francis' excellent technical drawings.

 

Omnias: Your 146 will have the same mechanism as Francis' diagram shows. You screw the knob anti-clockwise fully (to extend the piston), dip the pen into ink, then screw the knob clockwise until it stops. Your pen will be full.

 

Just to add to this thread: Have disassembled two 144's today. Was expecting to have to replace the cork seals - but found they both had elastomer seals? Is this unusual? (Both pen mechanisms work perfectly - they were being disassembled for other reasons)

 

 

Enjoy

 

When I've had to get corks replaced I often ask the repair person to use elastomer. It's not period correct but it sure is better.

[CS388]

 

When I've had to get corks replaced I often ask the repair person to use elastomer. It's not period correct but it sure is better.

 

Ah. I see.

I agree. They work very well indeed. May see if I can get one for my 146G.

Thanks.

[Omnias]

Always glad to see this thread resurrected, purely for Francis' excellent technical drawings.

 

Omnias: Your 146 will have the same mechanism as Francis' diagram shows. You screw the knob anti-clockwise fully (to extend the piston), dip the pen into ink, then screw the knob clockwise until it stops. Your pen will be full.

 

Just to add to this thread: Have disassembled two 144's today. Was expecting to have to replace the cork seals - but found they both had elastomer seals? Is this unusual? (Both pen mechanisms work perfectly - they were being disassembled for other reasons)

 

http://i1023.photobucket.com/albums/af351/shoulderhead/144elastomer_zpse4fc7236.jpg

 

Enjoy

Ok, the clockwise & anti-clockwise detail is what I needed to know, the pen I am getting is coming with a freshly lubed piston and new cork, and I want to make it last as long as possible!

[siamackz]

I am about to receive my grail pen - a 146g long ink window. It needs a new cork and cleaning. I don't want to make a mistake here, so please, experienced FPNers shed some wisdom on:

1. How to disassemble the pen - through the back where the piston is, or through the section/barrel opening (like on 3xx pens)

2. I did not understand "one really has to turn the piston down till its backs-up against the section edge, otherwise the piston will not make its complete telescopic stroke" Does this mean we need to turn the piston till it hits against the section before we pull back?

 

Thanks so much!

[piscov]

 

 

I am about to receive my grail pen - a 146g long ink window. It needs a new cork and cleaning. I don't want to make a mistake here, so please, experienced FPNers shed some wisdom on:

1. How to disassemble the pen - through the back where the piston is, or through the section/barrel opening (like on 3xx pens)

2. I did not understand "one really has to turn the piston down till its backs-up against the section edge, otherwise the piston will not make its complete telescopic stroke" Does this mean we need to turn the piston till it hits against the section before we pull back?

 

Thanks so much!

1. By the section like early 3XX pens

2. Yes, indeed, you need to hit against the section with the piston, only them back up.

[siamackz]

 

1. By the section like early 3XX pens

2. Yes, indeed, you need to hit against the section with the piston, only them back up.

Thanks so much Vasco! So just to confirm. I will remove the piston head by first unscrewing the section and removing it, then extending the piston till the piston head comes out of the opening from the barrel, and then I just pull out the piston head from the barrel. Yes? I will not disassemble it like the 146s from the '70s or so (from the rear - barrel end where the brass piston mechanism is). Thanks so much!

[hari317]

You have to remove the cork from the section side first. Once that is done, you have to unscrew the filler unit from the rear. You need a special tool. Or you can fashion your own.

[siamackz]

You have to remove the cork from the section side first. Once that is done, you have to unscrew the filler unit from the rear. You need a special tool. Or you can fashion your own.

Ah yes, this makes sense now. Got it! Thank you!

[piscov]

You have to remove the cork from the section side first. Once that is done, you have to unscrew the filler unit from the rear. You need a special tool. Or you can fashion your own.

 

Probably you will not need to do this part. Only if the tri-stage mechanism has any problems you will need to unscrew it from the back. If it is in good working order, just swap the cork from the front.

 

The tool hari317 is talking about can be done with an electrical striper pliers like these one . Transforming this into a tool that opens all 14X d+fro the 50's and also Soennecken pens is easy. Let me know if you need help and i'll send you pictures of the one I made for myself a few years back.

[piscov]

Thanks so much Vasco! So just to confirm. I will remove the piston head by first unscrewing the section and removing it, then extending the piston till the piston head comes out of the opening from the barrel, and then I just pull out the piston head from the barrel. Yes? I will not disassemble it like the 146s from the '70s or so (from the rear - barrel end where the brass piston mechanism is). Thanks so much!

That's exactly how you describe it. You unscrew a nut at the top of the piston head and take the cork or nylon out.

Please be very careful taking the section out. Leave the section in water for at least 24hours before trying to unscrew the section. Use gentle heat to unscrew the section, but be very careful not to break or deform the celluloid at the barrel threads.

To heat the section/threads you can use a hairdryer. When unscrewing be gentle and take time, heat more if needed. Put in the water again if you cannot unscrew it immediately. It's better to take 2 or 3 days than to break or deform the barrel.

[siamackz]

Probably you will not need to do this part. Only if the tri-stage mechanism has any problems you will need to unscrew it from the back. If it is in good working order, just swap the cork from the front.

 

The tool hari317 is talking about can be done with an electrical striper pliers like these one . Transforming this into a tool that opens all 14X d+fro the 50's and also Soennecken pens is easy. Let me know if you need help and i'll send you pictures of the one I made for myself a few years back.

Wow, pics would help greatly Vasco! Thank you thank you thank you!

[Xof72000]

Wow, pics would help greatly Vasco! Thank you thank you thank you!

 

+1 please !

[kawuska]

Try to moisten the cork with water first , even few drops should do.If cork expands overnight you may be lucky avoiding cumbersome operation.

[siamackz]

Try to moisten the cork with water first , even few drops should do.If cork expands overnight you may be lucky avoiding cumbersome operation.

Good suggestion!

[piscov]

Her

 

Wow, pics would help greatly Vasco! Thank you thank you thank you!

Here are the pictures of the tool I made to unscrew the filling unit of 14X series pens.

 

To make it you will need to drill a small 1m hole with a 5mm or so dept to hold the pin in place. You can use the drill bit to make the pin. Jus break the drill bit and put it in the hole with 1,5 mm of the rod coming out.

 

I have both a pillar drill and a milling machine, so making the hole was not hard using a vice. Hand free with a power drill I do not know if it's possible, but will be for sure much harder.

 

If you want to adjust the radius of the pliers to the one in each of the MB14X pens you can use either a milling machine or even a file and only after do the hole, but I do not find that necessary. With this tool I can unscrew any pen from 142 to 149 and it does not leave marks if you are careful. You can also use a bit of tape to protect the metal contact between the pliers and the piston unit.

 

Hope it helps!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited December 3, 2017 by piscov

[Xof72000]

Thanks Vasco !

Much appreciated !!

[piscov]

Thanks Vasco !

Much appreciated !!

 

You are welcome!