Advice on 51 Vacumatic filler unit

[Mr Gutsy]

I'm looking for some advice on an early parker 51 metal filling unit. I've recently taken the pen apart as I'd had some performance issues with the ink flow and the diaphram failing abrubtly. To my surprise, and dismay the filler unit seems to have either partly corrodoed and the rubber has stuck to it! The pen has been benched for the moment as unit now appears to have some residue on it that is causing the filling motion to stick rather than a smooth presssing action.

My questions is this filling unit stuffed and I need to try and source another and if not, how can I clean gunk from it without damaging it further? For the curious, this pen previously had iron gall in it and a time before that in its distant distant past Noodlers inks ( I want to say Sequioa Green, if memory serves).

 

 

[Ron Z]

A picture would help. Always best to try to salvage the old pump.   The old diaphragm does often stick to the cone.  That can be scraped off and the cone cleaned off with a wire wheel on a Dremel.  Unless pitted, you should be able to use the filler.   Make sure that any corrosion on the back side of the cone that fits under the thread bushing is clean.  If corrosion is there, again, clean it with the small wire wheel in a Dremel or other small rotary tool device.   If the underside of the thread bushing is corroded, scrape it clean with the blade of  an Xacto knife.  The bushing has to turn freely on the back of the cone.  Threads can be cleaned with the same wheel.  A small burr in the Dremel can cut out the pellet.  Some like to drill a small into the pellet cup from the under side to push the pellet out.

 

A 3 minute cycle or two in an ulrasonic cleaner won't hurt either.

[VacNut]

You should change the types of ink. Some noodlers inks are corrosive. I would not use iron gall ink in a 51. Choose a reliable water-based ink. 

Use the another pen for those types of inks. I have assumed you have researched the use of modern iron gall inks.

[Ron Z]

He could us it in an aerometric 51.

[VacNut]

36 minutes ago, Ron Z said:

He could us it in an aerometric 51.

👍, assuming you are using a PH-balance manufactured ink and not a self-made iron gall ink.

I believe iron gall inks may stain the Lucite Barrel and other parts of the pen in contact with the ink after a prolonged time. Same concern for a Vacumatic.
 

The Aerometric holds the ink within a “Plyglass” Sac. That said the breather tube is a small diameter and sometimes gets clogged by regular inks.

 

How about using a nice Vintage Duofold with a latex sac?

[FarmBoy]

And here I’m thinking 51 with a metal filling unit must be a first year or before. 

[VacNut]

Pics would help, but I think Ron was suggesting an Aerometric could use iron gall ink.

[Mr Gutsy]

Thanks all, I will get some photos up in the near future am currently away travelling. I think this has had something to do with residue from the ink sac sticking to the filler unit. The ink sac was rather gooey on the inside on the side which was in contact with the filler unit and was tacky to the touch when I extracted the filler from the barrell.