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Repair Montblanc 204

chunya

By chunya
in Repair Q&A

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chunya Collectors Item

chunya

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Hi,

 

I originally mistakenly posted this in the MB forum, so apologies for the duplicate posting.

 

I've just picked up this 204 pen and stand (1950s - 60s?) which I would really love to get working and use. The main problem is that although the piston moves up and down it doesn't draw up at all. The whole turning mechanism seems very 'loose' with no 'friction' at all as the piston moves up and down.

 

I assume that the nib section unscrews, but haven't yet tried it, but how is the piston accessed? I thought that it would be similar to the 82 where the nib section unscrews as well as the turning section, but this doesn't seem to be the case.

 

I've never had one of these before so know little about them, what might be the problem, and how do I completely dismantle it?

 

Although it's fine, I love the nib and and it will make a great daily user for me.

 

It looks like the end section has suffered over the years with being dipped in ink, but for the time being I can live with the corroded ring and discoloured section.

 

Any help would be gratefully accepted. Thanks

 

fpn_1521812916__dsc08363.jpg

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farmdogfan Collectors Item

farmdogfan

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You can get the piston mechanism out by unscrewing it from behind, i use a piece of bi-cycle tube, and grabbing the "knurled" part (just under the filling knob) and unscrew it.

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siamackz Collectors Item

siamackz

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You mean 254? If yes, it should unscrew from the nib like the 14x series. However I dont know where the piston is accessed from - I want to say the back end. But wait for a pro

My Vintage Montblanc Website--> link

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chunya Collectors Item

chunya

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Hi Farmdogfan, I have a couple of fp pliers so I can use them, but looking at the back section I would never in a thousand have thought it would unscrew ... Many thanks for the clarification.

Hi Saimackz, I'm pretty sure that this desk pen is a 204.... Many thanks

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chunya Collectors Item

chunya

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Hi Farmdogfan ... The back section actually unscrewed really easily using the pliers! Thanks for that. The nib section is proving more stubborn, so I've put it back in to soak.

The problem seems to be that the whire plastic tip has come away from the piston and it's stuck up in the nib section, so all being well once I've removed the nib section I can hopefully either refit it or replace the piston (I've a couple of 146 pistons spare and they might be the same size).

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farmdogfan Collectors Item

farmdogfan

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sounds good, the nib and feed collar unscrews, the section is not screwed on, mine could just be pulled off after unscrewing the feed and nib collar.

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siamackz Collectors Item

siamackz

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Hi Saimackz, I'm pretty sure that this desk pen is a 204.... Many thanks

Very interesting! Thanks for clarifying!

My Vintage Montblanc Website--> link

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chunya Collectors Item

chunya

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sounds good, the nib and feed collar unscrews, the section is not screwed on, mine could just be pulled off after unscrewing the feed and nib collar.

Thanks for that Farmdogfan, there was me thinking the whole section and window would unscrew like on an 82. Well, it's all dismantled now; the piston bits are quite difefrent to modern pens like the 146. What I don't understand is what has happened to the white plastic tip and why there seems to be a round disk between that and the piston? If I can't work it out then I have a spare one which will hopefully fit.

 

Might be up and running by tomorrow! Thanks again.

 

fpn_1521826677__dsc08371.jpg

 

fpn_1521826722__dsc08370.jpg

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chunya Collectors Item

chunya

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Good Morning, another day and another set back, but I won't let it spoil my day.

 

I found my spare 146 pistons and unfortunately they are so very different and can't be used.

 

Looking at the end pieces of the piston, I'm guessing that there is a piece that looks like a small tack / drawing pin that goes through the white end and secured it to the actual piston. It seems that the tack 'head' has snapped away from the 'pin'. I imagine that this might be able to be secured back in place with Loctite, or something similar, which might do the trick. I've never seen a piston of this design before, and son't understand why there are three holes in the black disc/pinhead.

 

I was wondering whether there might be anyone who might have stocks of these somewhere (I doubt that MB will carry such old stock). Luckily the helix is absolutely fine.

 

Apologies, I have no idea how I've ended up with two images.

 

On reflection I'm wondering whether that disc is at all necessary (was it original to the piece?). It might be possible to Loctite the white plastic head to the pin and then seal it all from behind.

 

fpn_1521885733__dsc08373.jpg

 

fpn_1521885733__dsc08373.jpg

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chunya

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Good news .... I decided to leave out the small disc, used Loctite to connect the white section to the piston, left it for an hour ... then tried drawing up water and it did! Rested it nib up for a while, and happily no seepage behind the piston, but will leave it for a day or so just to make sure. So it looks as if I can now use this, and not just as a dip pen as with the writing sample.

 

Help needed again on this pen. You can just see that the section has discoloured, I would say from years of ink. In real life it's is now almost a grey, much lighter than it seems in the photo. If it was just the section beyond the window it wouldn't be so bad, but just behind the window one side has also lightened, perhaps where it rested on the cap?. Is there any chance of restoring the colour or will I have to live with it (which won't be all that bad) ?

 

 

fpn_1521897136__dsc08375.jpg

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