Leakproofing A Maestro?

February 15, 2016

~~Can anyone help me identify these for my stepdad? They were bought at Staples in the late 80s or 90s. Top is plastic bodied, cartridge fill, bottom is gunmetal plated over steel, piston fill.~~

I've managed to identify these as a Kultur (top) and a Maestro with a piston fill converter (bottom). I'm posting this on behalf of my stepfather, who would like to be able to use the Maestro but complains that it leaks when stored horizontally - from cleaning it out he seems to mean leaking into the cap.

Does anyone have any experience with Maestros which might suggest why he's finding that? I've seen other threads speaking of internal cracks, but I can't find any info on how to (or indeed if I can) remove the nib and feed to examine its innards. Also the piston converter seems to be a friction fit thing, does it need a bit of brute force and ignorance to get it to seal well?

Many thanks all.

Edited February 15, 2016 by twigletzone

February 15, 2016

A cracked feed is a possibility, had that once on my l'Etalon.

But best chance is a leaking converter-seal, which let's in false air..

I would suggest your father to use it for a few days with a proper Waterman cartridge.

If that also leaks there is something seriously wrong.

D.ick

February 16, 2016

He's actually sent them to me, so I can have a play right here. He's not the best at communicating so I figured the problem would get better attention if I did it myself!

Only got an empty Waterman cart at the moment but there's a filling syringe in the post so I can try it with that. At the moment I have the converter in with a wee drop of Diamine ink just to see what it's like "out of the box". When you say a leaking converter seal, what do you mean exactly? The seal around the edge of the piston head?

Also, I did notice when I was cleaning it that water went through the section of the Maestro like it was a hose, whereas the Kultur was far slower even once it wasn't so clogged. Does that say cracked feed to you?