Mb Self-Care/service Query

[maclink]

I particularly love my Conids and Lamy 2000 because of how I can easily disassemble and clean them.

 

I've actually been not too keen on seriously using my MB's because of the issue of easily cleaning them in fear that I'll break the piston with the eternal twisting and untwisting until the effluent from the in reservoir is clear.

 

I now see that I can get tools for removing both the nib unit and the pistons. I have a modern 149 and 146. I also have a 1990s 149.

 

I can't recall where I did but I read somewhere that MB uses a sealant that requires heat to soften before unscrewing the piston and nib unit. Is this true in your experience? Should I be concerned about doing my own thorough cleaning and greasing at interval or as needed? Am I voiding the warranty? Will MB void their servicing obligations/charges if they receive a pen that has been 'tampered' and in turn charge more for servicing?

 

If I can actually disassemble these pens, their usability would skyrocket for me and they'd become among my favourites since for me, a like a decent ink capacity and am therefore not keen on cartridge/converter pens. I do feel that once a piston filler is cleaned and lubricated at intervals to keep the mechanism smooth and easy, you can get a very long period of use out of them.

[meiers]

In my experience Montblanc has always been very generous with their warranty service.

[meiers]

This thread details the story of my adventures in pen maintenance.

 

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/290071-lubricating-the-piston-on-a-meisterstuck-149/?fromsearch=1

[txomsy]

I got an old MB 342G from the 50s some months ago. I can't attest to how much use it had gone through, but by the looks of it, it had been heavily used during the last 60 years. Didn't look as having got any servicing either. It had a load of dry ink crust inside, which is still making it have hard starts or starving three months afterwards. And yet, the mechanism has worked flawlessly from day one. I've been loading and unloading it countless times in the last months in an attempt to wash out dried ink remains. And not a single mechanical glitch. No disassembly, no other cleaning, no lubricating, no servicing. It just works as intended. I am now trying flushing with a dilution of ammonia and detergent but so far, it works without fuss.

 

Shortly: unless you are too abusive (and this -which was a third-level-quality- pen looked like it had been heavily ab-used) in forcing the mechanism, I think you shouldn't worry much about it. If this one is in any way an example to go by, with normal use, it should be very long after you stop writing before anybody sees any mechanical problem with it.

 

OTOH, this was a 50's pen, so maybe quality now is different, but I would doubt it is much worse.

[Karmachanic]

I lube a pen when it tells me it's needed. In my view, obsessive flushing will require more frequent lubrication, and more wear on the piston.

 

•If I'm refilling with the same ink - no need to flush.

•Refilling with a similar colour, I flush the feed and leave it nib down in water for an hour or two. Dry and fill.

•Refilling with a different colour - flush the nib. Fill with water and flush once. Then leave the pen, nib down in water as above. Fill and flush with water a second time. Let it dry. Refill with new colour.

 

That MB pens require effort, skill and third party tools to disassemble indicates, to me, that it's best to leave them as they are until absolutely necessary. Same for most vintage pens.

[meiers]

I agree wholeheartedly. There is no need to flush a pen if I am constantly refilling it with the same ink. Furthermore, destroying the piston spindle is a risk when removing the piston. I am no longer lubricating pistons just to pass the time.

[Karmachanic]

Occasionally I transfer ink to vials and add a small drop of glycerine in the, perhaps misguided, belief that it helps keep the innards lubed.

[maclink]

I'm not at all proposing flushing away for each refill. I don't do that personally. I personally only flush when changing inks or if I'm putting a pen into temporary storage for use at a much later date. I have quite a few pens and will ink up my MB once and then not use it again for several months. I wish to store it clean. One of my 149's was pre-owned when I bought it and it took a while to clean it. The piston is still stiff. I could send it in for servicing or just have the fun of cleaning and greasing it myself.