Parker 45 {Flighted?} Ballpoint Help

[Emza]

Hi. I was directed here by Reddit users to ask a question.

I have a Parker 45 chrome and gold ballpoint pen, eBay insisted this is a Flighted? But I don't know.

I've had it in my possession for about 25 years and never used it because it came to me as an empty barrel and up to this point I've not had the time nor inclination to figure it out.

I've looked far and wide for an exploded view of the pen, with all the parts I need to get it working again but I'm coming up short.

Can someone help me identify what I need. I may have acquired a spring from another Parker (unknown - but plastic barrel with rubber grip - the plastic snapped so I'm also in the market for a new half!) But when I put the spring in, and screw on the top it still doesn't move. I do know the last refill that was in it exploded so I've no doubt it's inked up in the very top which I'll clean as soon as I can, I just need to know what to look for.

Cheers

[joss]

Hi, welcome on this forum.

 

Possibly, the sticky remnants of the old ink block the clicker mechanism inside the cap so best is to first clean the cap innards with denaturated alcohol.

The Parker 45 ballpoint takes the standard Parker refill:

www.parkerpen.com/en-US/ball-point-refill

 

Maybe this thread is also helpful for you:

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/287609-refill-for-parker-45-ballpoint/

[Emza]

Hi, thanks for the reply.

I have a spare refill and I'm pretty sure the spring I pilfered from the other pen is fine.

I'm just double checking I understand - aside from the spring and the refill the 45 doesn't have any other parts?

[Runnin_Ute]

Not much in the way of parts. Just checked my 45 Flighter, and because the cap acts as the actuator, all you need is the spring and a refill.

[Emza]

That is good to know, thank you!

I now have a follow up question about it.

Does the part/actuator move within the cap? I think the reason mine is not clicking is because it's jammed, whether by force or because of the previous mentioned ink - which is turning out to be a massive job!

It's the only logical explanation looking at it even without having seen one working.

Can you WD40 a pen?! What should I use to try and get it to release?

[joss]

The actuator mechanism indeed moves up and down inside the cap so it is highly likely that it is stuck into the dried ballpoint ink.

 

As mentioned above you will need alcohol to dissolve the dried ink.The early actuator mechanism parts were all metal so these can be treated safely with alcohol. Later mechanisms have plastic parts and I am not sure how they handle the alcohol. Maybe you have to dilute the alcohol with water but I would not use any other solvent.

 

I am not sure about WD40, maybe it also slowly solves and/or liberates the dried ink.

[Emza]

Thank you so much for your reply. The parts that I've been seeing at least now make sense.

Now that I've got a lot of the ink out (although it seems never ending!) it does look to be plastic. I'll keep an eye on it and see what happens.

I only thought of WD40 as it's designed for removing the grime and grease from seized mechanical parts so maybe once I get a bit more of this ink out, I'll give it a go.

[joss]

You are welcome. I found this video showing how the mechanism works: it's all about mechanics:

 

http://thekidshouldseethis.com/post/how-does-a-retractable-ballpoint-click-pen-work