Hello everyone...

I just recently acquired a MYU 701, and I noticed that ink was coming out through the part of the section that clutches to the cap (the little "bumps" in the picture below). I've already made sure to tighten the thread ring that attaches the section to the barrel, but that didn't help. Then, I took the thread ring off and applied some silicon grease to the inside of the threads thinking somehow ink was getting up through there, and that didn't help either. Upon closer inspection, it looks like the ink is coming back up between the plastic piece that is the threads/convertor attachment and the outside metal walls. I am at a loss for how to stop that ink from creeping up there since I don't know of any way to take that plastic parts out without damaging the pen.

To round out the information, I am using a CON-20 convertor from my MYUREX and Noodler's FPH Old Manhattan.

Sorry if this wasn't completely clear, but the MYU doesn't really lend itself to typical fountain pen terminology, but I am hopeful that someone here has been able to rectify a similar issue and might help me.

Thanks in advance!

Click to view attachment

Photo courtesy of http://www.stutler.cc/pens/murex/index.html

Hi Dr. Scott,

I had this problem with a MYU tyu. On mine it does seem to be leaking between the outer metal part and the feed/inner plastic part. I think the inner part is glued to the section but I am not sure. It might just be a press or snap fit. I have not quite worked up the nerve to try and push the plastic out of the section. For some reason mine seems to have solved itself over time. I think the ink might have dried up and created a new seal.

I have asked around a bit for advice on how to completely disassemble and repair these pens but haven't found any answers yet. I hope you have more success.

Sorry I can't be of more help.

/Woody

Are you sue that the converter is seated completely? Mine (in my VP) took an almost scary amount of force to fully seat. If you have cartridges, you may want to try one and see if that works. If so, try the converter again making sure it fully seats.

Unless I misunderstood your description.

The black section appears to be held in place with a very small amount of glue, probably epoxy. I've taken some apart and on some there does not appear to be any adhesive at all and the fit is solely by friction. Regardless, it should slide out with some minor pushing.

This will not solve the problem. It will only show you that the pen might need cleaning. I strongly suggest cleaning out the section with 50% water and 50% 409. It will not hurt the pen. Keep it in the solution for a couple of hours and blow through the section to flush out the solution. Run under water and blow out again. Soon, if not already, you can feel the flow of air through the section.

Many Japanese pens were tried out in shops and not cleaned well. Others were often used once or twice and shelved (drawered?) with the ink cartrige still in place. These are perfect recipes for ink drying out inside the section.

Second possibility is the cartridge or converter. It should seat perfectly. If not, there have been instances of ink flowing everywhere on the pen except the nib. You can tell if it is not seated correctly. Converters also wear out causing some leakage to occur.

Third. I'm reasonably convinced the three major pen manufacturers in Japan want you to use their proprietary inks and have engineered their pens to be most successful with those products. This is not to say other inks will not work. I use Pelikan, Waterman, Delta, and other inks all the time without problems. And, have discovered Platinum Blue-black to be one of the worst inks to use in my Nakaya Piccolo. Stories of some inks not doing well in some pens are heard all the time.

For now, just clean out the pen as best as you can and try a Pilot cartridge. See what happens. Go from there and see what causes the problem.

good luck.

I in no way have Stan's experience on this matter - but posted a suggestion in the repair forum regarding trying a cartridge as my CON20 doesn't seat well in my Murex (need to source a new one) and the result is a lot of ink, as Stan put it, everywhere but the nib and that includes in the threads, aruond the clutch ring, you name it.

Interesting about inks as I have had consistently the best performance using Namiki cartridges - may be the poor seated CON20 partly to blame but with such a fine point the flow can be a delicate balance, and Namiki ink works flawlessly every time with just the right amount of flow. I tried Ellis Island in my Murex with so so results, it does not seem to be a great flower although I love the color.

Dr. Scott,
You're now armed with some great advice to try out, thanks to everyone above this post. The only thing I might add is that you could first try to rule out the converter as an issue. Check to see if it fits tightly and if the opening perfectly round. If not on any of these, it could be the source of the problem. First, thoroughly clean out the pen. If you don't have 409 to use, you could also try an ammonia/water solution (1:9). Or just warm water. Once thoroughly cleaned out, examine the opening of the section to see if all the ink is gone. Now, fill your converter and, holding it open end up, push the section down over it (so the nib is pointing straight up). Put the pen back together and try writing with it, checking to see if it still leaks. If the leaking occurs again, remove the converter carefully (nib pointing up), then inspect the section opening again, to see if any excess ink leaked out. If it is dry, then the converter isn't the problem and you can rule it out. Still, you may want to repeat the test with a cartridge, just to be sure. Good luck.

Thanks for the advice everyone!

Well, the thing is that there is no ink anywhere but between the plastic and metal. All the threads, everything are completely free of ink. Those little "bumps" that are used to clutch the cap are actually a metal ring that is placed just on top of the plastic that (I think) is all one piece with the feed, etc. The ink is only present between and around the metal ring that has the clutch "bumps" and the plastic part. Thus, as the pen is used more ink flows between the two and eventually out onto the external part of the "bumps".

I have ordered a new CON-20 converter, but like I said there is no obvious point of leakage from the around the converter into the section itself, and it works fine in my MYUREX. I recently went to town with the silicon grease by taking the clutch ring out and basically going crazy with silicon grease between the ring and the plastic part. It seems to be working mostly for now, though some ink still gets through some times. I may try adding some more silicon grease tonight to fill the gaps.

I'll keep everyone appraised of the situation once I get the new converter, but I fear this is a permanent condition.

Thanks again!

I would not use silicone grease as it can get into the flow of ink. If it gets inside your feed you will have a very tough time getting it out.

Try flushing the pen with the converter. Fill it with water and squeeze the sucker. you can do this without the clutch ring, etc. See where the water comes out. If it is coming out of the bottom of the converter, get a new one as this should nothappen.

Thanks stan, but I already tried this before the grease. The thing is that it water never comes out of any place you don't expect it to (i.e., the nib). I think quite literally either the ink is creeping up the insides of the pen (think nib creep but inside), or it is a very very slow leak that builds up over time by changing the orientation of the pen from transport to writing.

You may need to remove the feed, clean it out, and put it back in place.

Heat the section with a hair dryer and you should be able to push it out. I should mention the feed is locked in place by a screwed in ring. Look inside the section and you can see two rectangular depressions around the nipple. The depressions are in the locking ring. To remove this ring try using some tweezers. I use a pair of long stem tweezers commonly used in the electronics industry. Pilot techs have a special wrench for this. If heated, it should be easy to remove. From what you describe the ring might be loose as it also serves to stop any ink from 'creeping' up the section.

Thanks a lot for the disassembly advice! I was able to use my electronics tweezers to get the whole thing apart fairly easily. The feed and section was pretty much completely clean, though I think maybe that locking ring wasn't tightened as well as it should have been so maybe that was the problem. I'll keep everyone posted.

Thanks again for all of your help!

Well, unfortunately, it looks like the complete strip down and cleaning of the pen didn't help. I uncapped the pen last night to sign a receipt for dinner and the ink was coming out of the clutch ring and the thread ring. I guess I'll have to wait until the new CON-20 converter gets in to see if the situation improves, though I don't know how it could possibly be a problem with the converter since it seems to fit really nicely and there is no ink elsewhere on the inside of the barrel. I wonder if this is really a case of nib creep (due to the Noodler's) but inside the barrel when the pen is placed perpendicular or nib-up.

Hi,

I have a special tool for unscrewing the secrew collar and taking the feed out, so if you have any problems, I can help you. I can also help you if you happen to need your Pilot capless nib usints take apart.

Dillon

Argh! So frustrating! So, after taking the whole thing apart, cleaning from top to bottom, double checking the screw-down collar, getting a new converter, etc. it still leaks!!! I have no idea what is going on other than the ink is literally coming back up between the plastic screw thread and the steel outer wall and forcing its way out of the clutch ring holes. The seal on the collar/converter seems very tight. The only thing I can think of is that the collar a minor crack in it, so maybe that is how the ink is getting out.

Is it possible to buy a new screw collar for the MYU?

Unfortunately, spare MYU parts never seem to be up for sale anywhere. I suggest you send it to a pen repair specialist who is familiar with the MYU, so they can figure it out. Usually these pens are bullet proof.

Where did you buy this pen? Was it in new or used condition? If from a reputable used pen seller, maybe you should return it either for servicing or a refund.

I actually got this pen through a trade with someone on this board, so it was used. I am fairly sure I need a new collar for the pen since I just checked and the cracks do leak. I guess now I have a completely worthless MYU...awesome.

This is the first I've heard of a cracked collar on the MYU. I wonder what could have caused that. In any case, maybe it can be repaired. Perhaps some metal pipe sealant smoothed into the cracks from the inside?