Nib Leaks Copiously When Held Vertical - Is It Dead, Jim?

[gement]

Hi, everyone! I did my best to look through the forums before delurking, but here goes:

 

I have a kit pen ("IRIDIUM POINT GERMANY" and all!) that I'm very fond of. This week, it started catastrophically leaking. I found the post saying the nib can be pulled out and replaced with a better one, but I'm not sure if the nib or the section is the problem. I'd feel awfully silly if I went and bought a new nib but there was an irreparable crack in another part, or something just needed tightening.

 

I've tracked the leak down to one behavior and source. When hung point down, the ink comes drop, drop, drop out of the point of the nib, coming from the black plastic underside somewhere (possibly the seam with the section). It doesn't leak where the cartridge meets the feed, it doesn't leak over the top of the nib. The black plastic underside with all the feed ridges does get wet.

 

Can I fix this by adjusting? Would a new nib help? Is there nothing for it but trying to find another nib+section with the correct threading?

 

Just to horrify you all, this is my only pen and I'm quite loyal to it. This medical emergency is making me look hard at a Hero 329, but I'll be strong. (Ink, on the other hand... Let's just say I'm helping keep Noodler's in business and leave it at that.)

[Mrsal]

if the feed came loose, that might be the cause of your problem, or maybe there is just a little to much pressure on the cart, forcing the ink out

[Enai]

Your only pen!

 

Guys and gals, help this member out, please. And I don't mean help him/her out to buy more FPs, I mean help repair this person's only pen! (That is, if still it's repairable.)

 

Dig your heels in, gement, and welcome to FPN!

[ZeissIkon]

This type of leakage is usually symptom of an air leak in the reservoir. Check for a cracked cartridge; if the cartridge can ingest air, then the ink will drip, drip, drip just as you describe. There's probably nothing at all wrong with the section, feed, or nib.

[Chthulhu]

I second Zeissikon's suggestion; the simplest way to check this is to put on a fresh cartridge. Oh, and don't squeeze the cartridge to prime the feed; that's how I cracked one for the first and last time.

[gement]

Fixed! A fresh cartridge isn't leaking, pinning the blame squarely on my converter. (I'm delighted, as this is the easiest possible replacement part.) Wow, I'd forgotten how runny and pale my cartridge ink was. I've been spoiled.

 

Thanks to all of you for your quick responses and support. I feel very welcomed.

[ZeissIkon]

Glad we could point the way and get you back to writing quickly. And welcome to FPN!

[FarmBoy]

...Wow, I'd forgotten how runny and pale my cartridge ink was. I've been spoiled.

 

Do what we do and stick it to the man. We secretly refill cartridges with good ink.

 

Todd