I can confirm it should come out easily...mine does...can't really say much more than wish you luck :confused:

Hey Shane,

You should check out the Fountain Pen Network (FPN) and surf through their forums. There are some excellent posts over there and some really good repair guys and collectors.

-Allen

Thanks! Does it come out with a twist or a pull?

I've got two bottles of ink coming from a different vendor, so I'll get to try it out regardless.

Thanks,
Shane

Hey Shane,

Ok, can you be clear about which part of the pen you're trying to remove? I've got a repair book at home that I'll take a look at when I get your message. Is it simply trying to get the point to extend? Does the booklet that came with it describe the proper filling procedure?

-Allen

ps- I don't have a vanishing point (one of the items to get on my list)- so the best resource for help on this is likely to be FPN.

pps- sometimes a slight bit of heat or cold can cause things to expand or contract in such a way as to allow removal of parts... but again, check out the forums in FPN and see if you can't find someone else with the same problem. It's possible it's a common problem... and of course if you don't find it, please sign up and ask, as likely someone knows about this and can advise you better than I can.

Thanks for the responses everyone. The specific problem is that the piston converter for bottle ink seems to be welded into the nib. I'm able to unscrew the barrel and remove the nib/converter assembly, but it doesn't appear that I'll be able to use this pen with an ink cartridge. I'll see if I can take a couple of pics tonight and post them to Flickr of the offending parts.

For a workaround, I went out at lunch today and bought a bottle of Noodler's. It seems to be writing great, but once it runs dry the first time, I'll throw it in the freezer to see if this helps. My plan has been to use bottled ink as much as possible, but I might want to use cartridges on my next trip overseas, as they seem to be easier to take on the plane.

1. Go to FPN (http://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/)and ask for advice. Someone there may have experience with the problem.
2. Try that basic pen repair tool, tap water. Maybe if you soak that end of the assembly in water, any dried ink holding it all together will loosen.

My VP has doesn't have a piston converter, and I've never removed the converter I do use, so I can't speak to your specific problem.

I believe the delightful folks at FPN were able to help.

How much do I love that us FP weirdos have such a presence on the the 21st-century supershiny 43 folders. I hope the rest of you are not too aggrieved.

Yep, FPN got me straightened out. The gist of it was grip tighter and pull harder, and fortunately nothing broke.

I do think it's funny that the best thing I've done for productivity was to ditch the palm pilot for a pocket sized notebook and an ink-pen. Sometimes, I think old technologies have an edge on new.

Very glad you got the bottom of it!! Sorry I didn't post with a solution, Shane. I didn't feel like I could address the problem as I don't have a vanishing point. Very glad you found FPN as well!

I have to admit that there is some grace in the older technologies. FP's are definitely one of them. I just tried to use a G2 today and I was struggling! :) It's been almost 6 months on FP's now, and I'm so glad I've made the switch. Funny that I've begun to have problems with other pens. ;) [BTW, as a pipe-smoker, I have to admit that there is a lot of joy in that old technology as well. I'm the first to admit it's a vice, but well, we have to have some vices, eh? ;) I abhorr the "cig"... nasty uncouth things they are... ;)]