J-Bar Gets Weird When Re-Inserting

[Chiro75]

OK, so I did a couple resacs on a J and SJ (VERY simple... if you've been deliberating about doing this, I found it incredibly easy to do), and I'm having trouble with the J-bar on one pen in particular. As I re-insert it, everything is cool, but when it is seated back into its normal position, the long part of the J-bar pushes down to cover the inside of the barrel. I am having trouble figuring out WHY this would happen, so, therefore, I'm having trouble figuring out what to do to fix it. Any takers?

 

The picture below illustrates what I'm talking about. I thought my solution was to squish the end of the j-bar a little, but maybe I need to expand it some instead?

[pal38]

I think the problem is the length of the short end which seems to me is much too small. I make my J-bars more like this:

 

[pal38]

Oh, if it's the old original J-bar you were inserting, it might just be it became weakened by old age and/or corrosion.

[Chiro75]

Yes, sorry, that was just a schematic and they are the originals. So, do you think the problem I'm having is a symptom of a WEAK spring? I squished the end down thinking it was "rolling" a little when I re-inserted, but that seemed to make it worse. If it is a symptom of a weak spring, then I would need to separate the end rather than squeeze it down like I did. I'll try that. Duh! You'd think I would've put that together myself. :roflmho:

[pal38]

If it's the old J-bar try to spread the end a bit. Don't overdo it, but the J-bar should be about 1/4" larger than the barrel opening.

 

 

Should the J-bar break it's time for a new one (abt$5.00 on flea-bay)

 

Good working!

[Chiro75]

I spread it a bit and that seemed to fix it.

 

If you're paying $5 for J-bars, you need to stop! lol Tryphon has them for $3.50 each.

[pal38]

I never pay for my J-bars, I make them myself from tin strips I get for nothing at the plummers 200 yards away. Takes me about half an hour.

:ltcapd::roflmho:

[Ron Z]

A piece of phosphor bronze or spring steel would be better. A non-spring metal will fatigue and break with use.

 

The spring does have to be wider than the barrel itself or it will, as you have found, tend to fall down into the barrel. Try pushing on the outside end of the J bar, not the spring end, to seat it in the barrel.

[kathleen]

post #29 in the Daily Rounds thread is "Make your own j bars from a hair barrette" I have done this for a little green SJ and it worked perfectly. I cut the barrette to length, Then fussed a little to make the curved end just a bit wider with some needle nose pliers. The width of the barrette was perfect for making a j bar. Once installed, the long side sat high under the lever and there is great spring action and filling.

Here is the link back to that post: https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php?/topic/178611-daily-rounds/

[cplschnapps]

I'm new at restoring Esties. Have successfully installed a couple of sacs, but - I have two Js on which the lever doesn't seem to align with the J bar. Not sure if I'm even using the right terminology here. but when I look down the barrel I see a metal piece I assume is the "J bar" but it's about a quarter turn away from the lever, so when I press the lever it doesn't hit the J bar. I've tried turning the J bar, (or at least what I assume is the J bar) by sticking a tool in the barrel, but it doesn't want to rotate. Solution?

 

Thank you