Jinhao 950 extremely wet; possible reasons why?

[DrManhattan]

I recently purchased some Jinhao 950s, they're very nice looking and weighty. The problem is 2 of them are extremely wet, to the point that a medium nib writes like a broad and a 1.1mm italic nib I've fitted on the other produces extremely thick lines, as if writing with a felt tip. If I hold the leaky pens with the nib facing down, within 30 seconds a blob of ink will fall onto the page, and they require very little shaking to splatter ink. The converters are not the problem, I've tested them on a 3rd Jinhao 950 which works perfectly well, and that pen doesn't produce a leak with any of the inks or converters I've been using in the other 2. I think the nibs are not the problem either, I tried 3 different nibs between the 2 pens that are leaky and they all gushed ink.

 

So I assume the problem is either in the feed or in the section of the pen. The feed doesn't look to be damaged in anyway, and I'm fairly certain I've pushed it up all the way (I tried multiple insertion lengths but the pens always leaked anyway). What I'm unsure of is if I'm somehow orientating it incorrectly. The feed itself has a flat spot, but the section does not (at least none that I can see, and I've examined the sections under light for quite some time, though without magnification). I saw a video by Goulet pens that showed how to switch nibs for a different Jinhao model and he talked about how there is a flat spot in the section that necessitates proper orientation; I assume the 950 simply doesn't have this? I also noticed a difference between the leaky pens' and the functioning pen's sections. The part through which the end of the feed is threaded into the section and connects to the cartridge/converter is cut at an angle in the leaky pens (imagine bamboo being cut diagonally), whereas the functioning pen is cut straight. 

 

Pictures

Nibs and feeds:

https://imgur.com/a/VZjJdYB

Sections:

https://imgur.com/a/dLxvb2I

Wetness examples:

https://imgur.com/a/WNNRpZp (Diamine Meadow, Oxford Blue, Emerald, Lamy Black, and Diamine Oxford Blue used respectively)

 

Any idea what is causing this wetness and how can I remedy it? I have cleaned the nibs, feeds and sections in warm water and soap. The nibs on the leaky pens don't seem to have excessively spread tines either (at least to my eye).

[OCArt]

Sounds like an air leak. Is the cartridge converter fitting securely?  I'd try the pen with a cartridge and see if that helps. But it could be also be an air leak from the feed.

[DrManhattan]

The cartridge converters do feel relatively secure, but they rotate quite easily. If it is an air leak in the feed, how would you resolve that? Blu tac or something similar?

[OCArt]

There is a possibility that the feed is not positioned correctly in the barrel.  I'd pull the nib and feed out and try inserting just the feed in the barrel. Try various rotations to see if one position goes in deeper than others, if so use that position with the nib. 

[DrManhattan]

I have tried that and it seems to be all the way in. I've noticed the feed and nib are awfully easy to remove, a moderately firm grip and low effort are required to pull them out, which makes me think perhaps they are positioned poorly; just can't seem to figure out the proper positioning if that is the case.

[OCArt]

Sorry, I’m out of ideas except to try an ink cartridge, not the converter.

[DrManhattan]

So I received some international standard cartridges today and tried them and the pens still leak. What's even more interesting is that the leaking pens simply do not accept a standard international converter (I tried using the Schmidt K5), however the functioning pen DOES accept it. I think this whole problem is being caused by the weirdly cut part of the section through which the end of the feed threads through. Only problem is, how am I supposed to remedy that? 

 

Edit:

OK I managed to get the converter in by removing the feed and nib, placing the converter, and then putting the feed and nib back in. The pen is no longer leaking blobs (though this may be the ink rather than anything being improved), but it still does spill if shaken moderately, and the flow is still extremely wet. Maybe the feeds are just poor quality?

Edited April 14, 2021 by DrManhattan

[DrManhattan]

I just thought I'd update this in case anyone else has a similar problem in the future. I replaced the nib and feed in one of the leaky pens with a Jowo nib and feed (size 5) and the problem is pretty much completely gone. I'd have to now shake the pen pretty hard to get it to spill ink, and while it is slightly wet, it is absolutely nothing like it was before. Before it was similar to using a paintbrush, now it's just like any other pen. So I assume the problem was with the feed, maybe it was a tad too small or something. If you run into a super wet Jinhao and no amount of reorientation or nib adjustment works, consider replacing the feed. 

[DrManhattan]

OK this is a bit embarrassing but a final update. These pens were not in fact Jinhao pens at all,they were advertised as one but they don't actually have any of the Jinhao branding (these were my first so called Jinhao pens so I didn't have anything to compare to). So I guess the manufacturer of these 950 clones just produced really bad feeds that couldn't hold ink properly. Now I have an extremely poorly made Jinhao ripoff with a Jowo nib and feed inside it lol, it feels so odd to use with that knowledge now. Anyway, don't be like me, make sure the pens are branded before you purchase them to avoid stuff like this in the future.