Sierra Refill Issues

[khansen]

I'm hoping somebody has a suggestion for me. A few weeks ago I had an associate bring a Sierra pen back to me - her son had taken it apart by unscrewing it, leaving the transmission still stuck inside. But when he was putting it back together, the refill wasn't seated properly and he managed to push the transmission farther into the finial, thus making it impossible to screw it back together. I ended up bending the transmission trying to get it out. I showed them how to pull the whole thing out the next time they want to change the ink.

Well, tonight I got another one with the same problem. Is this a common thing? I guess I need to do a better job of teaching people how to change the ink. Is there a way to get the transmission out without destroying it?

 

[johncrane]

To remove SIERRA Transmission get your self a set of center punches.
There are 2 different transmissions in sierra kits, one kit will take a 2.5mm center punch and it will fit easy,The other size transmission you will need a 2.0mm center punch and it is a tight fit to push the punch thru the Transmission. When you get the punch thru transmission knock the end of the punch onto a block of steel and the cap will pop off then i use a 7mm punch to push the transmission out.

 

[nava1uni]

I use a dental tool that I bent into a little hook. I just reach up into the transmission and pull it out. You can also use a pair of small curved needle nose pliers. Insert them into the transmission and then open them and gently pull the transmission out.

 

[thewishman]

You can use a drop of Locktite at the top of the transmission to lock it into the finial. Then your customer can change the refill by unscrewing - just like he has been.

 

[joefyffe]

I'm with Chris! I use red locktite to set the tranny inside the cap. I think, for the present time, we can make them idiot proof. I don't know what's going to happen when we get a better grade of idiot!

 

[khansen]

Thank You! I have that set of punches, I guess I just never noticed that the transmission was hollow <silly me>

I would rather not glue it in place, because I frequently have customers who say "I wish I could get that wood in this pen" and I smile and say, "Give me a minute "

 

[johncrane]

You could stuff the clip end with paper to fill the gap :biggrin:

 

[ironman123]

I had that same thing happen with a new customer. I took it home and inserted a knurled rod I had inside the transmission and pulled it out.

I like the idea of the locktite.

Ray