Montblanc 149 Piston - Difficult To Turn Clockwise

[razr]

1) I have a 2 month old 149 and I've noticed lately that the piston opens up pretty easily, but it's extremely stiff when I turn in down (clockwise turn).

I've tried a some silicon on the thread and I don't think it seemed to make any difference. Is is there anything I could do?

 

2) Under the nib exchange program are you only allowed one nib exchange? I originally sent it back to the Service Center for a nib change (B-->BB), but I'm now thinking

of changing the BB to an OBB.

 

I figure that if I have to send it back to the MB Service Center then I might as well go for a nib exchange if it's allowed.

[hari317]

send it in for service, maybe it just needs a piston re-lube.

[draeroheli]

send it in for service, maybe it just needs a piston re-lube.

 

Hari is absolutely right. You will not be able to lubricate the piston at home without any special piston removal tool. Your pen is quite expensive and the best course of action would be to send your pen back to MB service Department. Cheers! Htin

Edited March 1, 2011 by draeroheli

[tanalasta]

1) I have a 2 month old 149 and I've noticed lately that the piston opens up pretty easily, but it's extremely stiff when I turn in down (clockwise turn).

I've tried a some silicon on the thread and I don't think it seemed to make any difference. Is is there anything I could do?

 

2) Under the nib exchange program are you only allowed one nib exchange? I originally sent it back to the Service Center for a nib change (B-->BB), but I'm now thinking

of changing the BB to an OBB.

 

I figure that if I have to send it back to the MB Service Center then I might as well go for a nib exchange if it's allowed.

 

I'm not sure what the timeframe for a nib exchange is ... although there is no harm in asking. The nib really has to show minimal signs of wear though.

 

My MB 146 is also quite stiff on turning clockwise, much less noticeable if it's had ink in it though. I'm not sure if MB use much lubricant at all (and the controversies of silicone lubricant expanding silicone seals etc...) Silicone on the thread won't make a difference, lubrication needs to be inside the barrel. Don't bother with Noodler's eel inks though, didn't work for me after a few fills I switched back to MB black (a mistake... such a (bleep) ink for want of a better word) and will probably store it and ink up a MB 149 with iroshizuku next but I digress.

[draeroheli]

1) I have a 2 month old 149 and I've noticed lately that the piston opens up pretty easily, but it's extremely stiff when I turn in down (clockwise turn).

I've tried a some silicon on the thread and I don't think it seemed to make any difference. Is is there anything I could do?

 

2) Under the nib exchange program are you only allowed one nib exchange? I originally sent it back to the Service Center for a nib change (B-->BB), but I'm now thinking

of changing the BB to an OBB.

 

I figure that if I have to send it back to the MB Service Center then I might as well go for a nib exchange if it's allowed.

 

I'm not sure what the time frame for a nib exchange is ... although there is no harm in asking. The nib really has to show minimal signs of wear though.

 

My MB 146 is also quite stiff on turning clockwise, much less noticeable if it's had ink in it though. I'm not sure if MB use much lubricant at all (and the controversies of silicone lubricant expanding silicone seals etc...) Silicone on the thread won't make a difference, lubrication needs to be inside the barrel. Don't bother with Noodler's eel inks though, didn't work for me after a few fills I switched back to MB black (a mistake... such a (bleep) ink for want of a better word) and will probably store it and ink up a MB 149 with iroshizuku next but I digress.

 

Free Nib Exchange service is for the first 6 weeks from the date of purchase which was stamped on your warranty booklet. They normally allow you to change nib for only once. Asking them for the second time round will not do any harm, just by asking them although they may not agree.

 

The 149 piston is stiffer than 146. Piston itself is made with a special elastomer material which is self lubricating against the Resin barrel wall. The actual carbon fiber shaft which is attached to the piston and the Filler cone is lubricated with Silicone oil, it helps to prevent any ink leak coming out of filler cone as well as to smooth out the shaft movement. That silicone grease does not touch the resin barrel wall.

 

I normally clean it out that silicone grease from the shaft, when I service my pens. I prefer the shaft is dry and clean. With time, that silicone grease can become like a gel and that could stiffen your piston filler mechanism.

 

The earliest sign of an ink leak is to see the smear or stain on the piston wall, where you can see through the barrel window when the barrel is fully empty. Normally the piston should be white with no smear of ink on the piston wall. Also if and when you see any ink staining of the filler cone brass thread at the top end of the pen, that is the time to take apart the piston unit and service it.

 

Your pen is only 2 months old and you should not get any trouble from the pen, unless the silicone grease on the carbon shaft is dried and frozen. Please ask MB to look at it.

 

Wish you good luck.

 

Htin

 

Hope this information is helpful.

Edited March 1, 2011 by draeroheli

[gerigo]

Reviving an old thread and also a question.

 

I have a 146 and a 149 that are both probably less than 3-4 months old. I was cleaning out both pens and realize there is a lot of play with the piston knob/ barrel end cap, especially with the 146. In fact the 146 piston has about a 1/4 turn play before it activates and piston, and the piston is incredibly stiff, to the point I feel like I am going to shear the turning knob off.

 

My Pelikan M800, in comparison is night and day. There is absolutely no play in the piston knob, and it's smooth as silk to operate. Are the MB pistons supposed to be that stiff?

[arran]

My retailer told me that the play between barrel and knob is just normal

It protects the system itself

All of my paragons and new MB balzac have some play

[PenTieRun]

arran is correct. MBs always have a little play.

[meiers]

Yes

[talkinghead]

The Initial "play" is normal,

 

The amount of stiffness you describe with piston is not.... have it looked at.

 

Rick

[hari317]

the piston is incredibly stiff, to the point I feel like I am going to shear the turning knob off.

 

.

not normal, have it looked at.

[meiers]

not normal, have it looked at.

The piston needs lubrication.

[Mister Mont Blanc]

Reviving an old thread and also a question.

 

I have a 146 and a 149 that are both probably less than 3-4 months old. I was cleaning out both pens and realize there is a lot of play with the piston knob/ barrel end cap, especially with the 146. In fact the 146 piston has about a 1/4 turn play before it activates and piston, and the piston is incredibly stiff, to the point I feel like I am going to shear the turning knob off.

 

My Pelikan M800, in comparison is night and day. There is absolutely no play in the piston knob, and it's smooth as silk to operate. Are the MB pistons supposed to be that stiff?

I had this same worry with my first piston filler and couldn't find anything on here describing the "play" of the end cap being normal but I didn't know it was called "play" at the time haha. This is unrelated to the stiffness of the piston itself so as others have said, it probably needs a servicing.

[fountainbel]

The movement restriction of a contaminated/dry piston is considerably higher when actuating the downward movement.

This is caused by the complementary bending forces on the ( rather weak ) lead spindle when screwing the piston down.

When pulling the piston up, the lead spindle is "stretched" , so there is only an axial force.

When screwing the piston down, the spindle will gradually bend and warp , hence the lead spindle will not screw in easily in the piston rod.

At a certain moment the lead spindle will even shear of, or the axial engagement tooth on top of the spindle will shear-off

Avoiding this risk your pen definitively needs cleaning and greasing of the piston sealing lip.

The radial "play" of the lead spindle in the filling knob -better called "backlash" - is an inherent feature of the actual Montblanc piston fillers

The filling knob effectively turns about 260° before the spindle start to rotate.

This feature splits the combined friction forces on the piston and the filling knob, so first one breaks the axial friction of the filling knob against the barrel, and after 260° one breaks the friction force of the piston seal.

Francis

[meiers]

The movement restriction of a contaminated/dry piston is considerably higher when actuating the downward movement.

This is caused by the complementary bending forces on the ( rather weak ) lead spindle when screwing the piston down.

When pulling the piston up, the lead spindle is "stretched" , so there is only an axial force.

When screwing the piston down, the spindle will gradually bend and warp , hence the lead spindle will not screw in easily in the piston rod.

At a certain moment the lead spindle will even shear of, or the axial engagement tooth on top of the spindle will shear-off

Avoiding this risk your pen definitively needs cleaning and greasing of the piston sealing lip.

The radial "play" of the lead spindle in the filling knob -better called "backlash" - is an inherent feature of the actual Montblanc piston fillers

The filling knob effectively turns about 260° before the spindle start to rotate.

This feature splits the combined friction forces on the piston and the filling knob, so first one breaks the axial friction of the filling knob against the barrel, and after 260° one breaks the friction force of the piston seal.

Francis

Francis can help you with this problem.