Mb 149 Piston Stuck

[Chrissy]

pentooling.com makes tools for Montblanc pens. Sometimes Tom also has them for sale on penboard.de.

[Inkling13]

I know that is is a recommended tool supplier, but 60$ is a bit much for a rarely used tool i can get by with a vice-grip and a paperclip. http://pentooling.com/toolsmontblanc.html

With those two tools, i can open a MB. Before everyone jumps down my throat, i use the vicegrip just to stabilize the tines of the paperclip. It never touches the pen directly.

[james3paris]

 

For only $10, I'd risk it. You want a precise fit, so if it's sloppy when it arrives, shitcan it. (Edit: I see $18 to mail it from China and a review that says poor quality ) So, perhaps not.

 

 

 

Fountainbel used to make them. I wonder if he'd make a recommendation?

$28 is what holds me back. I missed the review. So, I am not even considering it now.

[james3paris]

pentooling.com makes tools for Montblanc pens. Sometimes Tom also has them for sale on penboard.de.

Thanks for the link.

[james3paris]

I know that is is a recommended tool supplier, but 60$ is a bit much for a rarely used tool i can get by with a vice-grip and a paperclip. http://pentooling.com/toolsmontblanc.html

With those two tools, i can open a MB. Before everyone jumps down my throat, i use the vicegrip just to stabilize the tines of the paperclip. It never touches the pen directly.

It is more like $105 before shipping for what I want.

 

Sometime back, I saw somebody use your method online, probably on youtube.

[niksch]

Eric (and everyone) how do you avoid wrecking the spindle when you remove the piston?

 

To date, I have not broken a spindle by removing a piston mechanism with an appropriate tool. I suppose in these cases the piston seal was retracted (not forward)in the barrel of the pen.

 

I have broken a few spindle rods by attempting to push the seal forward/backward with the turning knob, and the resulting stress snapped the spindle.

[FredRydr]

Tools can pay for themselves quickly, whether you work on a pen, a motorcycle or a house. Remember, the tool can be used again and again, saving you the repeated expense of paying someone else to perform the task, time and again.

 

If you think in those terms, a $60 precision tool that doesn't cause more damage will be a wise investment.

Edited February 4, 2018 by FredRydr

[meiers]

I purchased one from maxpens a few years ago. A little more expensive but worth it.

[meiers]

 

I have broken a few spindle rods by attempting to push the seal forward/backward with the turning knob, and the resulting stress snapped the spindle.

I have done this twice.

[dizzyui]

I used paperclip to unscrew 3 out of 4 of my 149 pistons...The last one is just too tight so I decided to get the right tool to do it.

I wish i had buy it earlier. It is much more easier than using a paperclip....

[Motocrucian]

Greetings. This may be of use as it was for me. Basically my dad's 149 came into my possession; when the last time it was used is anybody's guess.

 

I have never used an MB let alone a 149, but I have used a variety of fountain pens throughout my life - my current workhorse is a first gen Vanishing Point I bought new years ago when they came out. Anyway, enough of memory lane.

 

The 149's piston did not seem to work as I thought it should, so off to the internet to see what I might be up against and I ended up here.

 

I really did not want to disassemble the pen although that is well within my abilities. After soaking it for a few minutes, it occurred to me that the piston just needs a bit of water to get it lubed. I filled my mouth with some warm water and put the nib in my mouth and "pushed" some water back into the pen (oh the horror of it). Just "push" like you're going to blow up a balloon. Don't go crazy, you don't need to be a Louis Armstrong.

 

I saw there was a bit of water in the reservoir and then I proceeded to gently work the piston, volia! It released.

 

A few times flushing the pen with the piston and we're good as gold. Later I'll get some proper pen cleaner and rinse that though.

 

Be aware, the only real problem I see with this is staining your lips and mouth if there's ink in there, if not, you're home free.

 

Good luck.

Edit: The pen is a 1988 149 14K

 

Edited April 22 by Motocrucian

[Beechwood]

9 minutes ago, Motocrucian said:

Greetings. This may be of use as it was for me. Basically my dad's 149 came into my possession; when the last time it was used is anybody's guess.

 

I have never used an MB let alone a 149, but I have used a variety of fountain pens throughout my life - my current workhorse is a first gen Vanishing Point I bought new years ago when they came out. Anyway, enough of memory lane.

 

The 149s piston did not seem to work as I thought it should, so off to the internet to see what I might be up against and I ended up here.

 

I really did not want to disassemble the pen although that is well within my abilities. After soaking it for a few minutes, it occurred to me that the piston just needs a bit of water to get it lubed. I filled my mouth with some warm water and put the nib in my mouth and "pushed" some water back into the pen (oh the horror of it). Just "push" like you're going to blow up a balloon. Don't go crazy, you don't need to be a Louis Armstrong.

 

I saw there was a bit of water in the reservoir and then I proceeded to gently work the piston, volia! It released.

 

A few times flushing the pen with the piston and we're goods a gold. Later I'll get some proper pen cleaner and rin that though.

 

Be aware, the only real problem I see with this is staining your lips and mouth if there's ink in there, if not, you're home free.

 

Good luck.

 

 

 

 

 

An entertaining if unconventional solution to a common problem, some would say that the end justified the means.

 

MB UK charge a minimum of £100 and a three month wait to fix this problem.

[Motocrucian]

12 minutes ago, Beechwood said:

 

 

An entertaining if unconventional solution to a common problem, some would say that the end justified the means.

 

MB UK charge a minimum of £100 and a three month wait to fix this problem.

Guess I just saved myself £100 and gained a usable writing implement. Thanks.

[Barry Gabay]

22 hours ago, Motocrucian said:

Greetings. This may be of use as it was for me. Basically my dad's 149 came into my possession; when the last time it was used is anybody's guess.

 

I have never used an MB let alone a 149, but I have used a variety of fountain pens throughout my life - my current workhorse is a first gen Vanishing Point I bought new years ago when they came out. Anyway, enough of memory lane.

 

The 149's piston did not seem to work as I thought it should, so off to the internet to see what I might be up against and I ended up here.

 

I really did not want to disassemble the pen although that is well within my abilities. After soaking it for a few minutes, it occurred to me that the piston just needs a bit of water to get it lubed. I filled my mouth with some warm water and put the nib in my mouth and "pushed" some water back into the pen (oh the horror of it). Just "push" like you're going to blow up a balloon. Don't go crazy, you don't need to be a Louis Armstrong.

 

I saw there was a bit of water in the reservoir and then I proceeded to gently work the piston, volia! It released.

 

A few times flushing the pen with the piston and we're good as gold. Later I'll get some proper pen cleaner and rinse that though.

 

Be aware, the only real problem I see with this is staining your lips and mouth if there's ink in there, if not, you're home free.

 

Good luck.

Edit: The pen is a 1988 149 14K

 

Brilliant technique! Congratulations. That's one way of getting water into the ink chamber to begin loosening old, encrusted ink. Enjoy your new-old 149. It's a great model.