Mont Blanc 146 Sticky Piston

[T4TEXAS]

Hello All - I am new to FPN, but not to discussion forums. I have several problem pens and would appreciate your collective wisdom. I will start with this MB 146 problem.

 

My 146 is from the mid-late 1980s. Bought it new, but then gradually put it and the others away as the world turned digital,and then briefly returned to it and others about four years ago. I did flush it out with water using the piston before putting it away, but apparently not well enough. Recently I tried MB blue black and PR Midnight Blues in the 146. I think I bought both bottles about four years ago. Over its life I have mostly used MB blue black.

 

After finding that the pen skipped occasionally, I decided to try to clear all ink out of it until it flows clean. After rinsing the nib/feed externally, I ran water through it using the feed many times - perhaps 30 so far - letting the pen, piston full of water, sit in a glass of water for three hours at least. After a soak, a plunge produces a mildly inky stream.

 

The piston has become hard to turn during these rinses, and close inspection shows a few tiny specks of ink on the wall of the ink window.

 

My guess i that the specs of ink are contributing to the piston drag, if that is the problem.

 

So,

 

1) is there a safe way to clean the ink out more thoroughly? Is dilute ammonia okay? Anything better to suggest?

 

2) Have I damaged the piston? Anything to do?

 

3) Are either of those inks a potential problem for the 146, assuming I am cleaning regularly and thoroughly?

 

4) Do I need to remove the feed, feed tube and nib?

 

5) Anything I have forgotten to ask?

 

[AustinMalone1999]

Actually most piston seals require lubrication, even in cheap converters. Technically you have to send it in to a Certified Montblanc Repair Location, if you got it from a boutique they will send it for you. A piston lubrication is generally $60 plus shipping (I think they make you pay both ways). Also you can buy a tool to remove the piston unit on Ebay, it will be about $60, but a one time expense. Once you remove the piston apply 100% pure silicone grease. If both of those intimidate you I recommend using a lubricated ink, Noodler's has some in their ''Eel Series'' ($12.50 a 90 ml bottle) and many say Iroshizuku inks ($28 per 60ml) are lubricated, don't let the Noodler's Eel inks scare you I have used them extensively 99% of all Noodler's Ink problems are from Baystate Inks or people expecting to be disappointed. The small bits of ink on the window will not cause noticeable drag when operating it. If you do nothing you may cause the seal to degrade and finally break, or worse, snap the piston rod.

Technically you should not be able to remove the nib and feed, but if you get the tool mentioned above this will become possible.

Unless you use the tool you are pretty much stuck; you can use ammonia, but I'm too paranoid to use it in my pens.

My course of action would be to sell it and get a pen from a brand that allows disassembly.

Edited June 28, 2014 by AustinMalone1999

[I like mango cheesecake]

You will need to open up the pen and get at the piston and clean it from the inside, then silicone the piston itself. I had this same problem but before it got really stuck I did that and it glides now.

 

get a hold of a piston removing wrench or make one yourself. there are a couple of threads on how to do that, or you could buy one.

[Hooker56]

Welcome to FPN from Texas!

 

Info above is correct. MB's are nice, but very user unfriendly to service.

[T4TEXAS]

 

Actually most piston seals require lubrication, even in cheap converters. Technically you have to send it in to a Certified Montblanc Repair Location, if you got it from a boutique they will send it for you. A piston lubrication is generally $60 plus shipping (I think they make you pay both ways). Also you can buy a tool to remove the piston unit on Ebay, it will be about $60, but a one time expense. Once you remove the piston apply 100% pure silicone grease. If both of those intimidate you I recommend using a lubricated ink, Noodler's has some in their ''Eel Series'' ($12.50 a 90 ml bottle) and many say Iroshizuku inks ($28 per 60ml) are lubricated, don't let the Noodler's Eel inks scare you I have used them extensively 99% of all Noodler's Ink problems are from Baystate Inks or people expecting to be disappointed. The small bits of ink on the window will not cause noticeable drag when operating it. If you do nothing you may cause the seal to degrade and finally break, or worse, snap the piston rod.

Technically you should not be able to remove the nib and feed, but if you get the tool mentioned above this will become possible.

Unless you use the tool you are pretty much stuck; you can use ammonia, but I'm too paranoid to use it in my pens.

My course of action would be to sell it and get a pen from a brand that allows disassembly.

 

Austin - thanks for the detailed response. The pen shop I bought it from has been gone for many years. I think I'll try the cheapest solution first, so I'll get a bottle of Noodler's Eel series ink. Later I will get the tool or sell the pen. What a pain! If I had known MB was so unfriendly I would have gotten something else, or just not added it to my fountain pens.

 

Anything else that can go wrong that the tool will not allow me to repair myself? Can you buy other MB nibs without having MB install them?

 

Thanks also to Mango and thanks for the Texas welcome, Hooker.

[T4TEXAS]

Update

 

I ordered a bottle of Noodler's Eel Blue and have been using it since July. I chose the Eel Blue after reading a couple of comments on the forum that people found a more lubricating effect with it compared to the Eel Black. No surgery needed. The piston now works smoothly.

 

Thanks again to AustinMalone1999 for the suggestion.