Hi all -
I've searched through the threads regarding converters leaking for the phileas, which mine is doing all over the floor... and I would like to replace my converter rather than send it to France for service. When I fill my converter, there are bubbles in the ink well and the ink leaks out (over my daughters hand and on the hardwood floors.... ). I pulled on the converter a bit, but didn't want to break anything - what is the procedure to replace the converter as I assume my o-ring is shot and my pen is pre-2004 (not the international size I assume).

Best
Geoff

You can replace Phileas converters. Check www.montgomerypens.com or www.pendemonium.com.

First, it is not usual to get some bubbles in the converter when you fill it with ink.

Second, I thin that Waterman used their standard converter on the Phileas so it will be easy yo replace.

1) If any ink remains in the converter empty it out back into the bottle.
2) Put the section and the converter into a cheat plastic bowl of water and fill/empty it several times. (This is just to get rid of all the ink in the system where-ever it is.)
3) Check the converter and see if it is fully seated against the section. It should be. The converter has a rubber nipple that presses over a steel tube on the back end of the section.
4) Dry everything and fill the pen with water and see if it leaks.
5) If the water leaks out then see if you can see where; the converter, the feed, the section?

Thanks all - that water flushing seemed to do the trick! I have the pen sitting in a cup with the handle off now and will wait till morning to see if it's still leaking or not. There is a little bit of ink that did get past the o-ring when drawing the ink into the well.

A question for the modern Waterman experts: I own the L'Etalon and several Phileases and have several Waterman twist-type converters. Re: the end-point of the converter that is inserted into the section: some of my converters are threaded (like a very fine screw), at the metal part that is just above the black plastic "nipple" that covers the piercing post. And on other converters, that same metal part (at the end that is inserted into the section) is not threaded but rather is smooth.

Question: Why are there 2 types of Waterman twist converters like this? Looking into the section itself with a medical instrument, I can see that neither the Phileas nor the L'Etalon is threaded around the piercing post.

Seems to me a threaded converter being inserted into a non-threaded section is not a good idea. I bought all these converters from various places I cannot now remember. Any help appreciated.