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Thread: Remving a stuck 51 Vacumatic Piston?

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    Default Remving a stuck 51 Vacumatic Piston?

    I have started restoring this pen. However the piston is stick in the barrel I have tried easing it own with the metal rod shown however I don't want to apply too much pressure. It won't budge
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    Senior Member Linkinyeah's Avatar
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    Default Re: Remving a stuck 51 Vacumatic Piston?

    Try soaking in water with a bit of dish soap or using a ultrasonic cleaner if you have one. Maybe soak for a day at a time then try again.


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    Default Re: Remving a stuck 51 Vacumatic Piston?

    Agreed. I would give it a whizz in the USC
    Regards, Chrissy | My Review Blog: inkyfountainpens

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    Default Re: Remving a stuck 51 Vacumatic Piston?

    Would WD40 be a no go?

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    Default Re: Remving a stuck 51 Vacumatic Piston?

    Quote Originally Posted by top pen View Post
    Would WD40 be a no go?
    I don't think you want any petroleum or other chemical ingredients coming in contact with the celluloid. I'll put a note out to Farmboy, who actually *is* a noted 51/etc repair guy.
    "When Men differ in Opinion, both Sides ought equally to have the Advantage of being heard by the Publick;
    and that when Truth and Error have fair Play, the former is always an overmatch for the latter."

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    Default Re: Remving a stuck 51 Vacumatic Piston?

    I’m not a fan of soaking vac fillers in water.

    Try some naphtha and use a tube to push it out.

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    Default Re: Remving a stuck 51 Vacumatic Piston?

    Quote Originally Posted by Jon Szanto View Post
    Quote Originally Posted by top pen View Post
    Would WD40 be a no go?
    I don't think you want any petroleum or other chemical ingredients coming in contact with the celluloid. I'll put a note out to Farmboy, who actually *is* a noted 51/etc repair guy.
    Are Parker 51 vacs made from celluloid not plastic?
    Regards, Chrissy | My Review Blog: inkyfountainpens

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    Default Re: Remving a stuck 51 Vacumatic Piston?

    Quote Originally Posted by Chrissy View Post
    Quote Originally Posted by Jon Szanto View Post
    Quote Originally Posted by top pen View Post
    Would WD40 be a no go?
    I don't think you want any petroleum or other chemical ingredients coming in contact with the celluloid. I'll put a note out to Farmboy, who actually *is* a noted 51/etc repair guy.
    Are Parker 51 vacs made from celluloid not plastic?
    The body is acrylic but there are internal celluloid parts. The filler rod comes to mind(on 3rd gen fillers, which most 51s have).

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    Senior Member Jon Szanto's Avatar
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    Default Re: Remving a stuck 51 Vacumatic Piston?

    Quote Originally Posted by Chrissy View Post
    Quote Originally Posted by Jon Szanto View Post
    Quote Originally Posted by top pen View Post
    Would WD40 be a no go?
    I don't think you want any petroleum or other chemical ingredients coming in contact with the celluloid. I'll put a note out to Farmboy, who actually *is* a noted 51/etc repair guy.
    Are Parker 51 vacs made from celluloid not plastic?
    My bad, Chrissy. While I still shy away from anything like WD-40 on non-metallic stuff, those are plastic pen bodies with other components.
    "When Men differ in Opinion, both Sides ought equally to have the Advantage of being heard by the Publick;
    and that when Truth and Error have fair Play, the former is always an overmatch for the latter."

    ~ Benjamin Franklin

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    Default Re: Remving a stuck 51 Vacumatic Piston?

    Quote Originally Posted by Jon Szanto View Post
    Quote Originally Posted by Chrissy View Post
    Quote Originally Posted by Jon Szanto View Post
    Quote Originally Posted by top pen View Post
    Would WD40 be a no go?
    I don't think you want any petroleum or other chemical ingredients coming in contact with the celluloid. I'll put a note out to Farmboy, who actually *is* a noted 51/etc repair guy.
    Are Parker 51 vacs made from celluloid not plastic?
    My bad, Chrissy. While I still shy away from anything like WD-40 on non-metallic stuff, those are plastic pen bodies with other components.
    I absolutely agree that shying away from WD40 on most pen bodies is highly recommended. No problem at all there. However, I have previously whizzed a Parker 51 vac without damage in my USC prior to attempting to remove the pump. While people within the US seem to have reasonable availability of Naptha, here in the UK I'm not sure I know exactly what it is. It could potentially be lighter gas but that's guesswork on my part.
    Regards, Chrissy | My Review Blog: inkyfountainpens

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    Default Re: Remving a stuck 51 Vacumatic Piston?

    Ronsonol Lighter Fluid, Chrissy.

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    Chrissy (April 4th, 2022), da vinci (April 13th, 2022), Jon Szanto (April 4th, 2022)

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    Default Re: Remving a stuck 51 Vacumatic Piston?

    Quote Originally Posted by eachan View Post
    Ronsonol Lighter Fluid, Chrissy.
    Thanks Eachan
    Regards, Chrissy | My Review Blog: inkyfountainpens

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    Default Re: Remving a stuck 51 Vacumatic Piston?

    Isn't lighter fluid petroleum based? kerosene?

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    Default Re: Remving a stuck 51 Vacumatic Piston?

    It's petroleum-based, yes.

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    Default Re: Remving a stuck 51 Vacumatic Piston?

    Quote Originally Posted by eachan View Post
    Ronsonol Lighter Fluid, Chrissy.
    Is there any problem cleaning the fluid off? I can imagine a lingering and anxiety inducing smell being left behind if a very through water based clean isn’t given after Vac unit removal? Thanks.

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    Default Re: Remving a stuck 51 Vacumatic Piston?

    None at all. It evaporates very quickly.

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    Default Re: Remving a stuck 51 Vacumatic Piston?

    The 51 is made of Lucite, and is pretty tough stuff. Naphtha is a light petroleum distillate, so evaporates very quickly without leaving any residue. We use it in pen repair on a regular basis, and I have for almost 30 years without any problems. Its great for removing adhesive, and works well for unsticking stuck latex sacs. You may need to buy it at a paint store - you won't find it in any of the big box stores.

    You don't want to pull on the pump. Don't use a solid rod - you can crush the pellet cup. Richard Binder came up with what he called, "the other vac tool, which is a piece of brass tubing that can fit over the pellet cup and push on the cone. Put a piece of dowel over the outside end. Push with one hand, pull gently with the other - but the naphtha helps.

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    Default Re: Remving a stuck 51 Vacumatic Piston?

    Quote Originally Posted by Ron Z View Post
    The 51 is made of Lucite, and is pretty tough stuff. Naphtha is a light petroleum distillate, so evaporates very quickly without leaving any residue. We use it in pen repair on a regular basis, and I have for almost 30 years without any problems. Its great for removing adhesive, and works well for unsticking stuck latex sacs. You may need to buy it at a paint store - you won't find it in any of the big box stores.

    You don't want to pull on the pump. Don't use a solid rod - you can crush the pellet cup. Richard Binder came up with what he called, "the other vac tool, which is a piece of brass tubing that can fit over the pellet cup and push on the cone. Put a piece of dowel over the outside end. Push with one hand, pull gently with the other - but the naphtha helps.
    I did look for a brass tube that would fit between the wall of the barrel and around the cup but I think it's a non standard size of tubing so it was very difficult to find.

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    Default Re: Remving a stuck 51 Vacumatic Piston?

    Pentooling has a tool just for this purpose. Works very well in my experience.

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    Default Re: Remving a stuck 51 Vacumatic Piston?

    Quote Originally Posted by es9 View Post
    Pentooling has a tool just for this purpose. Works very well in my experience.
    Thanks it looks useful I will have to keep an eye on it hopefully I can find a few other items I could get from them as well to offset the postage.

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