Transmission problems with euro pens

[SPSlick]

I'm having problems getting the transmission into some euro pens I got from Axminster. I did 4 last week which were fine but turned 6 today and have stopped trying to fit the transmissions as they were very tight and the end of the transmission has collapsed on 2 out of 3 of them. Anybody else had this problem?

 

[silver]

Photo would be good Mick, not done any Axi kits for a long while and not sure who is supplying them currently.

However I'm supprised that 2 out of 3 failed. The only main problem with the tranni with the cross type refill are notorious for failing but that is generally after being pressed in and not pushing the nib out or scratchy feeling.

So I will be interested in seeing some pictures along with how you are pressing them in.

 

[Dalboy]

From memory I have not had any problems with the kit and any tight fittings when I was doing them was down to me missing a little something in the tube making the parts tight to fit. Unless the kits have got worse since then

 

[Penpal]

Measure and make a go no go guage mate cheaper than squashing them.Good luck.

Peter.

 

[wm460]

I had some like that I had to ream out the brass tube to make them fit.

 

[Penpal]

Mick do you have some answers at this time mate, measurements etc?.

Peter.

 

[SPSlick]

I've measured them and compared them to others that worked fine. They're all within a few 100ths of a mm. I'm going to try out a few from some slimlines I have from a different source to see if there is a difference.

 

[Winemaker]

I would contact Axminster and see what they say.

 

[SPSlick]

So on further examination I found that the brass tube gets narrower after the first 5mm preventing the transmission from going fully in.

 

[Phil Dart]

So on further examination I found that the brass tube gets narrower after the first 5mm preventing the transmission from going fully in.

Really?? is there a step inside the tube or is it just tapered? Is it both ends?

 

[Grump]

Yep, found that with a lot of Sierra type tubes, sometimes to the extent where I have cut the tube in half and put the middle to the ends.
Glad you discovered the problem, don't help with the damaged ones but it does remind to measure everything before using the kit.

 

[Phil Dart]

Sorry Mick - I just re-read your post. I thought you were inferring it was a deliberate design measure inside the tube, but I see now you were explaining that it's simply a measure to save the Chinese from having to spend any money on quality control.

 

[SPSlick]

After examining all the pens I've managed to salvage those that I hadn't started fitting yet so only 3 messed up. I spoke to axminster and they want me to send them back for inspection.

 

[Buckeye]

That's where a transfer punch of the right diameter could help weed out any odd tubes before you start building them.

Peter

 

[Penpal]

what I do is always manually operate the winding mechanism and press in the fully out position surprising the odd one is a failure.

Peter.