Hi,
I recently bought a J and I like it a lot. I also got a couple of nibs and the other night I wanted to exchange to try a new one. I was not paying sufficient attention and as I tried to unscrew the nib I rotated the section instead. (I was subsequently able to unscrew the nib fine). But now the lever does not raise much (it used to extend to about 90 degrees) and I fear I have damaged the sack and or pressure mechanism.

Can anyone advise me about how to fix this poor guy. I'd love to learn and I do like the pen a lot. I think the section is a friction fit - but it is very well in there now (!) does not budge. I have not tried an ammonia soak, but did soak in plain water overnight but no help.

You probably haven't damaged anything - perhaps just twisted the sac - if it got tangled on the J-bar. It shouldn't have, but...

The section is a friction fit, and you'll have to get something to help you grip it to twist back, or better yet - remove. Once removed you will be able to see whether the sac is damaged or not.

If you can't pry it off with say rubber sheet to grip, you may have to go for section pliers (really automotive spark plug boot pliers) to grip - or make yourself some by padding the teeth on a regular set of pliers (tape, rubber hose, etc...).

You might try heat - gentle heat from a hair dryer is good. Apply to the barrel where the section enters to see if it will expand a little loosening its grip on the section. I often use hot water 135 degree and dip the nib, section and about 1 inch of the barrel in. Unfortunately this leaves the section and barrel wet and slippery, so dry it off quickly and grip with rubber sheeting or something similar and just twist...

HTH

Gerry

Hi,

Gerry, thanks for the advice. I'll try to get the section out this weekend. I hope the sac is just twisted.


Am I correct in assuming that the sac is attached to the section? So when I get the section/sac out what I'll need to do is re-insert it untwisted? Since it is in so tightly, would gentle heating of the body (like you note) to expand it a bit be OK to re-insert it?

Tom

A bit of heat is always a good idea when removing or inserting sections. I believe it also increases the flexibility of the material.

When you're reassembling the pen, a bit of talcum powder on the outside of the sac might make things go a bit smoother. It's hard to put back a section without a little bit of twisting, and the talc will make the sac slippery and less likely to get caught on the J-bar.


Best

Michael

As a follow on to Michael's advice - which is spot on BTW, I'd add that the sac is usually glued to the section with shellac. Should the sac be permanently damaged by the twisting (unlikely, but possible), you'll need to scrape it off the section, clean the section (scraping then with alcohol), and then you'll need to replace it with another #16 sac purchased from one or another of the suppliers you may have heard of (the Pen Sac Company, Tryphon, WoodBin, and other pen repair places - Pendemonium, the Fountain Pen Hospital, etc.)

Regards,

Gerry

Many thanks to Michael and Gerry for th eadvise.

I heated the body with a hair drier and the section and twisted sack come out easily and undamaged. I put it all back to gether and it works great!

Esties are cool pens - simple and robust.

Tom

Absolute classics of mass production, the way it ought to be done.

Glad it's no longer got its bladder in a twist.

Michael