Noodler's Ahab Replacement Feed Issue

[manskirtbrew]

Good morning, FPN. I posted this question over on /r/FountainPens, but it didn't get much traction, so I hope it's okay to repost it here.

 

I bought an Ahab back in February, 2015. A month or so ago I managed to chip the feed while doing some modifications, so I bought two replacements from Goulet Pens.

 

When I tried to put the new feed in, it just fell right out of the nib section. I tried both and they're exactly the same.

I also made a video to show exactly what I mean: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zEGCN1zucxY

 

Goulet's customer service is excellent and they took good care of me, but we're both baffled as to what the problem is, since their replacement feeds fit their Ahabs, and I bought my Ahab from them. Has anyone else experienced this issue? Did manufacturing specs change in the last year or so?

 

[Mr.Rene]

Sorry no help ...but... Cool Tattoos!!

[zenephi001]

Very interesting ..... it looks like the feeds are different ..... somehow it looks like - either at Goulet or Noodlers - there has been a mixing of different feeds that went unnoticed... or you got a couple that crept through quality control / tolerance allowances .... I wonder what size the Noodlers Nib Creeper pen feed is ...?

[manskirtbrew]

Little update: I reached out to Noodler's themselves, and they thought I'd gotten the wrong feeds, so they sent me a factory replacement.

 

It is exactly the same diameter as the ones I received from Goulet. Significantly thinner than my original, and falls right out of the nib section.

 

I can only assume I got some kind of mutant Ahab.

[BlueJ]

It sounds like your Ahab section was drilled too wide, out of tolerance.

 

You may be able to get one of your new feeds to set securely and seal adequately for proper ink-air exchange by, for example, wrapping the back of the nib and feed with a few turns of Teflon plumber's tape before insertion into the section. in fact, Nathan T. has recommended this technique in one of his youtube videos.

 

You may also be able to build up the interior of the section with a thin layer of clear waterproof glue or silicone rubber sealant, spread evenly inside the bore with something like a toothpick. The inner surface does not have to be perfect, because the ebonite feed will deform when heat set to make an adequate seal.

 

If you follow the second method, you should allow the glue or sealant to harden or cure before inserting the nib and feed, since you don't want to glue them permanently in place!

[manskirtbrew]

It sounds like your Ahab section was drilled too wide, out of tolerance.

 

Well, yes, but then why is the original feed also so much larger in diameter than the replacement?

 

I like the plumber's tape idea. I certainly have enough of that lying around.

 

Noodler's was kind enough to send me a replacement nib section. I haven't gotten to try it yet, but I'll post the results when I do.

[BlueJ]

It is possible that Noodler's changed their specifications for the Ahab/Konrad feed and section inner diameter at some time in the recent past, or perhaps their supplier just made a batch of nibs and feeds that were compatible within that batch but out of the intended calibration.

 

If they sent you a new grip section then you should be able to use the newer nibs without any modification. In any case, these pens are often "works in progress" so any successful fix can be considered "normal."