Montblanc 254 Nib Removal

[chunya]

Hi all,

 

My 254,which I love to use as it writes beautifully,has started to leak quite badly from the nib end. It has always leaked a little ever since I bought it a while back, but now it is becoming a problem. I imagine it needs some new sealant,and this means removing the entire nib section, but is there a tool available out there for these old pens, or is it a question of having to make one? Any advice would be gratefully received.

 

Many thanks

[newlife]

Looking at the nib from the front you will see two slits beside it. Maybe there are tools out there, but you might be lucky bending a thin knitting needle in the middle and the tips at a 90° angle. I've tried this on another pen, a Faber Castell Gentleman with a similar nut on the filler knob, and it worked quite well.

 

Watering the pen will help softening old ink remnants in the feed threads. Good cleaning after removing should solve your problem, otherwise there must be some other defect. Sealant is not necessary, all my 252/254 and 256 pens do not leak without any sealant. Good luck!

 

Klaus

[chunya]

Hi Klaus,

Thanks for that,and interesting to know that they don't need a sealant. I took a couple of pictures of the nib section,and it is amazing what you don't see with the naked eye ...well with my eyes!

It looks like it could do with a thorough clean, and what is odd is that there seems to be a small section missing adjacent to one of the holes ...very odd.

 

 

 

 

 

[newlife]

Hello chunya!

 

There surely is a lot of old ink visible. I'm nearly sure you can do without a special tool, maybe long tim soaking in warm water will do the job. An ultrasonic cleaner would accelerate cleaning, if you have one.

 

As to the missing piece - some former owner might have tried to remove the nib too and broke that piece off. On the other hand it looks too regular to have happened by accident. I don't know. Take care anyway!

[CS388]

Hi Chunya

 

That section is a bit worse for wear, I fear. Looks like there are micro-cracks round the end. A few of these breaking off could produce the odd shaped hole you have?

Beautiful nib and feed, though. My favourite combination.

 

The correct way to do this is with a tool. Either bought, or made for purpose.

 

But,I've been lucky enough to remove 254 nibs without a tool, on many occasions:

 

1: Through overnight soak.

2: Dry off. Grab the nib and feed firmly with finger and thumb. (This is the tricky bit. Remember that the nib and feed are twice as long as you can see. Too much brute force could snap/shear them. You have to hold them as tight as you are able, without damaging the feed) So, hold as near to the section as you can, in your case at the thickest part of the ski-slope, and start to work the thread loose (I push and pull, as well as turning both directions, to encourage the threads into action - ALL VERY GENTLY!! - or with appropriate force.)

Something like a leather cloth, or rubber glove may improve your grip.

3: Once it's screwed out, a simple knock-out of the nib and feed - and there's all the parts.

4: Clean, re-assemble with your chosen product (sealant/grease/beeswax etc)

 

Great pen!

But, if I was you, I'd start looking around for a replacement section, in the not too distant future?

Hope I'm wrong.

 

Let us know how you get on.

 

Good luck

[stephanos]

I know this is an old thread, but perhaps someone will pick it up. I have recently bought a beautful 254 that needs some work before it will be usable. I had thought of bending paperclips into the right shape to act as a removal tool for the nib. Any reason I should avoid doing so?

(Of course, plenty of soaking first, to loosen up.)

[stephanos]

Update: after soaking, I managed to remove the nib and feed with my fingers - it came out slowly and with plenty of grease still on. Now to remove the piston...