Esterbrook Sj Lever Falling Problem

[Albinoni]

Recently I bought a Esterbrook SJ black fountain pen off ebay which also included 3 extra nibs as well.

 

Anyway the pen is in mint condition, but regarding the lever that you pull down to fill the pen seems a bit stiff and kind of makes a bit of a crunchy sound like there's a bit of sand in it.

 

I haven't filled it up with ink yet and not sure if I should or not.

 

According to the seller the pen has been fully serviced also with new bladder fitted.

 

This pen is small, smaller than my Pelikan 400nn

 

Any help and successions regarding the lever.

 

Thanks

[Pickwick]

I've just received an Esterbrook Dollar, with the same problem. When I removed the section I found the sac had dried up and removed it. I'm looking on line for a replacement. Seems your pen wasn't fully serviced!

[rwilsonedn]

I believe you have been misinformed. A sticky lever that makes crunching sounds means that an old, hardened sac remains in the pen. You will have to have it serviced, or learn to do it yourself. (Or return it to the seller and ask them to do it, but I'm not sure they are the first people I would turn to under the circumstances. Could be an honest mistake, of course.) The good news is that the job is relatively easy, though Esterbrooks can be fragile.

ron

[Albinoni]

Thanks for your help guys and sorry for late reply. I dont want to send it back to the USA to the seller for repairs as I live here in Australia and the seller is in USA, so quite a far way.

 

Although I know of a very good reuptable vintage pen repairer here in Brisbane, Australia so might send it to him instead and he's very good and just deals with vintage pen repairs.

 

Anyhow this is the Esterbrook I bought

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/130358012043?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649

[chad.trent]

Replacing the sac in an Esterbrook is probably the easiest pen repair there is. These directions are spot on: https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php/topic/189313-how-to-replace-an-esterbrook-sac

[Bo Bo Olson]

The last Esterbrook with out a metal cap was made in 1960, so the sac is 54 years old or older.

I had one that lasted until it was 62 in it was a '48-52...by lever design. That was very unusual, in good rubber sacs only last 30-40 years.

[chad.trent]

I have one pen with an original Esterbrook sac in it. It holds water, but I don't trust it enough to try carrying it around with ink in it.