The Cheapest Tool To Untwist A Montblanc

[Up2nogood]

Bump for a great old thread! My 149's piston had popped off its drive shaft and i had no idea how to fix it, until seeing this thread.

 

I used a filed and bent bulldog clip in the end, as the paperclip I first tried with just bent.

 

Bravo!

[dave-]

If your luck you can find an adjustable pin spanner, they are designed for jobs like this but its a question of getting one with the right size pins.

[TorontoMontBlancGuy]

Anyone have the specs for this tool to save me trying to find my micrometer caliper? Spacing between the pins and the size of the pins? I may be able to get a bunch machined at the local high school if I supply the material. Suggestions for what to make them out of? Aircraft aluminum would seem logical. Thanks.

 

If I can get them made at the local school shop class, how many should I ask them to make? (Don't get silly now). I will be pleased to provide them at cost of materials and postage to whomever wants one.

 

TorontoMontblancGuy

 

P.S. MY PERSONAL NEXT ISSUE is that two of the pens that I purchased online have the siphon plunger broken off of the end cap - was thinking of trying to use alphacyanoacrylate glue to reattach same or even a spot of high quality epoxy, has anyone had any luck with this. The third pen is just sticky and needs a good cleaning and a bit of lithium grease I think. Have made contact with the two eBayers who advertised their 149's as being MINT and IN GOOD WORKING ORDER and they have told me that they will pay for the repairs if I get MB to do them... in other words they have admitted advertising the pens as good working condition having never even tried them. Sic.

Edited August 12, 2013 by TorontoMontBlancGuy

[Chrissy]

It would be a great idea to get a batch of piston tools made if anyone can supply the specs. Sorry I can't do that.

 

When it comes to piston breakages though, IMHO it's not worth trying to glue it back into the end cap. It's made to be removable from a C shaped clip inside the end cap, not permanently glued in. It's better to invest $70 or $80 with Mb that gets all of the parts replaced plus a service that will make your broken pen look like new again. Especially, if the ebay seller has offered to pay this fee.

[logantrky]

Anyone have the specs for this tool to save me trying to find my micrometer caliper? Spacing between the pins and the size of the pins? I may be able to get a bunch machined at the local high school if I supply the material. Suggestions for what to make them out of? Aircraft aluminum would seem logical. Thanks.

 

If I can get them made at the local school shop class, how many should I ask them to make? (Don't get silly now). I will be pleased to provide them at cost of materials and postage to whomever wants one.

 

TorontoMontblancGuy

 

P.S. MY PERSONAL NEXT ISSUE is that two of the pens that I purchased online have the siphon plunger broken off of the end cap - was thinking of trying to use alphacyanoacrylate glue to reattach same or even a spot of high quality epoxy, has anyone had any luck with this. The third pen is just sticky and needs a good cleaning and a bit of lithium grease I think. Have made contact with the two eBayers who advertised their 149's as being MINT and IN GOOD WORKING ORDER and they have told me that they will pay for the repairs if I get MB to do them... in other words they have admitted advertising the pens as good working condition having never even tried them. Sic.

 

 

This would be great! I would be interested in one if someone could supply the dimensions. I wonder if the dimensions would be different between the 146/149?

[hari317]

 

 

I wonder if the dimensions would be different between the 146/149?

same.

[logantrky]

Thanks, Hari.

[kimsdad]

Is it a good idea to warm the area a little with a heat gun beforehand?

Jim

[Chrissy]

Is it a good idea to warm the area a little with a heat gun beforehand?

Jim

It's not something I would try on one of my pens

[TorontoMontBlancGuy]

Just realized that the 149 piston is NOT broken off the end cap but has apparently popped off the c-dip! Worst case is MB will need to pop in a new piston although I have no due as to how to remove that C-clip from within the endcap to start the process!

One of the pistons lookS a bit twisted but am sure I can straighten it out. Need to open both ends of the barrel to clean And lube. Think One of the pens is brand new and had the twisty piston popped off the end cap on the first attempt! Pity MB charges $90 here in Canada flat-fee to pop this 50 cent spindle back On. A disgrace really.

[TorontoMontBlancGuy]

Warm the OUTSide (expands) while trying to keep inside cool (contracts)

[rustynib]

Nice tool Fountainbel !

[scratchofapen]

Damn, i thought i had a nice idea...now i see someone had it 2years earlier......

 

 

I've tried the paperclip solution yesterday to unscrew an 146 piston for lubrication. Made mine out of some harder steel instead of a paperclip, so it doesn't bend back. I you can't grip it take an keyring for help.

Edited August 19, 2013 by scratchofapen

[Paul80]

Hi

 

 

I use the one that pops up on eBay from time to time that's sells for about £12, that one does Pelikan pistons as well.

 

This one http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/sakuragi2009/m.html?item=121141329148

 

Paul

Edited August 20, 2013 by Paul80

[Opooh]

Tool works, but does anyone know if you can also use it to extract the nib and feeder of a 149 or is there another cheap solution?

[Sasha Royale]

Looks like it would work. Personally, and paranoidly, I would weigh the cost of the proper tool against a new blind cap

or a new piston. (just say'n.)

[penhand]

I have this tool and have used it on a number of 146's and 149's to extract the piston. Note that when I first received the tool, it did not fit in ANY of my pens because the little "pins" are actually square (made by a milling machine taking multiple passes over a piece of metal stock). I tool a file to the tool and rounded the corners of the pins and it fits all 146's and 149's I've tried it on just fine.

 

With this tool, i see no way to use it to unscrew either a 146 or 149 nib. However, as suggested in other threads, the preferred solution (by my understanding) is to remove the piston on a 146/149 and knockout the nib and feed vs. unscrewing them since unscrewing can result either in leakage or cracking.

 

I have successfully removed 146 and 149 pistons and knocked out the nib and feed using a flat punch (Sears Craftsman) while suspending the section on (NOT GRIPPED BY) the jaws of my vice adjusted to just the correct width (since I don't have a true knockout block).

Edited August 21, 2013 by penhand

[Opooh]

Just ordered the Fountainbel tools for nib and piston. Craftsmanship starts with the right tools.

[be202025]

people are just so creative and intelligent...

[Paul80]

Re the tool I posted about, although one end is for Montblanc pistons and the other end is for Pelikan pistons there is a youtube video by Stephen Brown showing the Pelican end being used to pull a 146 nib out, mind you I don't think it would work the way he does it if the nib and feed have never been out before, but if its been knocked out before it should pull ok without damage hopefully.

 

Personally I would go down the remove the piston and knock it out route.

 

Re Penhands comment, interestingly my tool fits both my 146 and 149 without any modification, don't know if the design has been corrected between his and mine though.

 

Paul