Pen Spitting Ink

[tinct]

I have a Pelikan piston filler that repeatedly leaks when I uncap it. Looking a bit closely, I'm wondering if un-capping the pen is creating some sort of vacuum that leads to ink being sucked out of the piston. Would that be likely? Is there a fix?

 

I tried not capping completely, which seems to help but results in a pen that won't start (perhaps nib needs adjusting?). Capping more firmly leads to a nib ready to flow and very ink-stained hands.

 

 

The pen is a Pelikan MK30 with friction fit cap, rather than screw on/off.

[Ron Z]

It's possible, which is why caps have vent holes in them. They're there to relieve the slight vacuum that's created when you pull the pen out of the cap. Note that the vent holes are always below the inner cap, which is the same reason why your pen dries out when you leave the cap a bit loose. The section seals against the edge of the inner cap when you tighten it. If it's a bit loose, you have an air leak. The nib dries out, and it's hard starting.

 

It's possible that you have a feed that needs to be tightened against the nib, also possible that the vent holes are plugged up. And then there are some pens that tend to do that.

[tinct]

Thank you for the reply!

 

I looked up the cap and do notice an inner cap. Not really sure how it's suppose to work, not sure where vent holes would be. This pen may have been inspired by the Parker 51, I wonder if the cap is similarly intended to lack physical vent holes?

 

Going to do a bit more research on the cap and also see if I can take apart the pen to get at the feed (it is built strangely, somewhat like a hooded nib except not really).

 

EDIT: I think you were right about the cap. I replaced it with a steel one from a Hero 329 and the problem seems to have gone away - nib stays wet, no ink expelled when cap is removed.

 

Now to figure out how to clear out the original cap..

Edited February 26, 2011 by tinct

[Readymade]

Would uncapping the pen while it's upright (i.e. nib pointing up) help?

[Ron Z]

Many of the 51 inner caps have a groove that runs down the outside of the inner cap, so that air can get from up around the clip into the cap when you pull it off. The inner cap itself is of course still sealed, and the edge comes into contact with the hood.

 

If a 51 drys out, look for a crack in the inner cap or a deformed/damaged cap edge.

Edited March 3, 2011 by Ron Z