Jinhao 159 Writing Problems

[mehmetaustin]

So I saw that Goulet Pens is having a deal on Jinhao pens so I decided to try these cheap Chinese pens out. My x750 shimmering sands is working perfectly however my 159 is having some issues. The pen seems to only write with a decent amount of pressure is placed on the nib. It will not write using just the weight of the pen and this annoys me. If I apply 0 pressure the pen doesn't write.

 

I have cleaned the feed, the nib, flushed the pen twice, checked the nib and made sure everything was good. I even pushed the feed closer to the tines for a wetter write but it did nothing. The pen is inked with R&K Salix

 

Any ideas on how to get the pen to write better? I don't really know anything about pen repair. All of my pen experiences have been great and I have never had one of these issues.

 

Update 1: It now sometimes doesn't even write with normal pressure and requires me to tap the end of the barrel, "flick the pen, or push ink into the feed to write or I can scribble on the pen for a few seconds to get it to write. If this is a nib issue then I can get a new nib but if its the feed what would I need to do to fix the feed?

 

Update 2: Bent the tines open and it is flowing much better however I am still getting a few hard starts.

Edited July 9, 2015 by mehmetaustin

[beanbag]

R&K Salix is a very dry ink. Try another ink.

[mehmetaustin]

Tried 3 inks, Noodler's Black, Private Reserve Electric DC Blue, and Omas Turquoise and they all have pretty hard starts. The issue is that with little pressure it doesn't write.

 

Did more nib adjustment. Opened the tines more and did some alignment. Didn't change the hard starts. Tried doing my own nib smoothing to see if that would fix anything, it didn't. Opened up the feed more to allow more ink flow and that didn't help at all.

 

Thinking about buying a Franklin-Christoph Music nib and if the nib doesn't help the pen I will put it on one of my other pens. I really love this 159 but it is refusing to work.

Edited July 14, 2015 by mehmetaustin

[Flounder]

Sounds like it could be an overpolished nib. Turn the pen over and write with it that way. Will it write under its own weight now (may be scratchy as heck)?

[mehmetaustin]

Sounds like it could be an overpolished nib. Turn the pen over and write with it that way. Will it write under its own weight now (may be scratchy as heck)?

 

It does write under its own weight when reverse writing.

[Flounder]

That does sounds overpolised between the tines, or the tipping gap isn't parallel, or both.

 

Or all three!

[mehmetaustin]

That does sounds overpolised between the tines, or the tipping gap isn't parallel, or both.

 

Or all three!

 

What would you recommend? Grinding it down with some micro-mesh?

[Flounder]

First get some magnification going on the tipping so you can see whether either of those issues is apparent. If so, the 159 is an inexpensive way to learn nib grinding, but if you're not looking for hassles a nib swap would take less time and effort.

[mehmetaustin]

First get some magnification going on the tipping so you can see whether either of those issues is apparent. If so, the 159 is an inexpensive way to learn nib grinding, but if you're not looking for hassles a nib swap would take less time and effort.

 

All right. I will look into both options. If I am still having troubles I might get one of those nice music nibs for fun.

[Flounder]

The tipping gap thing you can sort without grinding, but my money's on baby's bottom overpolishing being the prob..

[tomtom2016]

The tipping gap thing you can sort without grinding, but my money's on baby's bottom overpolishing being the prob..

Hi

 

I just bought a Jinhao 159 Medium nib. It did not work well with the convertor so I replaced it with a cartridge- Private Select Sherwood Green Ink after the initial ink in the Jinhao cartridges was used up. Worked perfectly for 15 refills. I filled out pages with the pen. Then out of the blue the pen refused to start after a refill and thereafter stopped working...no ink in the tines. The nib was smooth from the beginning and more so once I started using it. Got better and better with use...so really disappointed when it stopped working...

 

If I dip into an ink bottle it works well until the nib runs out of ink. Replaced the cartridge with a new one..no help. ..washed it out with diluted soap and water...no change...replaced the ink with a new Jinhao ink again nothing...I got a new converter and tried to use that...same problem. Although I can push ink into the feed with the convertor and then it writes for a bit before stopping...once it runs dry then it never starts on its own. I have flipped the nib and write with it using the other side...a line or two and then no ink...

 

I really love the pen and so am hoping someone has some suggestions.. the tines are perfectly aligned. I checked that last night....

 

Running out of options...any thoughts? or suggestions?

[Flounder]

TomTom,

 

To sum-up - you say the cartridge you reused 15 times stopped working suddenly *immediately after a refill*, and then washing and several changes of cartridge couldn't help - but forcing ink through with a converter *did* get ink moving to the feed.

 

It seems probable that a piece of the old cartridge has gotten lodged in the cartridge-piercing tube end of the feed, hampering the usual exchange or air and ink. Can you shine a torch into the section with the cart removed, see if anything's stuck in there?

Edited January 14, 2016 by Flounder

[AndyKeir]

The nib and feed are easily removed which makes examination and cleaning very easy ...

[Aysedasi]

Just bought 4 159's. One each of the red, yellow, orange and blue. £10 the lot.....

 

I've already installed a Knox broad in the red one and a 1.1 stub (not sure of the make) in the orange. Not sure about the stub... but the Knox broad is an absolute delight. I've just ordered two more sets of Knox nibs, two each of the B, OB and OBB. I think they're great nibs. I wouldn't bother messing around with the stock nibs......

Edited January 29, 2016 by Aysedasi

[Ray_NEMBFV]

I've never had a problem with any of the Jinhaos I've purchased - 159, 250 601, 450, 750, love them all. Having read some of the comments and loving the broad nib on my MB 149, I'm really tempted to start planning with the Jinhaos. A broad nib on one of my X450's sound fun. Everyone mentions replacement nibs, can I presume that is generally the Goulet #6 or similar? Or maybe the question is what is the general replacement size?

 

Thanks

[tmenyc]

A good number of Jinhaos I've seen write a lot better after the feeds have been worked on a bit. Pull the nib and feed, and look closely at the ribs on the feed. If they're not perfectly parallel and clear pathways, which has often been the problem, straighten them with the back end of an exacto blade or something similar -- not the sharp end, you don't want to cut it, but just straighten it. I've only seen this with Jinhaos and some cheap Indian pens, and the quick operation usually works a charm. Feels like a nib problem when it's not.

 

Tim

[freeboy]

My JH's where bought to learn to grind and the nibs shamed my more expensive pens.. and several of the pens marked M where broads.. nice..

 

If I wanted to fix the 159 or x450, and having tried all else, or just out of curiosity, could I replace BOTH the nib and feed with a gouolet or other?

 

 

 

I know the 159 is a steel heavy mass p[roduced pen, but what capitalist can not love a pen sold and shipped for under 5$ ?