I have been reading this for a while, would like some suggestions.

I have a couple of Parker Ballpoint pens, but have been sitting for a while, the ink looks like it busted and is now caked inside the pen cap.

I was able to remove the ink refill, but the ink is dried up in the pen.

Any suggestions of a safe way to remove the ink without hurting the finish.

The pens in play are Jotter Jubilee, Reflex and a couple of Watermans

Thanks

Fountain pen inks are generally water soluble and come out with a good soaking. I'm not sure about ball point inks. A 10% solution of Ammonia to Water seems to cut most junked on inks after soaking a while. An ultrasonic cleaner also seems to help.

I think this might be a point at which rubbing alcohol can make a tentative appearance around pens-- get a q-tip, moisten it with alcohol, and try it on your least favourite pen of the bunch. I'd never suggest it for an FP, but this strikes me as a low risk endeavour. But try your least favourite first.

Also... in a more risky direction, I am remembering hair spray as the thing to get BP marks off of clothes. Only mad chemists know what's in it, but again, starting with the least favourite... or maybe a sacrificial Bic for testing.

Ball point ink is oil-based, which is why it is waterproof.

I second the isopropyl (Rubbing) alcohol. You should be able to get a small bottle from your local chemist. I would get the straight isopropyl alcohol, rather than rubbing alcohol, because you don't know what else may be in there.

It's what I use to clean large-format printers, and works for both aqueous and eco-solvent printers. It's safe with pretty well all modern plastics, unlike acetone.

Even though BP ink is waterproof, I would still give the pens a good soak in water, maybe even with a little dish washing detergent. Then I would definitely use straight isopropyl alcohol and rinse with water again.

Good luck.