I purchased a used Townsend and discovered that the converter leaked between the silver band and the thumb screw at the end opposite the section. I replaced the converter with an older one I had left over from a Classic Century; it too leaked, but seemingly not from air getting in at the same area. [It was old.]

While I prefer the orange screw-fit converters, I am wondering how many others have experienced converter failure, and if it was primarily at the nipple or thumbscrew end.

Thank you in advance.

Hi Russ,

I see you posted this some time ago, but I've recently purchased a new Cross Townsend - the dealer supplied me with the Orange converter, which didn't work, and I've also tried the blue one. The dealers are as confused by this as I am - the orange one leaks because it does not seat properly, and the blue one is too thin. I'v also recently heard about a green friction-fit converter, which I'm hoping to get hold of. The Townsend seems to be a problem as far as converters go if my experience is anything to go by - love the pen, but am still forced to use refills.

Cheers,

Matthew

Matthew, I've never seen a blue converter; the green one is correct for the Townsend. Cross, or PenHero, should have them. I'm sure your Townsend will flow better with a converter.

Best wishes.

The Century II has a blue screw-in converter. It definitely doesn't fit the Townsend.

Thanks all - have just this morning received a green friction-fit one (the joys of DHL and great service from Lai at PenGallery who had inadvertently put in an Orange converter...), and fits fine thanks.

Cross certainly does have Blue ones, as I got one out of another Cross pen from a Cross dealer, but the dealer didn't seem to know that Townsends are different from the others.

In now using the green one, but I'm still not able to get the converter absolutely full, still a small air bubble at the top - is this normal / anything to worry about?

Cheers,

Matthew

My green one usually has the small air bubble you mentioned, it doesn't seem to affect the flow at all.

Don't worry - the air bubble gets bigger as the ink gets used
I have an old Century FP that takes the green push fit converter and it too leaks a bit. I wondered whether a wrap of PTFE plumber's tape around the end of the converter might help seal it to the metal of the section.

Chris

I suspect the tape would just push out as you inserted the converter. You might have better luck with silicone grease, or if you won't remove the converter often, Ron Zorn's section sealant. I've also read that a leaking "mouth" on a Parker 45 converter can be compensated for by using a toothpick to carefully place rubber cement on the floor of the section's well, around the nipple, then pushing the converter into that.

Of course, the best and least risky fix would be a new converter...

-- Brian

My Cross Solo came with a converter, but I had to revert to cartridges because of slight ink leaking. Still remains my favorite writer and I am probably too lazy to purchase a new converter - perhaps more interesting to try and fix the one I have.

John