My 146 Makes Noises

[attika89]

Hi everyone,
I've received a MB 146 today, and I'm experiencing strange noises what I can't detect the source of.
Here is a little vid about it:
http://youtu.be/o9ciL6JGfW0

Any thoughts on this?

 

FWIW

Nib is 14k, the feed is like this one:

The cap opens/closes with half a turn. This was a surprise for me after my Legrand.

 

 

 

[Blade Runner]

Misaligned tines?

[isaacrn]

You misspelled Meisterstuck.

 

I would get that pen worked on by someone ASAP. I know that sound would drive me crazy

[jar]

"I hear nothing!", said Sergeant Schultz.

[Pelikan Vera]

it sounds as if the nib is loose in the collar?

[Pterodactylus]

I think the tines are not necessarily misaligned but also worth to check.

 

The clicking sound is IMO a result that the tines are really narrow to each other, so especially when you hold your pen a little bit rotated and flex one tine more than the other on the snap back the tines (metal on metal) slide against each other and make this clicking sound when they snap into original position.

 

This also can be increased when the tines are additionally misaligned.

 

I also had this clicking sound on some pens, aligning the tines and nib slit (also check if the slit walls are parallel or form a not too big V) should fix it, but if it writes well this is more a cosmetically issue.

 

Especially check if the V of the slit walls is not too big so that it is not too tight on the tipping where the tines touches each other.

Edited December 11, 2013 by Pterodactylus

[attika89]

Misaligned tines?

The tines seem to be aligned, and they are not too narrow either to touch each other.

 

You misspelled Meisterstuck.

 

I would get that pen worked on by someone ASAP. I know that sound would drive me crazy

Oh, my! Thanks!

It does drive me crazy...

 

it sounds as if the nib is loose in the collar?

I was thinking about this, but I don't know how to make sure.

 

I think the tines are not necessarily misaligned but also worth to check.

 

The clicking sound is IMO a result that the tines are really narrow to each other, so especially when you hold your pen a little bit rotated and flex one tine more than the other on the snap back the tines (metal on metal) slide against each other and make this clicking sound when they snap into original position.

 

This also can be increased when the tines are additionally misaligned.

 

I also had this clicking sound on some pens, aligning the tines and nib slit (also check if the slit walls are parallel or form a not too big V) should fix it, but if it writes well this is more a cosmetically issue.

 

Especially check if the V of the slit walls is not too big so that it is not too tight on the tipping where the tines touches each other.

They do not touch each other, and they are not too narrow either. I think if the tines would catch into each other that could be felt quite easily.

There is no change in feel/ smoothness etc, only the clicking sound. It does seems to be that something is a bit loose in there.

Edited December 11, 2013 by attika89

[Pterodactylus]

Hmmm strange, I would have bet that the tipping touching each other, it is exactly that sound.

 

Do you feel that the nib unit is a bit loose when you try to wiggle the feed/nib with your fingers?

Edited December 11, 2013 by Pterodactylus

[attika89]

Hmmm strange, I would have bet that the tipping touching each other, it is exactly that sound.

 

Do you feel that the nib unit is a bit loose when you try to wiggle the feed/nib with your fingers?

Okay. Tried it, and did not feel loose.

Now I could find a better loupe and I can see the problem. The tines do catch into each other! But it is pretty hard to see (for me at least)

 

 

Thank you Ptero, and everyone for your help!

Edited December 11, 2013 by attika89

[CS388]

Thanks for the video. Nice pen.

But something's wrong in there.

 

The click (under pressure) is not characteristic of the rest of the sample, in which the nib seems to behave very well?

I'd think it needs to come apart. It sounds as if something's loose, or not fitted correctly, or (worse) cracked. etc etc.

 

The cap only taking half a turn to close? Not good. And you just got it today?

 

If it was a super bargain, keep it and fix it.

If it was average price, get a refund.

 

Just thoughts in passing.

Good luck.

[PhilH]

Times definitely misaligned. As for the cap, a half a turn means its likely to be a cap from another pen I'm afraid. I would get a refund.

[attika89]

Well, I don't really want to deal with the nib, and the mismatched cap, so I'll ask for a refund.
For ~$146 it was a good deal, but I don't want to spend too much to get it right....

Edited December 12, 2013 by attika89

[Pterodactylus]

http://imageshack.us/a/img43/6018/hrhz.jpg

 

(Montblanc 146 - B ..... Iroshizuku Ku-Jaku)

 

Regarding the cap, this can be caused by the inner cap.

It is also a minor thing it is not necessarily a wrong cap.

You could also try to fix it easily when your cap is an older one which still has the screw in it to unscrew the cap top / clip.

Just take it apart and take a look what the problem might be.

No big deal.

My 146 cap makes 1 turn.

 

So overall if you like the pen, the price was right and you are not afraid to tinker arround with it, then these minor issues are no showstoppers.

Edited December 12, 2013 by Pterodactylus

[attika89]

Thank you again Ptero!
As it seems the seller won't refund it anyway...
I like the pen overall, so we'll see

[Pterodactylus]

http://imageshack.us/a/img600/4665/8p6t.jpg

(Montblanc 264 - OBB ..... Montblanc Oyster Grey)

Keep us informed how things go on.

[attika89]

 

So I took a try with a shim (a very soft and thin eraser template). The problem reduced, but still there.

I don't feel safe doing anything more, so I think it goes to a professional and might even get an EF grind....

And my LeGrand might go as well for a stub grind finally.

[CS388]

Regarding the cap, this can be caused by the inner cap.

It is also a minor thing it is not necessarily a wrong cap.

You could also try to fix it easily when your cap is an older one which still has the screw in it to unscrew the cap top / clip.

Just take it apart and take a look what the problem might be.

No big deal.

My 146 cap makes 1 turn.

 

 

 

You could be right, here.

If it is a ill fitted inner cap, it could be fouling the nib tip, preventing the cap from closing fully (the half a turn issue), and could also be causing your clicking nib issue by twisting/fouling the nib tip as you cap it?

 

Dunno. Just guessing. But, it's worth a look.

Had a similar issue with mine (as I mentioned above) which twisted the tines out.

 

Pterodactylus has one turn. That's fine.

Mine has about one and a half turns. that's fine.

But I don't think half a turn is enough.

(Cue: flood of posts on "the merits of my half a turn 146 cap" etc)

 

Good luck.

[Pterodactylus]

You are right this is plausible, this could be a possible root cause when the inner cap catched the nib and twisted it some time.

[Nickd75]

My 149 also clicks like this occasionally, although only when I twist the pen while writing, and with mine as well it is the tines touching. However, it writes perfectly and only clicks occasionally when my writing gets sloppy, so I have decided to live with it for the moment. As much as I would like to fix it, I don't want to practice my nib adjusting on an expensive pen, I'll practice on the cheaper ones I have and solve this click when I have a little more nib setup skill.

[musashi]

Better have it checked and cleaned by a professional.