Advice Required! Vacumatic Plunger Fix.

[KiltedKrafts]

Hi guys. Advice needed.

 

I am repairing this slim vacumatic and when i took the plunger out, i noticed there seems to be a bit missing. the cup for the ink sac pellet to pop into.

 

can it be repaired, as in a new pellet cup? or do i need a new plunger unit?

 

and finally, do any of you lovely people sell the parts i would need and how can i purchase them without going against the guidelines of this forum?

 

Pics for reference.

 

 

Thanks guys n gals.

 

love you all.

 

Dave C.

[pen lady]

I think you have an early Vac with a Lockdown filler unit and the pellet cup is there OK, but it's made of aluminium not the black material you might have seen before. I stand ready to be corrected by those who are more knowledgeable however!

[Xof72000]

Nothing missing, the sac goes in the hole on top of the filler (clean it before, there are certainly the remains of the old sac inside).

 

But if I see properly your first picture, the little bar inside the filler (that should interfere with the springs) seems to have move out of its proper emplacement.

Edited August 16, 2020 by Xof72000

[FarmBoy]

The notches to hold filler shaft locked appear damaged

[KiltedKrafts]

  On 8/16/2020 at 4:29 PM, Xof72000 said:

But if I see properly your first picture, the little bar inside the filler (that should interfere with the springs) seems to have move out of its proper emplacement.

I noticed that too, am planning on making a tiny replacement for it.

 

  On 8/16/2020 at 4:40 PM, FarmBoy said:

The notches to hold filler shaft locked appear damaged

This is a problem. will the whole unit need ot be replaced? if so, where can i get one?

 

[FarmBoy]

Post a picture of the plunger with the parts slid off so we can see what we are up against.

[RalphP]

i could be wrong - but it looks like the little "sliver of aluminum" that holds the "cup" in place is actually there - just not sticking out a wee bit as it sometimes does.

 

If the "cup is firmly in place and you feel spring pressure when you move it toward the top everything might be alright.

 

If the cup slides off with no resistance it might be a goner - but you can make a new "sliver" out of an empty aluminum can using a sturdy pair of scissors...

 

Tricky the way they were made...

 

ralph prather

[Paul-in-SF]

Since I have recently tried, I can say that these units are currently pretty hard to find, and bloody expensive when you do. Also keep in mind that there were three different sizes of these lockdown units, although I'm told that some parts are interchangeable (I don't really understand at all how they are put together).

 

  On 8/18/2020 at 12:03 AM, RalphP said:

If the cup slides off with no resistance it might be a goner - but you can make a new "sliver" out of an empty aluminum can using a sturdy pair of scissors...

 

Tricky the way they were made...

 

ralph prather

 

Tricksy, I calls it. Anyway, I would be very interested to know more about how to make this repair, if there is any reference online that a lay person can understand and follow.

[KiltedKrafts]

  On 8/23/2020 at 5:23 PM, Paul-in-SF said:

Also keep in mind that there were three different sizes of these lockdown units, although I'm told that some parts are interchangeable (I don't really understand at all how they are put together). .

yer, i did buy another lockdown vac and found out that it was standard size oh well, i have another pen, yay.

 

they are pretty simple to disassemble in part, the various bits just slide off. I used a bit of drinks can as a sliver and fit it in whilst sliding the spring up inside the tube, then sliding the lower part on and after growing a 3rd arm to help with things so far it is holding well.

the lockdown part is obviously still busted though

[KiltedKrafts]

  On 8/17/2020 at 4:41 PM, FarmBoy said:

Post a picture of the plunger with the parts slid off so we can see what we are up against.

Will do

 

  On 8/18/2020 at 12:03 AM, RalphP said:

i could be wrong - but it looks like the little "sliver of aluminum" that holds the "cup" in place is actually there - just not sticking out a wee bit as it sometimes does.

 

If the "cup is firmly in place and you feel spring pressure when you move it toward the top everything might be alright.

 

If the cup slides off with no resistance it might be a goner - but you can make a new "sliver" out of an empty aluminum can using a sturdy pair of scissors...

 

Tricky the way they were made...

 

ralph prather

Thanks, it worked a treat!

[KiltedKrafts]

Edited August 30, 2020 by KiltedKrafts