Stiff Piston in a Stipula 22

Justin Cleary asks: Doctor, my Stipula 22 has a piston that is very stiff. I really have to crank on the knob, and I'm afraid I'll break something. How can I fix it?

This problem isn’t limited to the Stipula Ventidue; it can happen to any other piston filler, too. Your pen’s piston should respond very well to lubrication. This is something that a professional pen repairer can do inexpensively, but it’s also something you can do yourself. This repair also works for Pelikan, Aurora, and any other pen with a removable nib assembly. (For pens that don't have removable nib assemblies, you can check to see whether the section separates easily from the barrel; if it doesn't, you may be better off leaving the repair to a pro.) You will need a paper clip and some pure silicone grease — be sure you use grease that contains no petroleum derivatives!

Carefully unscrew the nib assembly. Straighten the paper clip and then bend about half an inch (1.3 cm) of one end just a little, to about a 15° angle. If you have some very fine sandpaper, apply it to the end of the paper clip to remove any sharp edges or burrs.

Retract the piston. Use the paper clip as a probe to apply a very small amount of the grease all the way around the inside of the barrel about half an inch up from the section. Be very gentle so the paper clip won’t scratch the inside surface of the barrel. Now work the piston back and forth several times. When it first hits the grease, it should begin to slide much more freely, and it should carry the grease up and down the barrel so that the piston can move freely throughout its travel.

Reinstall the nib/feed assembly, and you’re finished. This fix will leave a thin coating of grease in the barrel, and you will see water droplets form there when you clean the pen. That’s okay.