Parker 61 Not Flowing Correctly

[jochums]

I recently bought a Parker 61. I have done all the cleaning; I have even taken it all apart and cleaned it up. Now that it has been put back together the ink does not seem to flow out of it correctly.

 

When I fill it by dipping the capillary into an ink bottle it takes up a fair amount of ink. It then writes really wet for a bit (maybe longer if I don't turn the pen nib side up) When I am done writing, I put the cap on it and put it in my shirt pocket, nib up of course.

 

Then when I go to write again it will have gone dry...I think the ink flows backward into the capillary away from the feed. If I then leave the pen down for 5 minutes or so, it starts right back up.

 

I know the ink is in there because after this has happened, I have taken the hood off to look at the feed, and when i do this, holding the nib down, ink comes flowing out freely.

 

Have I put it back together wrong. I can't imagine this is how it should work.

[richardandtracy]

Hmm.

Very curious.

 

I have a P61 capillary that's not frequently used, so I am not hugely familiar with all its foibles (my c/c versions get much more use). However it certainly doesn't behave that way.

 

It's almost as if the feed is not in contact with the ink in the ink chamber or there is a blockage of the feed channel near the nib so it's filling the collector rather than getting to the nib.

Not too sure what to suggest, apart from the possibility of putting this query in the 'Repair' sub forum too.

 

Is it possible you've missed a bit of dirt in the feed channel near the nib? Or [grasping at straws here] rolled the capillary fabric round the feed the other way, making a slight space over the feed?

Beyond that, I dunno, I must admit.

 

Regards

 

Richard

[jochums]

Or [grasping at straws here] rolled the capillary fabric round the feed the other way, making a slight space over the feed?

 

 

Regards

 

Richard

Any part of what you said could be the case, however, this suggestion piqued my interest as a possible problem. Is the fabric supposed to go in some certain way? I just rolled it around the feed.

[richardandtracy]

Any part of what you said could be the case, however, this suggestion piqued my interest as a possible problem. Is the fabric supposed to go in some certain way? I just rolled it around the feed.

It is usually stuck to the feed on the other side from the feed channel. If at the end of the stuck bit, you then wrap it the other way around so the first bit of fabric folds back over itself, it may then be further away from the feed and may not be close enough for a good capillary connection. Not likely, I realise, but I did say I was grasping at straws.

 

Regards,

 

Richard.

[jochums]

Richard,

 

Worth a try. Mine isn't stuck to anything, so I will have to look at it. Thanks for the suggestions.

Edited September 17, 2014 by jochums

[inkstainedruth]

Interesting. I picked up a 61 recently and I haven't had any flow issues with it. In fact, I haven't filled it yet -- I just keep flushing distilled water through the capillary system and down through the feed (the way the seller told me to do to clean it) till I get color running out the nib, and then just on keep writing with whatever ink comes out (it's a fairly nice blue-black that doesn't have a teal tinge to it the way so many blue-blacks do).

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[jochums]

As a side note, what should the capillary fabric look like. What I pulled out of the capillary wasn't actually fabric at all...it was more of a perforated plastic film that was rolled up around the feed. Is this correct?

Edited September 18, 2014 by jochums

[Buzzie]

Aloha - I also recently purchased a beautiful red Parker 61 rainbow cap. The symptoms were the same as yours. To correct it, there were two steps after removing the cover and the barrel. (1) Even though water was clear when flowing through the pen, I removed the round nib and discovered a rock-hard sediment on the interior of the tubular nib, which I scraped and removed. (2) next, I discovered that the two teeny-tiny slits or channels that ran the length of the feed were clogged. I used a brass sheet of .001 thickness and ran the brass sheet up and down the channel slits until they were clear. I also flossed the tines of the nib while I was at it. After reassembling, I have been using Noodlers Eel Red Rattler, and the flow is nice and wet. It fills promptly and loads about 7 or 8 ml.

 

I also have a 61 Flighter that is absolutely fabulous in flow and startup even after a week or two of inactivity. I'm using Aurora Blue, which has the reputation on FPN as very easliy flushed. This combination is an absolute pleasure. Aloha

[richardandtracy]

As a side note, what should the capillary fabric look like. What I pulled out of the capillary wasn't actually fabric at all...it was more of a perforated plastic film that was rolled up around the feed. Is this correct?

I took a picture of one I disassembled a few years ago to facilitate a reversible c/c conversion (which I wouldn't recommend, unless you really hate the capillary feature but might want to restore the pen to original prior to selling) here: https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php/topic/39324-parker-61-capilliary-to-cartridge-conversion/

 

It is a crinkly, high surface energy plastic that wets very well.

 

Regards,

 

Richard

[jochums]

I took a picture of one I disassembled a few years ago to facilitate a reversible c/c conversion (which I wouldn't recommend, unless you really hate the capillary feature but might want to restore the pen to original prior to selling) here: https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php/topic/39324-parker-61-capilliary-to-cartridge-conversion/

 

It is a crinkly, high surface energy plastic that wets very well.

 

Regards,

 

Richard

Yep that's the stuff I found in there...Thanks for the follow up.

[jochums]

Aloha - I also recently purchased a beautiful red Parker 61 rainbow cap. The symptoms were the same as yours. To correct it, there were two steps after removing the cover and the barrel. (1) Even though water was clear when flowing through the pen, I removed the round nib and discovered a rock-hard sediment on the interior of the tubular nib, which I scraped and removed. (2) next, I discovered that the two teeny-tiny slits or channels that ran the length of the feed were clogged. I used a brass sheet of .001 thickness and ran the brass sheet up and down the channel slits until they were clear. I also flossed the tines of the nib while I was at it. After reassembling, I have been using Noodlers Eel Red Rattler, and the flow is nice and wet. It fills promptly and loads about 7 or 8 ml.

 

I also have a 61 Flighter that is absolutely fabulous in flow and startup even after a week or two of inactivity. I'm using Aurora Blue, which has the reputation on FPN as very easliy flushed. This combination is an absolute pleasure. Aloha

Thanks for the info. I will try to do the same. I guess it wouldn't hurt to soak it for a month or two to see if the prolonged soak loosens things up more.

Edited September 18, 2014 by jochums

[Sasha Royale]

I think the material inside the capillary reservoir is right. You performed a thorough flush. Did you

"back-flush" as well. (from the nib end)

[jochums]

I think the material inside the capillary reservoir is right. You performed a thorough flush. Did you

"back-flush" as well. (from the nib end)

No I did not. I will have to give that a go as well. Thanks for the thought.