SuperDave
Member
... seems that the transmissions would no longer extend the ink refill but just spin round and round.
Disassembled the pens and damaged one of the acrylic barrels in the process by chipping off a small chunk on the edge.
Further inspection revealed that the cap connector/drive units that fit on top of the transmission, had slipped so far down the transmission shaft, that they were no longer engaged; just free-wheeling. Once they were pulled back up into position, they worked fine.
Realizing that the barrel should keep the drive unit in proper position, I had to look closer at the transmissions. And therein lies the problem. There is nothing to keep the transmission from sliding up into the cap/drive connector. As the client rotates the body to advance and retract the ink cartridge, the transmission can start to unscrew from the nib. Then during normal writing pressure or pressing the pen back through the leather loop that holds her pen, the transmission is gradually forced back up through the barrel and past the tension point inside the cap/drive unit, eventually rendering the writing instrument, now cheap pen, useless and requiring full disassembly.
Now I have to replace the barrel and reassemble the blasted thing. Not happy with these turn of events and will not continue to make and promote these pens, regardless of their popularity. I do not like it when a client has this type of experience with a $70 writing instrument because of a poor design. It makes me look like I sold her a piece of junk.
To have a $17 kit with such a design flaw, is inexcusable... and don't use the "just put some CA on the top of the transmission" fix routine. I can justify putting CA all over a $1.75 disposable Slimline (which ironically you will NEVER have to do)... but not a $17 Sierra.
My rant is over and so is the Sierra future in my world.[}]
Disassembled the pens and damaged one of the acrylic barrels in the process by chipping off a small chunk on the edge.
Further inspection revealed that the cap connector/drive units that fit on top of the transmission, had slipped so far down the transmission shaft, that they were no longer engaged; just free-wheeling. Once they were pulled back up into position, they worked fine.
Realizing that the barrel should keep the drive unit in proper position, I had to look closer at the transmissions. And therein lies the problem. There is nothing to keep the transmission from sliding up into the cap/drive connector. As the client rotates the body to advance and retract the ink cartridge, the transmission can start to unscrew from the nib. Then during normal writing pressure or pressing the pen back through the leather loop that holds her pen, the transmission is gradually forced back up through the barrel and past the tension point inside the cap/drive unit, eventually rendering the writing instrument, now cheap pen, useless and requiring full disassembly.
Now I have to replace the barrel and reassemble the blasted thing. Not happy with these turn of events and will not continue to make and promote these pens, regardless of their popularity. I do not like it when a client has this type of experience with a $70 writing instrument because of a poor design. It makes me look like I sold her a piece of junk.
To have a $17 kit with such a design flaw, is inexcusable... and don't use the "just put some CA on the top of the transmission" fix routine. I can justify putting CA all over a $1.75 disposable Slimline (which ironically you will NEVER have to do)... but not a $17 Sierra.
My rant is over and so is the Sierra future in my world.[}]