Hello,

Does anybody know how to get the nib+feed of a MB 144 out of the section?

I have two MB144 fountain pen´s and I would like to switch the nibs. Since one of them is a MB 144 black with a slip cap and the other a MB 144 solitaire with twist cap, the sections are not interchangeable, so I want to swap the nibs.

Thanks,

Hans.

I don't know Hans.
But if you post it in the repair Forum as well, you might get some responses. I get the impression that Montblanc is one of the brands that people here work on less often then say, Esterbrooks or Pellikans. So it might be that nobody ius sure enough to give you advice. I posted a reply to bump it up to the top and also because the topic looked so lonely with no replies. Even though I have no answer for you, I am rooting for you to find one!

Kj

Thanks Kjervin, at least one reply to my cry for help

In the mean time I found out that the nib on my black MB is 14K while the nib on my Solitaire MB is 18K.

Hans.

Hello Hans,

At the DC pen show last year, I attended a nib repair workshop where I presented the nibmeister (I think it was John Mottishaw) with a 144 with a bent nib to work on. For one thing I wanted a free fix , but secondly, couldn't figure out how the nib came out. (I had been previously informed that a 'special' tool was required). Anyway John removed the nib out by wiggling it out. He then proceeded to straighten out the tines and then pushed the nib back in.You may want to try that technique, which works on most pens that don't screw in as a unit, as in Pelikans and Esterbrooks.

Essentially, you hold the pen in your left hand feed up. Lay the nib in the crook of the first knuckle of your right forefinger. Grasp the the nib firmly between the iridium tip and the feed with the tip of your right thumb and nail. Gently wiggle the nib (back and forth) left to right while pulling it away from the section until freed, taking care not to place downward stress on the nib.

To replace, shove it back into place, I usually use three fingers, with the nib held between the thumb and forefinger, and supported by the middle finger.

I suspect that part of the reason that there has been no response to your query is that most Montblanc owners do not do their own repairs. I know that when I owned them, I certainly did not touch them for fear of making a $200 mistake. Although I was comfortable working on vintage pens, I trembled at the thought of working on my MBs, and when the need arose, I sent them off to MB for repairs. I have since sold off all my MBs, including two 149s, one 146 and three 144s a couple of ballpens and a rollerball. All that's left is a vintage 264 that I don't really use any more so it may be gone soon too!

I hope this helps

Hi Hans,

The way vintagepenster describes it is the only way of doing it if you don't have any tools or parts for a Montblanc. It uses some kind of sealing paste(?) that seems to be unique for Montblanc, and if you pull it out with nib pliers, you take out the feed too, which would require some sealant to seal the nib/feed pair afterwards again.

If you don't succeed in getting the nib in properly, after wiggling it out, you just may have to try again, until you succeed. I generally found that with the wiggling method getting the nib out is one thing, but getting it back in seated properly is a little more difficult.

HTH,
Kind regards, Wim

I've always wondered how more people don't cut their hands when they grasp the nib like that, seeing as how it may slip a bit and cut into the flesh What about using a pair of rubber gloves or something to help? Maybe I am just paranoid...yeah, probably...

Hi Maja,

Only when sticking it back in Maja, only when sticking it back in

Kind regards, Wim

Thanks for all the advise. But I´m wondering whether I´m upt to it. Wiggling two nibs from two pens, swapping them (thats the easy part I guess), and then inserting them again into the pens.

Seems like a dangerous undertaking.

Regards,
Hans.

Hans,
Sorry...I didn't mean to scare anyone...I've re-inserted nibs (and always safely...touch wood) but I prefer to use rubber gloves or a thick rubber band to help me grip them. I don't think it's that dangerous

Take care,
Maja

Do they use a sealant from the factory? I pulled apart the two 144 nibs that I have to patch up cracks in the barrel (? the tube part between the nib and the converter) and didn't see any evidence of any. No leak problems with either once I got them back together.

Anyway, the feed on one of the nibs I have is finned and that one was more difficult (I bent the fins up pretty good, but they pushed right back into place without a problem). The nib with the solid feed was much easier to handle just because I didn't have to worry about mangling the fins. It took a pretty decent amount of wiggling to get them apart. Puting them back together was a snap.

Ty