I just got a Cross Century II black fountain pen in medium nib. Below are some questions and observations. I really hope some of you more experienced folks can help answer my questions and concerns.

1. It appears I have the same problem that many of you have voiced about the ink flow when using the converter. In other words, it would sometimes skip and not write consistently. I am using Pelikan 4001 brilliant black. Could it be that my ink is almost 5 years ago? But the bottle hasn't really been opened/used much. I have used the converter to "pump" in and out with luke warm water to improve the flow and to "break in" my new pen. So far it seems to have improved somewhat. But we will see if it lasts.

2. When I use the converter, I discovered that it won't really fill up or "suck up" ink to fill the whole tube. Rather, it only fills about 75% of the way. Is this normal? Or should I call Cross to get another converter?

3. Can the nib be taken off? Or when they mean soak the nib, do they really mean soak the nib with the pen attached?

4. Any other suggestions?

Thanks in advance for your help!

It is unlikely to be the ink, the only thing to do is try a different one. Does the same thing happen with cartridges?


Make sure you leave it in ink for a couple of seconds when you fill, and you should get more then 75%. However, you often get some air trapped at the top of the converter.


The nib cannot be removed from the section.


Personally, if it will not write consistently, I would take it back and exchange it. There is no reason why you should not expect a new pen to work properly straight out of the box.

Welcome to FPN!

I've got a Century II, and it's always been a very a good writer. Yours probably just need some cleaning; you can do that filling and emptying the pen a few times using water and a drop of detergent (there are several threads on this here at FPN).



AFAIK, that's normal with all converters. If you want to fill it some more, screw it down (emptying it) and up again two or three times, and you'll get a complete fill.



Practically all FP nibs can be taken off, for maintenance - but you don't need to take it off just for cleaning. When they say soak the nib, they mean soak the nib and the section (the black plastic bit that holds the nib in place and screws on the body.

best regards,
Rique

Thanks a lot for your responses. I am just curious, if it's a brand new pen, why do I have to clean it? I certainly flushed in and out w/ water last night but didnt use detergent for fear of the chemicals damaging parts of the pen. The problem of "skipping" has improved somewhat.

Actually, I noticed that sometimes if I give the pen a little downward shake, the flow is a lot better. Do you think there's still "residue" in the pen that needs to be cleaned? Or is it really a problem? Is soaking it OVERNIGHT really needed? What I did yesterday was only to flush it in water for about 2 minutes.
I called Cross and they told me that it's very rare to have lemon nibs and they think it's quite normal.

Thanks... any other advice would be apprecaited.

Update:

I think I will exchange it for another. I cleaned it with lukewarm water just now and discovered that on the BACK of the nib, there are two places where the gold plates have somewhat detached (or is that the design?). Can someone check to make sure that's not happening on theirs? I have the Century II Black that sells for 85 on the CROSS site.

Thanks!!

Hi there, was in your shoes recently when I bought my first Cross pen- a Century II with a medium nib, which I have more recently changed for a fine.
The first nib was in consistent- it woulld skip, then occasionally flood. The shop from where I purchased it ordered a new one, but after soaking it overnight in a detergent solution (washing up liquid and warm water), it became fine, so I assume there were some residues left from manucturing.

But because I had a spinning nib ring, which caused the cap to spin, I still had it exchanged. The new one had the same ink flow problem, so I did the same detergent soak, but with a weaker solution as the lady in the shop told me not to use detergent, which helped but didn't cure it, so I did it again.

The bottom line is that soaking the nib in washing up liquid solution (good quality, not to cause damage- I used Fairy here in the UK), seems to clear out any residues in the nib, which I presume to be disrupting the ink flow.

BY THE BY- I initially wanted a fine, but found it scratchy, so setted for a medium, which doesnt do my handwriting any justice. I later bought another Century II of ebay and had the nib immediately changed for a fine as having two would negate any compromise. As it happens, the fine was smooth, so the shop I got the first one from ordered me a new fine for it, which it also smooth (touch wood!) I have also bought an ATX and kept the medium nib, which is also fine.

Anyway, try soaking the nib in a good quality (kind to hands) washing up liquid solution (warm) overnight. If that brings no avail, exchange it.

I know one shouln't have to do all this to a brand new pen, but afterwards I think you'll love it. BUT DO EXCHANGE IT WITHIN 28 DAYS IF YOU'RE STILL NOT HAPPY WITH IT!

PS Pelikan make Cross's inks!

It's certainly not the design, although I'm not quite sure what you mean.

As I said before, I would just exchange the pen. They're not exactly cheap and all this soaking with detergent business should not be necessary. I have four Cross fountain pens (including a black Century II) and they have all worked perfectly well straight out of the box.

Two observations: (1) As someone else has already noted, it is normal to have an air space above the column of ink when you fill a converter. That is not a defect of your individual converter. Although I have never tried this myself, other people say that if you then empty the ink by moving the piston back down and refill once or twice, the air space will disappear, in whole or part. Give this a try if the air space seems distressing to you.

(2) As for ink flow in general, the problem may lie with your converter and not with your nib and feed. My first Cross pen behaved badly until I changed both the converter and the ink, after which it wrote with extremely dependable flow. Do not assume it's the nib. On the whole, Cross nibs are good. You may have a bad one, but I think the flow problems caused by converters are more common.

What worked for me was, finally, using Waterman Florida Blue ink, which flows well for me in a variety of pens. Do not imagine that Pelikan ink is especially good for Cross pens because Cross sells Pelikan ink under the Cross name. What really works best in your pen is what ought to be used in your pen, and some trial and error may be necessary.

It may be your nib at fault, but if you read this and other pen message boards, you will learn that converters are works of the devil when it comes to reliably good flow. My own Century II flows excellently now, though not at first.

I have four Cross Century II pens, all extra fine point, and all write very well and smooth. It does not seem to matter which type of ink I use, they all work well. My problem is that the last two Century II pens that I bought, both needed to go right back to A.T. Cross for repair. These were brand new pens with defects. I can understand one bad pen, but two in a row tends me to believe that A.T. Cross has quality control issues. So my advice is to send the pen off to A.T. Cross for repair.

With all that said, I have been turned off to A.T. Cross pens. Doubt if I will buy another, but will buy from other manufacturers.

Yes I agree, I was given a Cross Century II ballpoint as a gift. I definitely like the shape and diameter of the pen (but not the color).
Problem is the top portion slides off exposing the refill when writing...it is not snug. More importantly sitting in its box I took it out and notice the gold metal tip portion is discolored or tarnished. I would be real upset if I payed money for it. I could send it back for repair/replacement I know...I'm sure they're not all like this. I've had an older Century pen whose cap slid off but I
don't recall the tarnishing. It has kept me from buying another (that and the fact that they don't off the Century II in black with
chrome trim). Sigh.

That is why I opted for the Italians. I have since got an Aurora 88 and a Visconti Opera Club. A lot more expensive than the Century II, but well worth it. I have read reviews about the Century being a smooth writer... compared to other brands, the Century II is a skipping queen.

1. I've never experienced this; the only time it would skip for me, is when it was almost empty (i.e., it's writing on ink in feed the capillaries only, and really "writing on fumes") - in that case, it needs to be filled anyway.

2. AFAIK, that's normal; I can't recall mine ever filling to the top - and I've had two Century II's.

(In the case of Noodler's Ink, it sometimes looks like it's filled to the top, but it's just the odd, mercury-like physical properties of bulletproof ink.)