Twsbi Mini Piston Problems

[melissa_kunz]

I bought a Mini at the end of December and have loved it until today, when I decided to disassemble and clean the pen using the provided wrench. When I did so, the screw and piston came out of the screw bolt and end cap, but I put it back together and thought it was no big deal.

 

I reinked the pen, put everything back together, and was happily writing along when I noticed that the end cap was loose, like it moved back and forth about a centimeter and kind of rattled. When I went to gently twist the end cap and set it flush against the barrel, the piston assembly actually began to turn in the barrel and (without any use of the wrench) popped right out of the back of the pen.

 

Needless to say my desk was suddenly a lake of harvest gold ink.

 

I have tried multiple times to reassemble this pen, and each time, the end cap is never quite flush with the barrel. The end cap is loose, and when I tighten it, it very easily begins to spin and I get the same result (without ink this time): the piston assembly comes out of the back of the pen without the use of the wrench. I can't see any cracks or where I've stripped the threads, but the slots where the wrench end goes look a little roughed up—it's plastic, though, so that could be normal.

 

I've written to TWSBI describing the situation and asking if there's anything that can be done, but in the meantime, I'm wondering if anyone else has had this problem. It would also be nice to have some sympathy. I'm practically in tears and terrified that I have completely destroyed my favorite pen through my own stupidity.

[alc3261]

I have never taken any of my TWSBIs apart and I think that is sensible. If it ain't broke, don't fix it!

I hope you get your pen back together properly.

[StarmanXL5]

This video does a pretty good job of showing you how reassemble it properly,

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3440auUnjN0

 

I have done it several times just by fiddling with screwing the cap on. It takes a few tries for me to get it just right while maximizing the fill capacity of the pen.

 

The Mini is very similar to the 540 and the reassembly is very much like this.

Edited February 4, 2013 by StarmanXL5

[chiaroscuro]

I have never taken any of my TWSBIs apart and I think that is sensible. If it ain't broke, don't fix it!

I hope you get your pen back together properly.

 

I agree, 100%... And I learned that the hard way by --brace for it-- taking apart my TWSBI Mini (my first TWSBI, first piston-filled pen, and first and only pen that came with a wrench and the manufacturer's "blessing" to do all sorts of things that would void most other warranties). I learned a lot about FPs in general from messing around with it, trying things, failing, and then succeeding. It's now one of my favorite extra-fine writers and, although I was underwhelmed and frustrated with it at first, it continues to grow on me, even as I add more expensive and "reputable" pens to my assortment. I know better now than to fiddle too much with my pens, and I owe that lesson to the Mini.

[K. Cakes]

My mini's piston broke before I had ever taken it apart. I tried disassembling then reassembling half a dozen times and... nothing. I just fill it with a syringe now. Hope yours works out better!

[melissa_kunz]

This video does a pretty good job of showing you how reassemble it properly,

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3440auUnjN0

 

I have done it several times just by fiddling with screwing the cap on. It takes a few tries for me to get it just right while maximizing the fill capacity of the pen.

 

The Mini is very similar to the 540 and the reassembly is very much like this.

 

I've only just finished doing what he's describing in that video, and haven't put any ink back into the pen yet, but I will tentatively say that I think this might be the solution. No more loose end cap, although there's (weirdly) less room in the barrel because the piston now sits lower in its retracted position.

 

From this experience, I'll say that I don't think it's a bad idea to disassemble TWSBI pens—they're designed for it—it just involves a lot of potentially frustrating trial and error, and if you aren't willing to sit and very carefully thread the end cap onto the back of the screw bolt over and over trying to find *just* the right position before you insert the assembly into the barrel, it's a very good idea to skip all this time and ink spillage.

 

Thank you, Starman, that was very helpful.

[swanjun]

How's the pen doing since all that happened? I can totally sympathize with the dreadful feeling of having messed something up irreparably, but FPN has never let me down where advice is concerned. And at the very least, you've encouraged me to think twice before dismantling *my* TWSBI mini!

 

Also, I must ask.... which ink was it that made the harvest gold puddle?

[ekmoore]

Having exactly the same problem you describe. Unscrewed to begin with because it didn't seem airtight and I couldn't get anything close to a full fill. Going to give it another 10 attempts when I have some time to kill.

 

It's nice to have that syringe suggestion though, so that I can at least use it if my frustration makes me want to hold off on tinkering for a week or so.

Edited November 8, 2014 by ekmoore

[wastelanded]

There is definitely a knack to getting the piston just right, without the filler knob rattling. You just have to keep trying and eventually it will be fine. Them when you have to remove it again, make sure you don't disturb the holy alignment of the piston when pulling it out.