Vector Fountain To Rollerball Conversion

[denner]

I am having a small problem and I would like your help.

 

I am using Parker Vectors (Rollerballs mostly) since my school years and never stopped doing so. I recently found in an old drawer in my parents home many Vectors and parts. I know for a fact that a Vector Fountain can be transformed to a Rollerball and vice versa with a simple change of the tip and inserts. However, does anyone know how to change the cap inserts? If I try to cap a Vector Fountain pen with a Rollerball cap, the cap will be loose and wont click. I noticed the difference on top of the caps, that Rollerballs have a black tip, and Fountains have a white tip.

 

Does anyone know how can I disassemble a Parker Vector Cap so I can exchange the inserts that seem to be different for Fountain and Rollerball? I suspect that the tips of the caps needs to be pushed downwards to unlock the insert as well with the clip, but I haven't tried it because I don't want to do something wrong and destroy anything.

Edited October 1, 2014 by denner

[Mike 59]

You need to get a thin sharp blade and lift the sticker up off of the cap. Underneath you will see a small 'star' screw head, Philips No.0 or 1.

Undo that and the clip will pull out, then you can push the inner cap down and out of the cap.

 

 

[denner]

Thank you so much for your help Mike!

 

I am following your guidelines right now!

[denner]

The conversion went smooth to two of my -now- Rollerballs! I had a hard time with the screws because it was superhard to remove them properly, but managed to do all without breaking anything.

 

I dont want to start a new thread, so another quick question:

 

How do we take apart the tail cap off the pen body? Does it screw like the tip or is it plugged?

[Mike 59]

I have tried to take the metal end part off of the barrel, but couldn't do it.

I think it must be pressed in, not threaded, so I didn't try any further for fear of damaging it.

[Matlock]

I have tried to take the metal end part off of the barrel, but couldn't do it.

I think it must be pressed in, not threaded, so I didn't try any further for fear of damaging it.

 

Out of interest, why do you want to take the end off of the barrel?

[denner]

 

Out of interest, why do you want to take the end off of the barrel?

 

For switching nickel plated parts with black finish ones.

Edited October 5, 2014 by denner

[denner]

Noone knows how to do this properly?

[Mike 59]

I had another go, the cap on the end of the barrel is removeable, it's held by some dents in the metal into a groove in the plastic moulding.

I thought it might be 'crimped' over inside but not so.

Edited October 16, 2014 by Mike 59

[denner]

Mike, I can't thank you enough for your help! So the mystery is finally solved.

 

I was amazed at the final outcome to the Vector tailcap being just a layer of thin aluminum over a plastic moulding, whereas I was expecting something of an upscale solution like a complete aluminum plug, or even better a screw-on like the front tip of the pen (which would make more sense and would place the pen as fully serviceable). My guess is cost reducing methods suggested this as a neat way to do things right. I dont know what I was expecting, but whatever I had imagined was far off from this Parker design.

 

Thanks again Mike for the complete disassembly guide to a Vector!