Fountainbel Cartridge
From Penpedia
The Fountainbel Cartridge is a repair component used in the refurbishing of Sheaffer Vac-Fill pens, designed, made, and distributed by Fountain Pen Network member fountainbel, from Belgium. It is a rod cartridge equipped with two interchangeable rod sealing elements (O-rings) having a silicone grease reserve between them. The cartridge fits in the barrel, sealed and secured by a static neoprene O-ring. The O-rings are tightened to a fixed stop ensuring optimum sealing efficiency and low friction wear. Whenever the seals are worn you simply replace the O-rings, which takes about 10 minutes.
For purposes of this article, note that Mark I Vac-Fills contained ink right in the barrel. Mark IIs had a separate internal chamber.
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[edit] Alternative Repair Methods
Besides the Fountainbel Cartridge, there are two other commonly used means for resealing a Vac-Fill. For information on other ways of repairing Vac-Fills, see the article on Resealing Sheaffer Vac-Fills.
[edit] Overcoming Drawbacks of Alternatives
On alternative 2 of the fountainbel cartridge, The O-ring seals are axially tightened, to a fixed stop, obtaining an optimum sealing effect both on the rod (dynamic) and in the cartridge seat (static).
A separate O ring seal is provided to positively seal the cartridge's outer diameter in the V1, V3, and V4 barrels and in the V2 ink container. This was done to avoid the need for a press fit assembly, which risks barrel cracking, given the bore tolerance differences between different pens. On alternative 3 of the fountainbel cartridge, it features “Pop-in” assembling. There is no drilling operation necessary, nothing is glued in place, easy installation can be done from the blind cap side, also allowing replacement of worn piston and plunger rod seals within minutes if it is ever necessary. The “Twin” O-ring seal, with enclosed grease reserve, guarantees long, problem free functionality.
[edit] Background and Description
Easy installation and repair was the primary goal when designing the "fountainbel" sealing cartridge. Indeed, replacing a worn sealing element should be a simple and straight forward operation, not limited to specialists. The design features a 10 cubic mm grease chamber between two "twin" rod seal O-rings. Applying silicone grease in this enclosed chamber will ensure continuous greasing of the rod and a long, problem free life. The design allows replacement of a worn sealing element - being the "twin" O-rings and/or the piston seal - within 5 to 10 minutes.
On the V1, V3, and V4 fillers the "full replacement" cartridge is made so it expands automatically, obtaining a shrink-fit or snug-fit in the barrel seat, when tightening the O-ring pre-tensioning screw. To accomplish this, the sidewall of the "full replacement" V1, V3, and V4 cartridges is partly cut both radially and axially. This allows radial expansion and positive fixation in the barrel seat. No need to glue or apply shellac, no special skills needed.
On fillers where the ink is in a separate internal ink container, the existing sealing assembly is cut-off (using a small pipe cutter) and the cartridge just pops in the ink container.The assembled cartridge axially nearly contacts the existing guiding rod barrel insert so it can not move axially.
When installing the "full replacement" fountainbel cartridges, one loses respectively 4 mm (V1/2), 3.7mm (V3), or 2.8mm (V4) from the original ink chamber volume when using the "full replacement” cartridge. Installing one of the "additional" cartridges, one loses 7 mm. But, the refurbished system pulls ink so well that this does not seem to be a problem.
Using the original sealing set-up, it was recommended by Sheaffer to push the plunger only one time quickly down and not apply repetitive filling strokes. This recommendation was aimed at avoiding leakage on the plunger rod seal by excessive, repetitive back-up pressure. This risk is fully eliminated using the “fountainbel” cartridge. One can obtain filling volumes up to 90% by pushing the plunger first one time fully down, wait 15 seconds (allowing the vacuum to pull the ink) & then 5 times (partly) up and (fully)down over 50-60% of its full stroke. Risks for leakage because of pressure build up or because of the external diameter of the original Sheaffer seals flipping up on the sealing lips on the shaft are fully eliminated
Once installed there is no visible difference between an original equipped pen and a pen equipped with the "fountainbel" cartridge.
An important benefit of the "full replacement" fountainbel cartridge is the fact that its installation can be done completely from the barrel (blind cap) side.
This means that the critical removal of the Mark I and Mark II Triumph section and feed unit is not necessary. As many repairers have experienced, one does not know what will come loose: the complete nib and feed assembly, or the Triumph nib only. As the late Frank Dubiel clearly stated in Da Book: "If you are really lucky the pen will be one of the 50% or so that don't have the insert present in first place .This part was surely designed in hell." One has a problem if the Triumph nib comes off separately, because removing the thin wall threaded bushing which protrudes only 1.5 mm out of the section, is nearly impossible without breaking or damaging it. Removing the bushing using an extractor is possible but destructive. Finding a replacement is problematic.
All above mentioned risks inherent in disassembling the Triumph nib and feed are completely eliminated when applying the "full replacement" cartridge installation procedure. Coping with the encountered small diameter differences between different pens within the same version, all cartridges are equipped with an "static" sealing ring between the cartridge and the barrel or the internal ink container. The static O-ring allows easy "slide-in" assembling and ensures a perfect sealing on both versions.
[edit] Cartridge Types
[edit] Type 1
These are the "full replacement" Mark I/II cartridge, covering all pens equipped with a Triumph nib, and in the small vac-fills equipped with an open nib. This cartridge fits both the Vac-fill Mark I/II, so please specify which you need when ordering . Note the only difference between the Mk I and Mk II version is that the Mk I features a longer O ring pre-tensioning screw that allows fixation of the blind cap, and a radial expansion slot in the cartridge body for positive fixation in the barrel seat.
Note the installation of the "full replacement" Type 1- Mark I cartridges (suited for pens holding the ink directly in the barrel) requires the extraction of the old packing assembly. The reason for this was to avoid the delicate disassembling of the Triumph nib and its thin walled threaded bushing. However, this approach requires the use of a special extractor tool which is rather expensive. This tool allows pulling approximately 70% of the old packing assemblies. On the remaining 30%, the old packing assembly has to be drilled out using a specially-made, hollow drill bit. Installation of the Type 1- Mark II cartridge (suited for pens with a separated internal ink container) implies cutting-off the worn rod packing unit (using a small pipe cutter)The cartridge then simply pops in the ink container sealed with the static O ring. No special extractor tools are needed in this case.
[edit] Type 2
The "additional" Mk I/II cartridge. This is installed "complementary" to the worn packing assembly from the section side of the "small" size balance pens equipped with an open nib. The existing worn packing assembly simply remains in place. This cartridge, which uses the identical sealing technology as the previous ones, is a technically sound alternative for the doubtful installation of a rubber plug. Note one can also install this cartridge in a pen equipped with a Triumph nib, but only if one succeeds in removing the Triumph nib and its thin walled threaded plastic bushing!
The installation of the "additional" versions is rather straight forward and can easily be done by everyone.
[edit] Type 3
The "additional" V3-II cartridge. It is installed "complementary" to the worn packing assembly from the section side on "medium" size balance pens equipped with an "open" nib. The existing worn packing assembly simply remains in place. This cartridge, using the identical sealing technology as the previous ones, is a technically sound alternative for the doubtful installation of a rubber plug.
[edit] Type 4
The fat "full replacement" V4 cartridge, which fits in the "Oversize" senior Balance pens, equipped with an open nib.
[edit] Type 5
The "additional" V4-II cartridge is installed "complementary" to the worn packing assembly from the section side of the Oversize balance pens equipped with an open nib. The existing worn packing assembly simply remains in place. This cartridge, using the identical sealing technology as the previous ones, is a technically sound alternative for the quick and dirty installation of a rubber plug.
[edit] Type 6
The "additional" V3 cartridge is installed "complementary" to the worn packing assembly from the section side of the medium size balance pens equipped with an open nib. The existing worn packing assembly simply remains in place. This cartridge, using the identical sealing technology as the previous ones, is a technically sound alternative for the quick and dirty installation of a rubber plug.
[edit] Type 7
The "additional" V1 cartridge is installed "complementary" to the worn packing assembly from the section side of the smallest sizes Balance pens equipped with an open nib. The existing worn packing assembly simply remains in place. This cartridge, using the identical sealing technology as the previous ones, is a technically sound alternative for the quick and dirty installation of a rubber plug.
[edit] Costs
To purchase a Fountainbel cartridge, e-mail Francis Goossens at francis.goossens2@skynet.be. Be sure to include your name, shipping address, and which version of the cartridge you need. Note that a precision fresh made Fluor carbon piston seal is included with each cartridge.
[edit] "Full replacement" versions
$20.00 each (when ordered with 10 cartridges, possibly mixed versions, cost is $17.00 each)
[edit] "Additional" versions
$15.00 each (when ordered with 10 cartridges, possibly mixed versions, cost is $12.00 each)
[edit] Installation
Francis (FPN user fountainbel) will also install cartridges in your pens, cost is $45.00 for the "full replacement" versions or $37.00 for the "additional" versions, registered shipping back to you included.
[edit] Restoration/Repair Ethics: How Far Can One Go?
This surely is an interesting topic for discussion. The encyclopedia Britannica defines restoring as "to put or bring back to existence of use", while renew is meant as "to bring back to a FORMER or ORIGINAL state." So what’s in a word or a name?
Usually, one should preferably aim for a renewal to the original state for our treasured fountain pens. But, one must always consider that there are nuances involved:
- Are you a collector storing your treasured vintage fountain pens carefully away in a drawer, enjoying looking at them from time to time?
- Or are you a vintage fountain pens user, admiring their design and writing qualities as a daily user?
Remember that drilling out the old rod seals from the section side and replace them with an O ring & a glued back-up ring - as done by several repairers - also differs from the original design. Although this approach is surely a sound alternative, there is one important drawback : the fact that one has to drill out the back-up washer again for possible future replacement of the O ring.
Real "purist collectors" MAY feel uncomfortable knowing that the pen is, at least INTERNALLY, not originally equipped, although the cartridge is invisible in its assembled state. On the other hand, most "effective users" would surely appreciate using a dependable vintage pen which will not leak over time and which they can replace the sealing elements, including the piston seal, within ten minutes.
Note however that the installation of the fountainbel cartridge is & remains a complete reversible repair.
For the V1,V3, and V4 "full replacement" versions, there are no alternations at all executed on the pen prior to the introduction of the "Fountainbel" cartridge. The barrels remains untouched, nothing is glued, the cartridge just pops in the existing original packing unit barrel seat.
For the "additional" cartridges NOTHING is to be changed, the old packing unit remains fully in place The "additional" cartridge is simply introduced in the barrel till it axially contacts the old packing unit. No glueing in place :the static O ring on the external diameter of the cartridge ensures a tight & secure position in the barrel
Finally, let’s ask ourselves the question: Would Sheaffer have applied modern sealing technology if it had been available at the time? Given their proven "pioneering" record of continuous innovation they probably would have!
