Something rattling inside J barrel

[hawkgnat]

I just got a new Esterbrook J, and it is working perfectly, however there is something rattling around in the barrel, behind the J bar. When I first heard the noise, I thought maybe the J bar itself was loose, or perhaps the tray for the ink sac, but all of the parts seem to be secure.

 

I checked out the autopsy thread, but I can't seem to find anything else that would be in there that could be moving around. The barrel jewel is also secure, so I don't think it has anything to do with that either.

 

Anyone have any ideas?

[mikej165]

I just got a new Esterbrook J, and it is working perfectly, however there is something rattling around in the barrel, behind the J bar. When I first heard the noise, I thought maybe the J bar itself was loose, or perhaps the tray for the ink sac, but all of the parts seem to be secure.

 

I checked out the autopsy thread, but I can't seem to find anything else that would be in there that could be moving around. The barrel jewel is also secure, so I don't think it has anything to do with that either.

 

Anyone have any ideas?

Perhaps a lever that is slightly loose? Put your thumb over the lever before you shake and and see if the noise goes away. Had this happen to me with a Skyline just yesterday.

 

If the pen has a new sac, the possibility exists that it could be a piece of old ossified sac that was not removed.

[FarmBoy]

I just got a new Esterbrook J, and it is working perfectly, however there is something rattling around in the barrel, behind the J bar. When I first heard the noise, I thought maybe the J bar itself was loose, or perhaps the tray for the ink sac, but all of the parts seem to be secure.

 

I checked out the autopsy thread, but I can't seem to find anything else that would be in there that could be moving around. The barrel jewel is also secure, so I don't think it has anything to do with that either.

 

Anyone have any ideas?

 

The rattle is likely a tonsil or an appendix. The one organ that has been removed in the Autopsy photos. In some (read not all of them but some of them) of the J series pens there is a plug (eraser, wood, cardboard, even seen plastic) that sat in the barrel behind the j-bar that would stop the j-bar from entering the barrel to far. My bet is your plug is an eraser and it has shrunk with the ravages of time.

 

Removal is an elective surgery and can be done on an out-patient basis. Unlike the tonsils or appendix we actually know what it was there for but like the mystery organs, we don't need it to lead a long and healthy life.

 

Todd

[Rabbit]

There is often a spacer between the j bar and barrel end. That may be what you hear. I'd pull the section (if you're comfortable with that) and make sure the j bar is pushed up enough to fit snug against the spacer.

 

(typing on my cell phone-- not easy! Hope this makes sense)

 

--Stephen

 

edit: I like Todds answer better! (yeah-- I didn't think about the spacer shrinking. That sounds more logical)

Edited March 9, 2010 by Rabbit

[hawkgnat]

Thanks everyone. Out of all the responses so far, Todd's seems to be the most likely. The lever is not loose, and the original sack is still functional.

 

So how do I go about getting this thing out?

 

Tim

[ZeissIkon]

Thanks everyone. Out of all the responses so far, Todd's seems to be the most likely. The lever is not loose, and the original sack is still functional.

 

So how do I go about getting this thing out?

 

Tim

 

Unless it really, really bugs you, I wouldn't worry about it. If you absolutely, positively must have it out, you'll have to pull the section with sac and the J-bar out of the barrel, and then hope it isn't lodged behind the end of the sac tray (assuming it's a J, rather than an LJ -- LJ has no sac tray, and the SJ wouldn't have had a spacer).