Montblanc 142G Not Drawing Up Ink

[FlameOfWrath]

So, I've got an MB 142G piston filler and while it will draw up water if I submerge about 1/2 - 2/3 of the barrel in a jar of water it won't draw up ink from an MB ink bottle (Royal Blue) with just the nib submerged. It has a couple of scratches on the barrel so filled it with water and let it sit horizontally overnight on some paper it showed no signs of leaking in the morning and flushed the water without any problem.

 

I'm wondering how I can determine if there is a leak in the piston/barrel assembly. I can see the piston moving back and forth so that it is mechanically sound and I can fill and flush it with water so I know the nib/feed isn't clogged.

 

Anyone have this experience before?

 

Thanks.

[CS388]

That's odd. If it sucks up water, it should suck up ink?

 

What happens if you only submerge the nib and section into the water? Does it still draw it up?

 

From your description, it sounds as if it is sucking in water from higher up the barrel (cracks?) - but, then I would have expected to see water on the paper you left the full pen on overnight.

[FlameOfWrath]

That's odd. If it sucks up water, it should suck up ink?

 

What happens if you only submerge the nib and section into the water? Does it still draw it up?

 

From your description, it sounds as if it is sucking in water from higher up the barrel (cracks?) - but, then I would have expected to see water on the paper you left the full pen on overnight.

 

 

It does not suck up water if just do the nib and section are submerged. Maybe I didn't get it full when I filled it with water. Strange. Maybe if I submerge the whole pen and then fill it I will get a full fill that will show a leak if there is one.

Edited April 21, 2018 by FlameOfWrath

[niksch]

There is something amiss in the seal of the section assembly.

[CS388]

 

 

It does not suck up water if just do the nib and section are submerged. Maybe I didn't get it full when I filled it with water. Strange. Maybe if I submerge the whole pen and then fill it I will get a full fill that will show a leak if there is one.

 

Yes. Fill it up with water, so you can see it's full - and then leave it overnight on some paper, to check for leaks.

 

As niksch points out, possibly a problem in the section seal? Could you post a picture of the area where the section joins the barrel (just beneath the ink window). I can't imagine where it is drawing the water in from, when you submerge half the barrel?

 

The good news is that your pen seems able to draw ink/water etc into it, so the piston is probably in good order.

[FlameOfWrath]

Here is s photo of the barrel section interface.

Edited April 21, 2018 by FlameOfWrath

[niksch]

The section assembly needs to be removed, cleaned and re-installed with some new sealant. Very simple repair.

[FlameOfWrath]

Ah, thanks for that suggestion. I will get a nib wrench and see to it. I've got new sealant from fixing a 149 recently.

 

The section assembly needs to be removed, cleaned and re-installed with some new sealant. Very simple repair.

[farmdogfan]

I have never used any sealant on the fifties 14x pens section, and never had a problem.

[niksch]

I have never used any sealant on the fifties 14x pens section, and never had a problem.

 

The section assembly and the barrel of 1950s 14x pens were originally sealed with a shellac. Thus the nice pine(?) smell when you heat them up for disassembly.

 

Maybe you've been lucky?

 

If FoW dips the pen into liquid just over end of the section and can draw up no liquid, it could be a couple of things including a bad piston seal. If FoW dips the pen into the liquid just over the cap threads on the barrel and can draw up the liquid, then that pretty much shows that there is an "air leak" between the section assembly threads and the internal threads on the barrel. A simple sealant will solve the problem.

 

With modern 146 or 149 pens, the tolerances of the threads, and the construct of the pens are such that 'most' of the time you don't need a sealant.

[FlameOfWrath]

 

The section assembly and the barrel of 1950s 14x pens were originally sealed with a shellac. Thus the nice pine(?) smell when you heat them up for disassembly.

 

Maybe you've been lucky?

 

If FoW dips the pen into liquid just over end of the section and can draw up no liquid, it could be a couple of things including a bad piston seal. If FoW dips the pen into the liquid just over the cap threads on the barrel and can draw up the liquid, then that pretty much shows that there is an "air leak" between the section assembly threads and the internal threads on the barrel. A simple sealant will solve the problem.

 

With modern 146 or 149 pens, the tolerances of the threads, and the construct of the pens are such that 'most' of the time you don't need a sealant.

 

I'm going to try that filling again to see how far I have to dip it to draw up liquid. Maybe it is the piston seal. I think I might have seen a drop of water near the piston when fully filled if I shook it.

[niksch]

 

I'm going to try that filling again to see how far I have to dip it to draw up liquid. Maybe it is the piston seal. I think I might have seen a drop of water near the piston when fully filled if I shook it.

 

My analysis was based on your descriptions and explanations.