Stiff Lever?

[mazg]

I have just come into a beautiful green marbled CS 85.

 

I have replaced the sac which was partially ossified. However I notice before putting the section/sac back into the barrel, the lever is really stiff - so stiff it starts to bend when i flip it up (if I'm not careful). I can't figure out which part of the lever is causing the issue but it's just as it's about to be fully closed that it has issues. You can actually hear it click when it fully closes - like its being restricted by something?

 

I am wondering if you have any ideas and whether this is something that can be lubricated and/or cleaned. If so, what with?

 

I've just started dabbling into repairing/replacing sacs and don't want to wreck this with my inexperience.

 

Cheers,

Marina

 

 

[Beechwood]

From memory, the Conway stewart as a U shaped section on the lever, you might check to see that it hasnt become a little splayed and catching on the barrell

[johnmc2]

Hi Marina

I have some experience with this problem, I'll try to post some ideas for you tomorrow when I am not so busy.

Cheers

John

[mazg]

@Beechwood - thanks for the tip - it doesn't appear this is the problem - i can see most of the lever going inside before it sticks - if anything I'd say it is the other end of the level (the end that goes into the barrel)?

@John - thanks - I look forward to seeing your ideas

[johnmc2]

HI Marina

You might be better off posting this on the repair forum, this forum seems to be mainly about the modern Conway Stewart company's products. Anyway as I said I have had hard-to-open levers on a few post-war CS pens and from your description of the problem, it is the same issue and is quite easily solved.

The 85 has a presser bar, not a J-bar. A J-bar has a natural spring to it, which means the lever will be held closed by the J-bar. The presser bar does not have this advantage, so Conway Stewart's solution was to put a little metal tab in the lever slot of the barrel, and the underside of the lever has a slight angle near the end which locates it against the tab to hold the lever closed. It is supposed to click a little as you close the lever.

The problem is that as the pen ages, the barrel can shrink or change shape slightly, so the exact interference fit between lever and tab can change, So when you open or close the lever, a lot of force is required to push the lever over the tab. This can put a lot of strain on the lever, and it is frighteningly easy to break the "lollypop" end off the lever. Usually this happens when opening the lever. I speak from experience!

The solution is straightforward but quite invasive as it involves carefully removing some metal from the angled underside of the lever so it moves more easily over the barrel tab (see photo). Use a rat-tail file or fine abrasive paper for this and go easy, check after each stroke of the file. The idea is to retain the angle, and therefore the positive click, without it requiring too much force to open or close the lever. If you remove too much, the lever will not stay closed.

Good luck!

 

Cheers

John

http://i.imgur.com/0r04vRgl.jpg

Edited August 28, 2014 by johnmc2

[northlodge]

John's solution is something I have had to resort to on occasion, when the lever simply will not fit level the space available for it. I cannot recall ever having to do it with a CS85 though.

 

The other possible cause that struck me,, is that part of the petrified sac remains on the pressure bar or hhas found its way onto the lever. Have you tried removing everything and giving the inside a good clean? even a small fragment can cause such problems.

[jjlax10]

John's solution is something I have had to resort to on occasion, when the lever simply will not fit level the space available for it. I cannot recall ever having to do it with a CS85 though.

 

The other possible cause that struck me,, is that part of the petrified sac remains on the pressure bar or hhas found its way onto the lever. Have you tried removing everything and giving the inside a good clean? even a small fragment can cause such problems.

 

I agree this is the most likely.

[mazg]

I'll check the barrel again, thanks for the feedback.