Lamy Safari Cap Problem

[PAKMAN]

Never had this happen myself, but I rotate pens so much that one particular pen doesn't get used a great deal. Seems some folks have noted this problem with safaris that they have used constantly for long periods of time. I guess the inner cap becomes worn and doesn't hold as well after a long period of use and likely many capping and uncapping cycles.

[Jamerelbe]

I had a problem with my safari today. I clipped on my shirt today after office. At lunch I realized that clip was on it once and the pen had fallen inside the tucked in shirt. It caused big blue spot on my undershirt and shirt. :-(. Never had such a problem with even eye dropper in-expensive pens. Did anyone have simile experience of cap coming off?

 

I've had this problem with a Kaweco Sport pen - which has a screw-on nib! - and the ink was from the Noodler's bulletproof range. It was a new shirt, too... I've since discovered this can happen with almost *any* of my Kaweco pens, if I don't screw the lid on securely enough.

 

Without seeing the pen, I'd guess there are two possibilities: (1) that you didn't cap it properly; or (2) as @PAKMAN suggested above, the inner cap has become worn (and/or the rubber ring it clips onto has perished). We like to think our pens will last forever with just a little care and maintenance, but there *is* such a thing as wear and tear. Not to mention manufacturing defects that may not be obvious straight away!

[ahallam]

Kiri I've had the same problem...and fixed it. The blind cap that the pen locks into is just a plastic sleeve that grips with friction. In my case, a ride in the washing machine made it no longer grip the pen. Fix was pretty easy:

 

1.) Remove the plug from the top of the cap. Older Safaris the plug unscrews, on newer ones like mine it snaps in. To pop it out push a small flat object (like a small diameter chopstick) inside the cap against the plug until it pops out. For me a small torx screwdriver head worked great.

 

2.) Now you can see the top of the bind cap in the plug cavity, pop it out by pushing down on it.

 

3.) Wrap three layers of electrical tap around the broad end of the blind cap to add thickness to the diameter of the blind cap. This will cause the blind cap's internal diameter to compress when put back into the cap.

 

4.) Snap the blindcap back into the cap (the torx screwdriver worked well for this).

 

5.) Snap the plug back in. In my case my screwdriver was the socket type, so I just took out the torx bit and pushed the empty socket inside the cap against the top of the blind cap to keep it in place while pushing the plug back into the top of the cap (the cavity in the socket screwdriver allowed the plug to come in).

 

Now my Safari is nice and tight again.

 

Hope this helps others.

 

-J

 

 

Wow. Thanks for this! I've been so annoyed with the loose cap on my beloved yellow Safari that I was considering just replacing the whole pen. Just finished your fix, and the cap is nice and clicky again.

[Spector]

Kiri I've had the same problem...and fixed it. The blind cap that the pen locks into is just a plastic sleeve that grips with friction. In my case, a ride in the washing machine made it no longer grip the pen. Fix was pretty easy:

 

1.) Remove the plug from the top of the cap. Older Safaris the plug unscrews, on newer ones like mine it snaps in. To pop it out push a small flat object (like a small diameter chopstick) inside the cap against the plug until it pops out. For me a small torx screwdriver head worked great.

 

2.) Now you can see the top of the bind cap in the plug cavity, pop it out by pushing down on it.

 

3.) Wrap three layers of electrical tap around the broad end of the blind cap to add thickness to the diameter of the blind cap. This will cause the blind cap's internal diameter to compress when put back into the cap.

 

4.) Snap the blindcap back into the cap (the torx screwdriver worked well for this).

 

5.) Snap the plug back in. In my case my screwdriver was the socket type, so I just took out the torx bit and pushed the empty socket inside the cap against the top of the blind cap to keep it in place while pushing the plug back into the top of the cap (the cavity in the socket screwdriver allowed the plug to come in).

 

Now my Safari is nice and tight again.

 

Hope this helps others.

 

-J

thanks I will try this

[cooperehlers]

I fixed this problem in my Lamy Safari

 

light a small candle or match and put the lid over the top of it so that the flame is just inside the lid. Hold for a couple seconds then try put the cap back on the pen. Repeat this a few times until it fits nicely. The heat should shrink the plastic so that it fits tightly again.

[Christopher Godfrey]

I <think> I have had a problem with a Safari; but am not sure. However, I <did> certainly have problems with caps losing their grip on both of my old cp1 pens -- twice! Lamy service here in USA were wonderful and have never charged me for the prompt repairs.

 

I have two Safaris and, since I really no longer use them, I ought to put them up for sale. One thing I have experienced is breakage of the cap: I cracked one (red, shiny plastic) by perhaps being too forceful with replacing it on the pen (seems very weird/dubious); but never had that problem with the "rough", matte plastic, as in the black or the green versions. I suspect that the very shiny plastic is more brittle...?

Edited October 6, 2017 by Christopher Godfrey

[balkan_boy]

Kiri I've had the same problem...and fixed it. The blind cap that the pen locks into is just a plastic sleeve that grips with friction. In my case, a ride in the washing machine made it no longer grip the pen. Fix was pretty easy:

 

1.) Remove the plug from the top of the cap. Older Safaris the plug unscrews, on newer ones like mine it snaps in. To pop it out push a small flat object (like a small diameter chopstick) inside the cap against the plug until it pops out. For me a small torx screwdriver head worked great.

 

2.) Now you can see the top of the bind cap in the plug cavity, pop it out by pushing down on it.

 

3.) Wrap three layers of electrical tap around the broad end of the blind cap to add thickness to the diameter of the blind cap. This will cause the blind cap's internal diameter to compress when put back into the cap.

 

4.) Snap the blindcap back into the cap (the torx screwdriver worked well for this).

 

5.) Snap the plug back in. In my case my screwdriver was the socket type, so I just took out the torx bit and pushed the empty socket inside the cap against the top of the blind cap to keep it in place while pushing the plug back into the top of the cap (the cavity in the socket screwdriver allowed the plug to come in).

 

Now my Safari is nice and tight again.

 

Hope this helps others.

 

-J

 

Thanks,

I was just about to throw it away.

Now it's usable again.

[Safari_Camo]

Can some one put some pictures of the process? I have a Savannah Green, yes the first model and the cap was replaced once, but after some years of using it it started again with the cap problem, I need to know if this process is safe to perform for this "collection item".

Regards

[mauitodd]

On 4/27/2011 at 2:48 PM, jasonjwwilliams said:

Kiri I've had the same problem...and fixed it. The blind cap that the pen locks into is just a plastic sleeve that grips with friction. In my case, a ride in the washing machine made it no longer grip the pen. Fix was pretty easy:

 

1.) Remove the plug from the top of the cap. Older Safaris the plug unscrews, on newer ones like mine it snaps in. To pop it out push a small flat object (like a small diameter chopstick) inside the cap against the plug until it pops out. For me a small torx screwdriver head worked great.

 

2.) Now you can see the top of the bind cap in the plug cavity, pop it out by pushing down on it.

 

3.) Wrap three layers of electrical tap around the broad end of the blind cap to add thickness to the diameter of the blind cap. This will cause the blind cap's internal diameter to compress when put back into the cap.

 

4.) Snap the blindcap back into the cap (the torx screwdriver worked well for this).

 

5.) Snap the plug back in. In my case my screwdriver was the socket type, so I just took out the torx bit and pushed the empty socket inside the cap against the top of the blind cap to keep it in place while pushing the plug back into the top of the cap (the cavity in the socket screwdriver allowed the plug to come in).

 

Now my Safari is nice and tight again.

 

Hope this helps others.

 

-J

Wow… here I am in 2022 stumbling across this… thank you, it did the trick. I have several Safari’s and know replacing them doesn’t really cost much… but the one with the loose cap is a very, very special and meaningful gift that was purchased for me from a shop in the Louvre; it’s oh-so-sentimental to me. Thank you for helping me solve this! The cap works as it should once again!

 

[DLCJr]

Does anyone know whether Lamy has improved the snapping security of the Safari cap on recent models?

 

I just bought two new Safaris and the snap cap mechanism seems much less secure than it does on my Al-Stars.

[Azulado]

4 hours ago, DLCJr said:

Does anyone know whether Lamy has improved the snapping security of the Safari cap on recent models?

 

I just bought two new Safaris and the snap cap mechanism seems much less secure than it does on my Al-Stars.

What do you mean by the Safari's cap locking mechanism not being secure? 
Does the cap come off with a light tap? 
I have 5 Safaris and one Joy - as it's a calligraphy set, it's actually three liner caps. The Joy and at least three of the Safaris are recent. One of the Safaris is from 1997. All the caps close well. Some close more easily, some with more pressure, but they all work well, the differences are small. I don't have the Al Star, so I don't know how it feels, it might be different. The Nexx feels very different to the Safari, a drier click. The liner cap exerts more pressure. 

[DLCJr]

33 minutes ago, Azulado said:

What do you mean by the Safari's cap locking mechanism not being secure? 

Have a look through this thread to read and learn.

 

I have not experienced a problem with Safari caps, but my Safaris are brand new at this time... so I was wondering if Lamy had made any improvements on the reliability of the snap cap staying put.

[Azulado]

5 hours ago, DLCJr said:

I just bought two new Safaris and the snap cap mechanism seems much less secure...

I am well aware of the problem.
You are the one who says that the caps seem less secure. I say no, I have several from different years and they all have a firm seal. This problem usually arises after more than 10 years of heavy use. Considering that millions of Safaris are sold, it is normal that you hear about their problems. But if you are so worried that in 2039 the lock will no longer be as firm, Lamy has started selling replacement caps again.

https://shop.lamy.com/es_es/spare-parts?utm_source=CleverReach&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=14.03.2024+ES%3A+Ersatzteile+%26+Gravuraktion+Ostern&utm_content=Mailing_15182293

[DLCJr]

26 minutes ago, Azulado said:

I am well aware of the problem.
You are the one who says that the caps seem less secure. I say no, I have several from different years and they all have a firm seal. This problem usually arises after more than 10 years of heavy use. Considering that millions of Safaris are sold, it is normal that you hear about their problems. But if you are so worried that in 2039 the lock will no longer be as firm, Lamy has started selling replacement caps again.

https://shop.lamy.com/es_es/spare-parts?utm_source=CleverReach&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=14.03.2024+ES%3A+Ersatzteile+%26+Gravuraktion+Ostern&utm_content=Mailing_15182293

Nice, Mister Azulado!!!!  Ah... the not-unfamiliar internet "attitude" pops up!

 

I'm so glad that you are well aware of the problem. So, why was it that you asked me about it? I am only here to inquire about it. But you, apparently, are the seasoned master, it would appear?

 

I am accustomed to the very secure snap closure of the Al-Star pens.  The snap closure of the Safari pens feels very much less robust. And, from reading this thread, apparently numerous people have had problems with the Safari cap staying put.  

 

That said... I have no worries, certainly not about the longevity of Safari caps. But I am interested in things.

 

Thus, I am simply curious if Lamy may have improved the longevity of the the Safari cap integrity? Such a cheap pen, of course, one can simply replace when necessary.

 

SO.... if my question bothers you so much, and it certainly has touched your nerve, may I recommend some therapeutic, relaxing time spent drawing cur-li-ques with your pens - may produce a calming effect. ☺️

 

As for replacement caps, I'm sure that your expertise can lead me to where, in the USA, replacement caps are available? (Only if needed, that is.  And, I may have to wait a decade until that might come about. 😉) Though I am not one, there may well be some Safari users on this forum, here in the USA, who DO need replacement caps! Where shall you direct them?

[Azulado]

@DLCJr, Extracted from the comments of a Youtube video:

Quote

I bought my first Safari in 1986. Last year I got a crack in the hood. I wrote to Lamy and asked of how long the expected life span was. And they were so impressed over almost 35 years of daily use, that they sent me a new pen! That's quality and service!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YJ6bzvJkb_U

I see no difference between my 1997 Safari (bought used, well maintained) and the newer 2023 Safari.

I understand that the quality of the liner cap is adequate. I see no reason to improve a part that has a good quality standard.

On the Lamy Joy there are liner caps as a separate part of the cap to cover the nib you don't use, but they have a cartridge in them. I repeat: it's a calligraphy set, with three sections and their respective nibs. I looked at the liner cap carefully and it seems to be of very good quality.

The fact that the cap is soft is not necessarily a fault. A very firm cap could crack the liner or even separate it from the cap (this has already happened to me with an Online pen).

https://us-shop.lamy.com/en_us/spare-parts-writing-systems

[jchch1950]

Of the Safaris, Joy and Alstar pens that I have, the Joy is the one that gets more caping and uncaping as I use it to underline and after some years I have not had any problem with the cap.

[AceNinja]

@DLCJr one can DIY fix the Safari's cap "snapping" feel, I've made a video about this.

Quote

 

 

 

[DLCJr]

4 hours ago, AceNinja said:

@DLCJr one can DIY fix the Safari's cap "snapping" feel, I've made a video about this.

 

AceNinja... what a great instructional video!  Extremely well done.  Thanks for sharing.