No, not the Star Trekkie vintage-looking hooded model 329 that I reviewed here---that one works like a dream. I'm referring to the checkerboard model---#569.

I've never experienced this sort of problem with a fp before, but it writes okay for a few words, then deposits a huge ink blob on the paper. I have no idea what could be causing it. This one's a converter-filler, and I filled it about a quarter-full with J Herbin Diablo Menthe just to see how I liked it.

Any ideas as to what's wrong and what I could do to fix it?

I saw another post describing similar behavior, and a suggestion was made that the ink and
pen were not compatible. (Not all pens work well with all inks.) Have you tried flushing it out,
letting it dry, and putting in a quarter-fill of a different brand and color of ink?

(no personal experience with anything from Hero, so can't say anything about the model or brand)

Check to be sure the nib is securely in place, that is, not loose or misaligned in the section.

That would be my first check. It does sound like too much air is getting up into the converter quicker than it should.

Second would be to try other inks.

Best of luck and please keep us informed.

I have a Huashilai 3000 which had the same problem. It turned out that the converter wasn't seated properly.
I took it out, cleaned around the area of the section that it went in, cleaned the end of the converter, and reseated the converter firmly.
Problem fixed.

Thanks---I'll try all those suggestions.

It's odd---I took it up again after writing about a paragraph (a blob-filled paragraph, of notes for my next writing project). I tried 'writing it out' on a scrap pad and it dried out after two more grafs. This does seem to be a bit fast for a quarter-fill. Wonder if that means anything.

You have an air leak into the converter. The fit of the converter could be bad, the converter itself could be leaking, or the nib and feed are allowing way too much air into the converter. Most likely it's the converter seal.

Peter

Where did you get the pen from?

I have read on some threads that Hero is a big target for fakes (yes, people make fake Hero pens). The reasoning goes that in China, Hero is a like the Parker of the early U.S.

Maybe you have a fake? If the converter isn't the problem, can you send it back to the seller?

I've sometimes been able to prevent converters from taking in air by submerging all possible leakable interstices when filling--ie, the lower end of the section is below the ink line. (This method is not recommended for self-section resin pens, but as far as I know all Heroes have impervious section materials.)

Got it from Isellpens, and I understand he's got a good rep.

My first experiment following everyone's advice was to start over, and I gave it a quarter-tank of Noodler's Navajo Turquoise. So far, I'm writing it out on a cheap steno pad, I can't make it blob up again!

Haven't had this problem with Heros (don't have your model) except with one 616 that has a loose nib. Had a recurring problem with a Parker 21. Was ready to send it off for repair when I kept reading about filling as normal but then gently burping out one drop of ink back into the bottle. So far that's working like a charm.

Then send it back. That is one reason the price is so high compared to buying it locally in China -- we expect them to work!

I hate it when my Heroes disappoint.

Heh.

Anyway, my Hero 240, the one I compared favorably to a Parker 51, has sprung a leak from somewhere behind the decorative band at the bottom of the nib section. At seven bucks... I'll just buy a couple more (sigh).

Is there a way to make these Heroes into eye-droppers? (And by "is there a way," I mean, "who can I pay...?")

Kidding. For a <$10 pen, I'd actually attempt the conversion myself. Any instructions? Please?

Further update:

With the Navajo Turquoise, I could not get it to blob! I wrote out a page on the cheap steno pad, then on a whim went back to my Levenger's pad (the blobby story notes) and lo! before I had so much as writte a graf, the leakage began anew! Ink seems to be seeping from around the top of the semi-hooded nib, and I saw a drop gathering at what I assume is the ink feed on the underside of the nib.

What gives? Is the paper magically sucking ink from the pen? Vampire paper! Unclean!!!!

This is what it looks like---I'll be reviewing it later nonetheless.