Maintenance Question

[csgebhart]

I'm wondering if there is a standard list of steps you go through when you discover that your pen is leaking. For comparison purposes, I am a quilter, and any time I have a sewing machine issue, the steps I do are:

 

1. Rethread the machine

2. Rethread the bobbin

3. Change the needle

4. Clean the machine

Etc.

 

So is there something similar with fountain pens? My Platinum Preppy started leaking the other day. I emptied the ink and cleaned it out, but haven't re-inked it. And it is such an inexpensive pen, it may not be worth doing much with it. But my question would apply to ANY pen, not just the Preppy.

 

Thanks.

[praxim]

So far as I have read or found, the sequence of steps comprises:

1. Find the air leak.

2. Fix the air leak.

 

However, the leak source can depend on the pen, making it harder to define a single set of steps. I suppose one could isolate it to the nib end, or the back end, or the middle as sub-steps. For example, a couple of new (vintage) Aurora 88s have leaked. In each case I put silicone grease on the piston to stop air leaking past it so readily, and in each case this fixed it. Had it not worked and the piston seal looked good, then I would have moved on to check the section and feed.

 

If your pen has a rubber sac, check its integrity and fit. Same for a C/C, where one can do an A/B comparison by using a new cartridge to see whether that solves the problem.

 

This is from my scant experience. Other people may have systems they use or information or common problems for particular pens.