Sheaffer Lady 620Xg

[Bex66]

Hi all Sheaffer lovers

 

I have a Lady 620XG, which I think I bought new in the early 80s.

It was well used, (a beautifully smooth, fat medium nib) then abandoned....Left to languish in the back of a drawer, full of Montblanc purple ink.

I'm seriously regretting this stupidity, now, but it's done.

 

I have cleaned it up, (in my amateurish little way) though there is some corrosion on the cap band. For a while, I thought the converter wasn't working, but it is the feed that appears to be blocked. (Carts don't fit anyway - at least not the Sheaffer ones I tried recently.)

 

The nib is still fabulous but can only be used dipped.

 

Can anyone offer any advice? Shall I continue to soak the feed, in the hope that eventually, the clogging will clear (I have done this for many hours and over a few days, so far)?

 

Is it a write-off, or will I need to send it to a restorer? I don't think nib section can't be disassembled.

 

Pic on carpet is mine!

 

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you.

Edited June 13, 2015 by Bex66

[blueboy]

Bex

 

You need a special, hard to find, tool to take the nib out so this probably isn't an option.

 

The nib appears to be a 14k one so there shouldn't be any problem using an ultrasonic cleaner to try and shift dried up gunk. If you haven't got access to a cleaner, I would use a bulb syringe to force water through the section, this might get quicker results than simply soaking.

 

By the way, I'm not sure why modern Sheaffer cartridges wont fit, as far as I know they should

[Bex66]

Thank you Peter.

I'm wondering whether the cartridge I tried wouldn't pierce because the feed was so gunked up. A huge amount of dried up ink and 'stuff' has already washed off since I tried the cart, so I'll try again when I've syringed the feed.

 

I don't have an unltrasonic cleaner, but have increasingly considered getting one as my pen collection increases and the price I deem acceptable rises :0

 

Thanks for the advice. I knew I could rely on FPN members!

[Bex66]

Yay and double yay! Peter - you're a star!

 

My Lady is back in full flow. I really didn't think it would ever happen. The syringe trick worked a treat.

I also very gently wiggled a blunt needle into the nib end of the feed, though nothing new really came out.

Anyway, the upshot is, the converter is kaput, and leaks everywhere. However, the cartridge went in fine and flows beautifully. If I can't get a new converter to fit (which I can't see why not), I can refill carts with my preferred inks.

 

I am soooo chuffed! You wouldn't believe how long I've kept having another go at cleaning this pen!

Thanks again.

[blueboy]

Bex

 

Really pleased your up and running. I love the Lady Sheaffer range, they are beautiful pens IMHO.

 

With regard to converters, the modern ones won't fit. There are plenty of the older ones available on eBay but the prices are mad. I would stick to refilling carts with a syringe, I think they hold more ink anyway.

[Bex66]

Thanks Peter.

 

I have discovered that modern converters won't fit. I'm happy to refill carts.

The pen is amazing. Incredibly smooth. It seems to make my writing neater than most other pens.

It feels quite narrow, now-a-days, as I've got used to fatter sections in recent years. (My other favourite pen from those days is a Parker Classic, which also still writes beautifully.)

 

Happy!

[mitto]

Yay and double yay! Peter - you're a star!

My Lady is back in full flow. I really didn't think it would ever happen. The syringe trick worked a treat.

I also very gently wiggled a blunt needle into the nib end of the feed, though nothing new really came out.

Anyway, the upshot is, the converter is kaput, and leaks everywhere. However, the cartridge went in fine and flows beautifully. If I can't get a new converter to fit (which I can't see why not), I can refill carts with my preferred inks.

I am soooo chuffed! You wouldn't believe how long I've kept having another go at cleaning this pen!

Thanks again.

 

Re-sac the converter and it will go for anofher thirty or so years. The one you have shown is ln perfect condition. It probably only needs a new sac.

Edited June 30, 2015 by mitto

[Bex66]

Thanks for the suggestion, mitto.

I've never done that, so don't know what to do!

Errrmm, I'm also considering the possibility that I may have thrown it away now. I'll have to go and look for it!

 

Edit: I didn't throw it away! Now I need to watch some tutorials on how to change the sac!

Edited June 30, 2015 by Bex66

[mitto]

Thanks for the suggestion, mitto.

I've never done that, so don't know what to do!

Errrmm, I'm also considering the possibility that I may have thrown it away now. I'll have to go and look for it!

Edit: I didn't throw it away! Now I need to watch some tutorials on how to change the sac!

 

It is only the black plastic end piece that is to be removed with careful and gentle pulling. The rest of the job would show itself to you. But you have to have the replacement sac available.

[Beechwood]

I have a similar pen including a converter in my parts bin, please let me know if you can make use of them.

[Bex66]

Thank you Beechwood - and BONUS - you're in the UK too! I may get back to you on that.

Your pen and converter both look the same as mine, though your nib is definitely different.

 

Can anyone recommend a good place to get new sacs? I will attempt to repair my converter, hopefully without destroying the whole thing.

[mitto]

Can anyone recommend a good place to get new sacs? I will attempt to repair my converter, hopefully without destroying the whole thing.

Check here for the sac.

http://www.vintagepensacsandparts.com/

 

 

Or here :

http://vintagefountainpens.co.uk/category/ink-sacs/

http://www.penhome.co.uk/nibs/ink-sacs.html

 

And here :

https://www.pendemonium.com/penrepair.htm

Edited July 5, 2015 by mitto

[Bex66]

Thanks everyone.

 

Beechwood has offered me a converter, so I think I'm probably safer with that. However, I'd be interested to have a go at changing the sac on my converter, just to see if I can do it successfully. I'm manically busy at the moment, but things should slow down a little in a few weeks, so I'll experiment then.

[tamiya]

Hello all!

 

This particular model Sheaffer was one of my first FPs back in the 80s, only just now found out it's a Lady 620/630

 

Have unearthed my sorry example and although the metal parts have survived ok (amazing for something that saw duty as a school pen) ... but lately the plastic (bakelight?) grip section has cracked/shrunk. There's a lateral crack that must have gone thru up into the ink path.

 

And the "toenail" nib is loose lifting up off its feed ... am intrigued as to the special tool needed to dismantle this petite pen?

[blueboy]

tamiya

 

As you have probably guessed, the nib can only come out through the back of the feed. It is held in place by a small plastic hex nut that has a hole in the middle through which the piercing tube protrudes. In order to get the nib out you have to unscrew the nut. I can only describe the tool as a hollow 4mm allen key. It need to be hollow so that it can negotiate the piecing tube and engage with the nut. Hard to describe, it is detailed in the bottom left hand corner of the attached picture from a well known repair manual.

[tamiya]

Much appreciated blueboy, that diagram is mighty useful!!

 

Darned, yup mines got...

-shell cracked & shrunk

-leaks at converter tip (can't get it off, shell has shrunk around it!)

-internal liner threads? Probably shrunk & shot

-yup toenail is loose

...that's 4/4 failures all in the 1 unit :/

 

Tried it last week with a partial pump, it still writes... until nib dislodges off feed; minor leaks.

 

Has since been buzzed clean of ink & aired dry, guess there's no real benefit to try dissecting unless a sparepart shell miraculously appears has better value as a keepsake from childhood.

 

It lives alongside another Sheaffer* from highschool era, this one's even sadder... section has really shrunk & bursting at its seams. What is it with old crummy Sheaffer plastics??? amazingly it too still writes albeit with incontinence

 

*i'm led to believe it's a Sheaffer Sentinel which could've been made by Sailor Japan

[blueboy]

tamiya

 

Given the description of your section I think you would be better looking out for a replacement on eBay. If your prepared to wait, you may be able to find a Lady that is very poor overall but has a good section. You might be able to pick this up for a very low price and simply swap the good section for your poor one.

 

Unfortunately, mostly you see good bodies with bad sections rather than the other way around !

[tamiya]

too true, that! it's bodywork is pristine unmarked

 

Nah not in any urgent desire to get it fixed; it's fine as-is just for nostalgia.

 

Got reminded of inky finger habit in recent weeks, went & dug up my old pencil cases and these 2 Sheaffers were still in there - there was even a 3rd which I don't even remember owning... (looks like their offspring!). Had a few more Sheaffers in my youth but they must've been discarded along the way or they're still around in family home overseas.

 

Just thought I'd bust them out, cleanout any dried ink & see if they still work for old times sake.