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Pilot Con70 Failure


KeatsPhD

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It's rather difficult to search the forum for "con 70" so forgive me if someone has already asked this.

 

Has anyone had problems with the con 70 button-filling converter? I was cleaning my new Custom 74 after running through the first converter full and instead of emptying like normal, ink leaked out the button end onto my fingers whenever the button was pressed. I was wondering if anyone has had a similar experience or if I just got a bad converter. I'll contact the seller (my local B&M store) and I have no doubt he'll replace it without hesitation, but I thought I'd see if our esteemed community had thoughts about this issue.

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Hi,

 

I haven't seen complete failure of a Con-70 before. The most I have seen is ink finding its way behind the piston. I have used the Con-70 for several years, but I've never had this, or any other failure though.

 

Dillon

Stolen: Aurora Optima Demonstrator Red ends Medium nib. Serial number 1216 and Aurora 98 Cartridge/Converter Black bark finish (Archivi Storici) with gold cap. Reward if found. Please contact me if you have seen these pens.

Please send vial orders and other messages to fpninkvials funny-round-mark-thing gmail strange-mark-thing com. My shop is open once again if you need help with your pen.

Will someone with the name of "Jay" who emailed me through the email system provide me an email address? There was no email address provided, so I can't write back.

Dillon

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I've not had that problem, though it is entirely possible. Just like any other piston, the one used in the CON 70 will wear out after a while. This is especially true if the piston is without lubrication and becomes dry. Speaking of which, I have noticed on the last 5 Pilots I purchased the CON 70 converters are very dry, with sticky pistons. I suspect the increased friction will cause the piston to wear prematurely. That's why the first step I take when receiving a CON 70 is to place a very small dab of pure silicone grease on a paperclip and gently smear it around the base of the piston (being careful not to scratch the piston or wall of the converter). This keeps the piston operation from sticking, and improves the seal.

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I contacted my local seller and he is contacting his Pilot rep to see if there's any kind of known issue and to see about a replacement. I'll post an update once I hear something definitive about the problem/replacement.

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Hi,

 

I am pretty sure that the top metal piece unscrews. If you can get it to unscrew or not is another matter. I recall that those are glued on, but you can often get the glue seal to break.

 

Dillon

Stolen: Aurora Optima Demonstrator Red ends Medium nib. Serial number 1216 and Aurora 98 Cartridge/Converter Black bark finish (Archivi Storici) with gold cap. Reward if found. Please contact me if you have seen these pens.

Please send vial orders and other messages to fpninkvials funny-round-mark-thing gmail strange-mark-thing com. My shop is open once again if you need help with your pen.

Will someone with the name of "Jay" who emailed me through the email system provide me an email address? There was no email address provided, so I can't write back.

Dillon

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Hi,

 

I am pretty sure that the top metal piece unscrews. If you can get it to unscrew or not is another matter. I recall that those are glued on, but you can often get the glue seal to break.

 

Dillon

Yep, 20 seconds with a hair dryer will easily do the trick of loosening the thread locker. I dismantle my CON-70s in order to clean them, but they are still annoying because ink can get to places that are very hard to clean. Love everything about the converter but the cleaning.

Robert.

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I heard back from my seller and Pilot is sending a new converter for me. Yay for good customer service on both counts.

 

Looking at the misbehaving converter further (with gloves on this time) it looks like the plunger isn't moving consistently when the button is depressed and the tube itself seems to be loose in the converter. It also moves from side to side in the converter. The one I have now doesn't seem to screw out at the button end as far as I can tell, so it will be interesting to see what the replacement looks like. Mine is chrome with a black button, as opposed to the black one I see on the Goulet site, and my malfunctioning one doesn't have "push" anywhere on it.

 

I'll be sure to take everyone's excellent suggestions when the new one arrives. I have my silicone at the ready at my inking station, since it stays there for my eyedroppers. Hopefully the next one will behave itself without incident.

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Hi,

 

There are two versions, the black one and the silver collared one with the black button. The tube is supposed to be loose, slide up and down, and move from side to side.

 

Dillon

Stolen: Aurora Optima Demonstrator Red ends Medium nib. Serial number 1216 and Aurora 98 Cartridge/Converter Black bark finish (Archivi Storici) with gold cap. Reward if found. Please contact me if you have seen these pens.

Please send vial orders and other messages to fpninkvials funny-round-mark-thing gmail strange-mark-thing com. My shop is open once again if you need help with your pen.

Will someone with the name of "Jay" who emailed me through the email system provide me an email address? There was no email address provided, so I can't write back.

Dillon

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Hi,

 

The tube is supposed to be loose, slide up and down, and move from side to side.

 

Dillon

Hmmm. If the side-to-side movement is normal, is it normal for it to alternate moving or not moving up and down when the button is depressed? Sometimes the plunger moves and sometimes it doesn't. I figured it was coming loose in a way to affect the vacuum action of the converter.

In any case, it doesn't seem to be drawing up water when I try to get it to do so - just leaking inky remains onto my fingers. Perhaps it is just a bad seal. It worked well for one fill, but now doesn't want to play nice. But, since I have a new one on its way, I'll leave off experimenting with it for now.

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Hi,

 

It is supposed to be always free for the most part. It is attached loosely to the plunger. The converter only really works properly when installed in a pen. Otherwise, it doesn't really do much of anything. Basically, when you push down the plunger, the tube is supposed to seal the ink reservoir of the converter and pump out the air, then when you release it, it moves up allowing ink to flow in. It's a very clever design. If you want a diagram, I can draw one up.

 

Dillon

Stolen: Aurora Optima Demonstrator Red ends Medium nib. Serial number 1216 and Aurora 98 Cartridge/Converter Black bark finish (Archivi Storici) with gold cap. Reward if found. Please contact me if you have seen these pens.

Please send vial orders and other messages to fpninkvials funny-round-mark-thing gmail strange-mark-thing com. My shop is open once again if you need help with your pen.

Will someone with the name of "Jay" who emailed me through the email system provide me an email address? There was no email address provided, so I can't write back.

Dillon

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Dillon -

I think I get the mechanics of it as you explained - makes a lot of sense. I tried plugging it into the section of my Prera (since my Custom 74 is already inked) and I see what you mean about needing it to be installed to draw up anything. It did suck up some water with repeated depressions - but - it's still squirting ink out the back from the button area.

 

Once I get the new one, would you suggest taking it apart and applying some silicone to help with my inky problem? It's certainly not an experience I want to duplicate with the new one if it's as simple as lubricating a dry seal. You don't notice clear water leaking out the back with a trial fill, but Edelstein Tanzanite all over your fingers makes a definite impression.

 

***Edited to add***

Please PM me with that diagram. It will be useful to figuring out how to take apart the new one if I need to. Thanks for offering!

Edited by KeatsPhD
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***Edited to add***

Please PM me with that diagram. It will be useful to figuring out how to take apart the new one if I need to. Thanks for offering!

Dismantling beyond that point might be tricky.

Robert.

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