Parker 25 splitting Quink cartridges

[Swampie]

I have a Parker 25 fountain pen which I've had for the last 15 years or so. Didn't use it for quite a number of years, and dug it out in the last year and started using it again.

 

However, I've noticed that when I use (original Parker) Quink cartridges (all I've ever used), both the mini or the normal larger size, they fit fine, but within a few days ink has leaked inside the rear end (ie. I unscrew the end and the cartridge is wet with ink, and ink is inside the rear barrel. Never leaks from the nib into the cap/lid though.

 

After this happened a number of times (pretty much every cartridge) I discovered that the collar on the cartridge has split, meaning ink can leak out. I've tried numerous cartridges (both normal and mini, and mini's of different batches) and it seems to keep happening. When I piece the cartridge, I can remove the cartridge and see that the collar is fine. But a few days/week later I unscrew the rear barrel and it's filled with ink again. Remove the cartridge and there's a split about 6-7mm long from the tip of the bit which gets pierced.

 

It's almost as if the piercing point is too large for the cartridge. Fits fine for a bit, but over time it stresses the cartridge and eventually splits.

 

Has anyone else had this problem? Has Parker changed the size of their Quink cartridges over the last decade or so? (I'd have doubted it). I don't recall having such a consistent problem with the pen when I used it all those years ago.

 

Thanks

 

David

[Swampie]

Okay, I've checked the date code of the P25, and it's a Y, which would make it Q4 1996 I believe. I thought I had it longer than that - but I guess that's memory for you!

 

I take it that no-one else has experienced this problem before then?

[richardandtracy]

I've never heard of this problem before.

 

Have you looked in where the cartridge goes to see if there is any foreign material there?

Or if there's something in the end of the barrel pushing the cartridge down too far?

Does it happen with a c/c?

 

Regards,

 

Richard.

 

[Swampie]

I've taken a look before (and again today) and cannot see anything obvious down there, and nothing in at the end of the barrel - plus the problem occurs with both full sized, and single mini cartridges.

 

View of split cartridge (split is quite small at the moment, normally I notice it much later, when it leaks a lot)

http://www.swampie.ukfsn.org/pens/DSCN0721.jpg

 

View down where the cartridge connects

http://www.swampie.ukfsn.org/pens/DSCN0723.jpg

 

View down where the cartridge connects

http://www.swampie.ukfsn.org/pens/DSCN0725.jpg

 

View down the barrel at the rear of the pen

http://www.swampie.ukfsn.org/pens/DSCN0730.jpg

 

Not used a converter, though I think I have one that came with it somewhere - I can take a look to see what size the collar is on that one.

[richardandtracy]

I'm baffled. You're right, there doesn't appear to be anything there to cause problems.

The crack is due to a tensile failure of the plastic, and can only be due to the diameter of the feed.

 

Short of changing the section the only thing I can suggest is that you get one of the older Parker cartridge shape cartridge convertors (middle one in the photo here:- https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/in...p;#entry1093193 ), warm the mouth up with near boiling water for a minute, then put it over the feed. Hopefully it would then harden up a bit when cool at the correct diameter.

 

One thing you could do if you have a lathe & a bucket load of bravery is to remove the feed, sand it down a fraction on the lathe, test a cartridge on it, and when the correct size, replace it in the pen. This is very risky and I wouldn't do it unless I was desperate.

 

Regards,

 

Richard.

 

[Swampie]

Thanks for your input. The converter which came with the pen, is I think the one second from the right in that image - plastic plunger version. If I can dig it out, I'll get some bottled ink (or just syringe some from a cartridge into the converter!) and see if that works. If the diameter of the feed has changed, then you'd expect that the converter which came with the pen would fit!

 

Sometimes it seemed that I managed to get a cartridge to not split if I pre-punctured the cartridge before fitting - but I seem to remember that may not have been 100% reliable (and so stopped trying that). No lathe, and no desperate need to get it fixed - I've got a new Frontier, which I can use once I get the nib swapped.

 

Thanks again

 

David

[Shaughn]

Well, I'm just as baffled here.

 

There is only one other cause I can think of. That is if the cartridge is not inserted by pushing it straight downward, or in a revolving movement. If instead it is wrung down (with a left-right movement - how do you say this properly), that may cause the cartridge to weaken and split.

 

The cartridges I have tried allow this sideway movement when inserting, but none of them needed that much force to insert them as far as I remember. (I didn't go all the way trying!) Anyway, I recommend use of lamy converters for a P25!

[Chrontius]

Well, I'm just as baffled here.

 

There is only one other cause I can think of. That is if the cartridge is not inserted by pushing it straight downward, or in a revolving movement. If instead it is wrung down (with a left-right movement - how do you say this properly), that may cause the cartridge to weaken and split.

 

The cartridges I have tried allow this sideway movement when inserting, but none of them needed that much force to insert them as far as I remember. (I didn't go all the way trying!) Anyway, I recommend use of lamy converters for a P25!

 

Perhaps relevant to the discussion, my new 25 section has a wider feed than my old one - the vintage 70s converter that came with my pen originally simply will not seat on the new section's feed, and the marks left in the plastic indicate a wider diameter of the feed.