Kakuno Started Getting Cloggy?

[Flaxmoore]

I love my Pilot Kakuno. It's broken in just perfect, worn just right, but lately there's a bit of a problem. I've always kept on maintenance- every month it gets a complete flush and cleaning, without removing the feed since it's press fit.

 

It's become prone to clogging. It lived on a diet of Noodler's 54th for years, but over the last few months, it's been clogging every few fills. There's no sign of issues with the ink itself, and I've stripped the pen down and run it through a borrowed ultrasonic to the point where I could use the feed like a harmonica.

 

Could there be some crud the ultrasonic just isn't pulling out? Any ideas to get this little fellow humming again?

[GardenWeasel]

I'd be suspicious of the ink at this point. Have you tried another ink to see if it still clogs?

[Tas]

Noodlers 54th gave me loads of grief. What other inks do you have ? As GardenWeasel suggested, it may simply be the ink.

[Flaxmoore]

It doesn't appear to be the ink. A Jinhao 450 with a 1.1mm stub is running merrily along, as is a more traditional Pilot Metro. I'll give it another few flushes, and try running one of my most inoffensive inks- Sheaffer Blue, Red, Sailor Black.

[JakobS]

Has the bottle of ink changed at all over that time? I imagine you have probably gone through a couple of bottles if its been years, but its possible some slight change in formulation, or even stability of the ink over time may cause it to clog in the pen more often than when the bottle was newer, or perhaps of a more stable formulation.

 

I was going to also suggest running a few different inks through it to see if its the ink or the pen, but you replied quicker then I could! Hopefully it provides a better answer.

Edited August 31, 2017 by JakobS

[Flaxmoore]

Has the bottle of ink changed at all over that time? I imagine you have probably gone through a couple of bottles if its been years, but its possible some slight change in formulation, or even stability of the ink over time may cause it to clog in the pen more often than when the bottle was newer, or perhaps of a more stable formulation.

I'm on my third bottle of 54th. I haven't noticed much difference, maybe slightly more blue but minimal. Seems to flow the same in everything else. None of the notorious inks (BSB and the like) have been in this one in years.

[Tas]

It doesn't appear to be the ink. A Jinhao 450 with a 1.1mm stub is running merrily along, as is a more traditional Pilot Metro. I'll give it another few flushes, and try running one of my most inoffensive inks- Sheaffer Blue, Red, Sailor Black.

Glad to hear it.

 

Best of luck.

[amberleadavis]

If I may suggest, try using a cleaning ink for a fill. My favorites are Vintage Skrip - any color but the IG Blue Black is the very best - Sailor Do You - or Noodler's eel ink, I really like Rattler Red for cleaning out stains.

 

Here check out this thread:

 

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/251595-best-ink-to-use-in-between-high-maintenance-inks-something-lubricating/page-2