Old Piston Filler Repair

[DrumBalint]

Hello everyone!

 

I recently aquired a vintage unmarked piston filler with a cork piston seal. The only info it had was the nib which says "HUNTCO MADE IN USA". Of what I could find about that it seems to be made here in Hungary with this imported nib, and is probably twice my age, which dates it to the 50s or 60s.

 

The problem is, when I fully retract the piston, it loses vacuum, and it feels like the barrel gets wider (stretched?) where the piston seal was resting the gods know for how long. Addig a frakload of silicone grease helps a bit, but won't solve the problem. After a week of use, the cork seems flexible again..

 

I'm considering replacing the cork, but I'm not sure it will deal with the streched (?) barrel.

 

Any thoughts/experiences/ideas?

[whych]

Can you try posting some pictures of the pen.

 

Since it seems that the cork still works. try filling the pen with water and leave it standing nib up for a day or so. Refill with water as needed. This may be enough to re-hydrate the cork and get it to seal.

[tinta]

Bálint, érdekelne egy pár kép erről a régi tollról. István

 

[Ron Z]

I've seen dimensional changes of the ID of a barrel on a couple of pens, both at the forward end of travel, and the back end. I suspect that it happens where the piston is at rest for extended periods of time. Its difficult to rebore to get the ID consistent from end to end, and its a pain to try to get the piston seal to a size where the seal works at both ends. With a larger ID at the back end, you can limit the travel of the piston so that the seal doesn't get back into the enlarged area.

[DrumBalint]

This is all the quality my phone can provide. Even after only 24 hours the result is surprising. The cork is soft to the touch and the seal works all the way. Shall I give the cork a bath of hot paraffin or something, or is silicone grease enough at reassembly?

 

Igyekeztem a képekkel minden lényegest megragadni, ahogy a technika engedte

[Ron Z]

I'd use silicone grease.