Another Vac700 Flow Problem

[MX5l]

Hi everyone, I'm wondering if someone can help me find a fix for my Vac700. I'm already aware that you have to unscrew the plunger knob to ensure proper ink flow, but the problem seems to be that ink is just not moving anywhere. It's basically just sticking to the barrel and not travelling down into the feed. I tried to take a couple of pictures to illustrate the problem.

 

1) In the first image, the pen is just filled with water

2&3) I've unscrewed the nib unit, the water is still in the barrel, there's no flow or anything

4) I've also unscrewed the plunger as instructed, but despite that there's still no flow

 

Now I understand that there's an ink/air exchange as you write and that a lack of flow with no nib unit inserted doesn't accurately reflect how ink would normally flow when writing (e.g. ink doesn't just rush out of a cartridge when you invert it), but the problem here is that the ink flow is very erratic, with it almost drying up twice every line or so as though it's just dripping into the feed (which seems about right). Is there anyway to get a more consistent ink flow?

 

Thanks!

[richardandtracy]

I have exactly this problem with a number of vintage Onoto's that this filling system is a direct copy of.

 

I don't really have a solution. The problem is surface tension in the ink. It can be reduced by using a tiny drop of washing up liquid in the ink - however I'm not sure it's a good thing to do to a whole bottle of ink - and so have not done this to my ink. The net result is that I shake my Onoto's and splatter ink around.

 

Not helpful really, but at least you know you're not alone with the problem!

 

Regards,

 

Richard.

[kidde]

I have a Vac 700. The only way I get flow is to pull the plunger knob back an additional 1mm. There is a small rubber piece that blocks the feed.

My method works for me, you have nothing to lose trying it yourself.

Hope this helps.

 

Paul

[Quantum]

I also have to pull the nob out a little, I believe the paperwork that comes with the pen shows how far to pull it. Mine I can just tell by feel though, it comes out a little before you start activating the plunger mechanism. I know that there's also some videos about how to remove the stopper mechanism so you don't have to unscrew it. I think Goulet pens has a video about it, but I'm sure a youtube search would also yield some results.

[MX5l]

@Kidde&Quantum: I've tried pulling the plunger knob out already. You can see in the third picture that I've actually pulled it back quite a fair bit yet the water is still suspended there. I might try removing the O ring and see if that fixes anything, I believe Brian Goulet had a video on it somewhere on YouTube.

[Quantum]

I don't know how viable this would be as I don't know how it would interact with the filling system, however, I've read that some people will put agitators in the c/c fillers to keep the surface tension broken. You could put a small enough ball bearing or something similar in there to break the surface tension as it moves around.

 

That being said, I don't know if it would damage the vacuum filling system as I literally know nothing about it's operation mechanics.

[Flounder]

Now I understand that there's an ink/air exchange as you write and that a lack of flow with no nib unit inserted doesn't accurately reflect how ink would normally flow when writing (e.g. ink doesn't just rush out of a cartridge when you invert it), but the problem here is that the ink flow is very erratic, with it almost drying up twice every line or so as though it's just dripping into the feed (which seems about right). Is there anyway to get a more consistent ink flow?

 

Thanks!

 

 

Yep, far more realistic to have the pen assembled. The likely culprit is either tine gap, inability of the feed to exchange air and ink fast enough, or the seals obstructing the capillary path (or an irksome combination). Try the quick test in this thread, might give you an idea what's troubling your 700.

[Algester]

The best advise i can give take out the plunger remove the last o-ring the smallest one keep it assemble the pen again put the o-ring back if your going to go flying withit

[amberleadavis]

The best advise i can give take out the plunger remove the last o-ring the smallest one keep it assemble the pen again put the o-ring back if your going to go flying withit

 

That's what Art did to fix my pens and now I love them.

[dgreenwood116]

I ordered a Broad just the other day, and i tried three different inks in it and on two different papers (besides pulling the knob out, removing the o-ring, and pre rinsing the nib), it was by far the most dry pen i've received yet. And it was supposed to be a broad! I ended up contacting the seller and they are providing a replacement nib unit, though i hope this solves the problem because I really love the pen itself!

 

I may just end up putting a Goulet #6 Broad on it, has anybody had good experiences with those?

Edited November 14, 2014 by dgreenwood116

[amberleadavis]

I bought 4 of these. 2 are great after O-ring removal surgery. 1 is still untouched and 1 even after surgery is not performing well. All four were broads - three are now cursive italics. I found it was not mere surface tension.

 

Let me ask you ... does it start off writing well and then dry out? (Basically, it is only using the feed inside the nib?)

 

What happens if you shake the pen, does it start writing again?

[PabloAU]

The best advise i can give take out the plunger remove the last o-ring the smallest one keep it assemble the pen again put the o-ring back if your going to go flying withit

 

This was the first thing I did upon receiving my Vac-700, and I've never needed to unscrew the end cap, and never had a problem of any kind.