Repairing A Loose Lever In Mid-20's Diamond Medal Flat Top Pen

[CSG]

While I've planned to send the pen out for a sac replacement and once over, I tried scraping out the ossified remains of the old sac which was likely 50+ years old. Inadvertantly, I seemed to have dislodged what looks like some sort of spring mechanism and it appears that the lever no longer has the retaining pin through it. The pressure bar and lever seem like they're in good shape (no bends, etc.).

 

Can I assume that it's a reasonably easy fix for a pen guy like Greg Minuskin? Nothing appears broken, just disloged. This doesn't look like a j-bar set-up but I couldn't find much info about this type of lever system.

 

 

Edited October 23, 2014 by CSG

[Hooker56]

CSG,

 

Did the lever fall out? or is it still in place?

 

If you're planning on sending it for repair, just bag up the parts and send it. The lever keeper is a pin or ring that sits in a groove in the barrel. The pressure bar and sac provide the equalizing pressure against the lever to make it 'spring' back into place.

 

This link will give you a great visual of how it all goes together:

http://www.richardspens.com/?refp=design/pneumatics

[CSG]

Yup, the lever fell out as I tried to manuever the ring back into it's barrel notch. Not having the proper tools, I will leave it to one who is experienced. Nothing is broken and the lever is solid. The ring is slightly mis-shapen but that should be an easy fix.

 

From one lefty overwriter to another, thanks!!

[CSG]

FWIW, here's a video showing the removal and reinstallation of a C clipped lever in an Esterbrook pen. It looks virtually the same as mine. Breathing a sigh of relief here!

 

Edited October 23, 2014 by CSG