Nib/feed Askew

[Dan P]

I'm new to FP's and just noticed my 1 year old 805 Pelikan's nib and feed are not exactly lined up. Is this something I can adjust or is a Pelikan like a MB in that nothing can be adjusted unless it is sent to MB? I only noticed this as I was emptying the ink and flushing with water to send the pen out to have custom pen holder made. I did not drop the pen or traumatize it in any way. It's still under warranty, but this seems like a simple fix of getting the nib and feed to line up. As I am without the pen while it is being used to have a trumpet custom made to fit the pen, I don't really want send it back to the dealership I bought it from or Pelikan to get this fixed. Thanks, Dan

[kaan]

My nib and feed are not lined up too, not an extreme misalignment, but still a misalignment, I've researched about it, they say a small misalignment is acceptable and very common (on google, 90% of the time FPN comes up)

 

To fix, you have to push down the nib's ring, then the upper nib/metal part comes loose, then you can align it however you want, and push it back again, they say you have to knock the ring to remove it, it's really sturdy

 

So basically, no you can't fix it at home

 

But if the pen works as you want it to work, I guess try not to think about it

 

IMO Pelikans are too faulty

[Dan P]

My nib and feed are not lined up too, not an extreme misalignment, but still a misalignment, I've researched about it, they say a small misalignment is acceptable and very common (on google, 90% of the time FPN comes up)

 

To fix, you have to push down the nib's ring, then the upper nib/metal part comes loose, then you can align it however you want, and push it back again, they say you have to knock the ring to remove it, it's really sturdy

 

So basically, no you can't fix it at home

 

But if the pen works as you want it to work, I guess try not to think about it

 

IMO Pelikans are too faulty

Thanks Kaan for the information. When I get my Pelikan back I'll dip into some ink and see how it writes. I do have an EF nib and my only complaint (other than the recently noted misalignment) is that I feel the pen should write smoother. I assumed the perceived lack of smoothness was because I was using so fine a tip. But maybe it is related to the minor nib/feed misalignment. I'm too new to fountain pens to know what I can get in terms of smoothness. I did find the Pelikan fine nib wrote too thick a line for my handwriting style. I don't remember the smoothness difference between the two nibs. The pen is gorgeous but the more I read and think about things, the more I feel I'm missing out on being able to get the smoothness I think I should be getting and thin line I need to have legible handwriting. I guess I'm going to have to check out some other pens.

[Frank C]

An EF nib is not going to be "smooth" It is just too small. Lack of a smooth feel may also be a function of pressing too hard. Especially if you have recently switched from ballpoints where you have to press to make them work. A small misalignment should not affect the way the pen writes. In the US, if you send it back to Chartpak, they will replace the nib for free. The last time I sent them a pen, it took about 2 months to get it back, and it did have a new nib.

[Dan P]

Frank C, with 410 posts I have to assume you know what you are talking about. But I'm hoping I can get some better "smoothness" with an EF nib. Even if it's with a different pen- I like Kaan's signature line about life being too short not to have the perfect fountain pen. What is Chartpak? I bought my Pelikan from an authorized dealer in the US. Would I send it back to them, Pelikan or Chartpak. (From my research, I'm thinking there is no need to send it in, the nib/feed misalignment probably isn't adversely effecting the pen.) Thanks, Dan

[Frank C]

There are some idiots with thousands of posts; so number of posts just shows that you have too much free time. Chartpak is the US distributor for Pelikan. You can either return the pen to the original seller or send it back to Chartpak. With a couple of exceptions, most dealers will just send it back to Chartpak themselves. A nib will get a little smoother with use, but that takes time. Some people polish their nibs, but I haven't tried that myself.

[dhaines]

An EF nib is not going to be "smooth" It is just too small. Lack of a smooth feel may also be a function of pressing too hard. Especially if you have recently switched from ballpoints where you have to press to make them work. A small misalignment should not affect the way the pen writes. In the US, if you send it back to Chartpak, they will replace the nib for free. The last time I sent them a pen, it took about 2 months to get it back, and it did have a new nib.

 

Not true I have a very Fine Platinum pen that writes as smooth as butter over Teflon It's not too small...The factory doesn't finish the pen right and widen the sweet spot enough on most EF nibs. They are poor at QC and leave it up to Bock to finish the pen without really doing much at the factory accept a quick zoom zoom buff.

[Frank C]

An EF nib is not going to be "smooth" It is just too small. Lack of a smooth feel may also be a function of pressing too hard. Especially if you have recently switched from ballpoints where you have to press to make them work. A small misalignment should not affect the way the pen writes. In the US, if you send it back to Chartpak, they will replace the nib for free. The last time I sent them a pen, it took about 2 months to get it back, and it did have a new nib.

 

Not true I have a very Fine Platinum pen that writes as smooth as butter over Teflon It's not too small...The factory doesn't finish the pen right and widen the sweet spot enough on most EF nibs. They are poor at QC and leave it up to Bock to finish the pen without really doing much at the factory accept a quick zoom zoom buff.

 

OK, I got out some butter and a teflon pan--very smooth. Next, I got out a Pelikan M805 Blue with an EF nib and some Rhodia paper. Not as smooth as the butter; it had an audible scratching sound. Next, I took out five of my Platinum fine nibs, three 3376s, two Presidents. All five had nice fine lines, finer than the Pelikan EF. All five had audible scratching. Butter on teflon, they weren't. Scratchy, yes, they were, about the same as the Pelikan EF, but with thinner lines.

 

I agree that Pelikan QC is spotty; I've gotten some great nibs and also some defective nibs. As for your smooth as butter on teflon Fine Platinum, hang on to it; it is a very special nib!

[Mickey]

If you have strong fingers and strong finger nails, you can push out a Pelikan feed (FROM THE BACK) with your thumbs, otherwise you'll need a knockout block or similar. Probably the easier (and wiser) solution is to send the nib to Chartpak. Part of the reason the nib is scratchy could be because of alignment issues relating directly to the nib not being centered on the feed. Send it in. There is no reason, other than a heavy hand why an EF nib should be scratchy or especially noisy. Properly set up and wielded, an EF can be as smooth as (fill in the simile).

Edited February 27, 2013 by Mickey

[Bo Bo Olson]

You need a once in a life time buy of a good glass with proper coating of a 10-12X loupe. Can be used to look at hallmarks, coins or stamps too.

 

Then you can see if you tines are misaligned. It happens with the best of pens...and even at home with a slight knock.

It can be easily fixed at home...if that is all.

 

Pelikan EF should be smooth; if the pen is held like a fountain pen.

Edited February 28, 2013 by Bo Bo Olson

[Dan P]

Frank C, you kill me....very funny with your teflon pan and butter. Whoever suggested I could knock out or pull out my nib/feed, I think I am glad I did not try that. I am hopefully attaching a photo to this thread showing my Pelikan nib/feed assembly. It sure looks like it screws out to me. I sent my Pelikan to John at Jeb's pen to have a custom made desk top pen holder. I had to send him my pen for this, and he noted the nib/feed assembly not perfectly aligned. He did some research and as a value added service realigned them. I can't seem to add more than one photo to a post, so I'll post again with a photo of the cool pen holder he made me. I haven't gotten it back yet, but I too will get some butter and teflon pen out and compare it to my EF nib. BTW, where does one get 10X-20X loupes? .....I was able to attach more than one photo.....very cool pen holder that I can't wait to use. Dan

[Mickey]

Frank C, you kill me....very funny with your teflon pan and butter. Whoever suggested I could knock out or pull out my nib/feed, I think I am glad I did not try that. I am hopefully attaching a photo to this thread showing my Pelikan nib/feed assembly. It sure looks like it screws out to me.

 

For your future reference, the nib unit does indeed unscrew from the section. To remove the nib from the feed, you need to slide the collar (the metal-banded sleeve) off the back of the feed. Some people use a knockout block; I hook the first two finger nails of both hands over the front of the collar and push the feed out from the rear, pushing with my thumbs. It's a little crowded, as I have large hands, but usually doable, even with the smaller M400 nib units. A good soak or even an ultrasonic bath may be needed for heavily ink-encrusted nib units.

[Dan P]

Frank C, you kill me....very funny with your teflon pan and butter. Whoever suggested I could knock out or pull out my nib/feed, I think I am glad I did not try that. I am hopefully attaching a photo to this thread showing my Pelikan nib/feed assembly. It sure looks like it screws out to me.

 

For your future reference, the nib unit does indeed unscrew from the section. To remove the nib from the feed, you need to slide the collar (the metal-banded sleeve) off the back of the feed. Some people use a knockout block; I hook the first two finger nails of both hands over the front of the collar and push the feed out from the rear, pushing with my thumbs. It's a little crowded, as I have large hands, but usually doable, even with the smaller M400 nib units. A good soak or even an ultrasonic bath may be needed for heavily ink-encrusted nib units.

Micky,

I'm not following you. Does a collar need to be removed before unscrewing? Or are you saying to just unscrew the nib/feed unit and then slide the collar off the feed to allow the nib and feed to be adjusted? Is the metal collar you reference in one of the photos I attached or was it not photographed? Thanks

[Frank C]

BTW, where does one get 10X-20X loupes?

 

Richard Binder sells a nice one. Richardspens.com. I use one made for photography that I purchased at B&H in NYC. It is made by the German company Schneider and is bigger than the gemnological one most people use.

[Mickey]

Micky,

I'm not following you. Does a collar need to be removed before unscrewing? Or are you saying to just unscrew the nib/feed unit and then slide the collar off the feed to allow the nib and feed to be adjusted? Is the metal collar you reference in one of the photos I attached or was it not photographed? Thanks

 

There are three principle parts to the nib unit: the feed, the collar, and the nib, itself. You can see bits of all three components in your first photo. The nib is pretty obvious. It's the big gold pointy thing. The collar is the part with a grey metal rim on one side (the right side in your photo) and plastic threads on the other. It fits around the feed. The feed is the skinny plastic (or ebonite) thing with the fins, which fits inside the collar. The nib is wedged in place (pressure fit) on the feed by the collar.

 

To disassemble a Pelikan nib unit safely, you first unscrew the nib unit from the section, then push the feed out of the collar, either with your fingers as I do or with a nib block, as many others do. Once the nib unit is disassembled, it easy to see how the nib and feed are supposed to be aligned. How deep the nib should be set on the feed is open to interpretation and adjustment, which is why I recommended that you, as a relative newbie, would probably want to get professional help.

 

I hope that clears up the mystery.

 

BTW, I'm not a pen tech or expert repairman. I am, however, willing to service some of my pens, 3 or which are Pelikans.

Edited March 1, 2013 by Mickey

[Mickey]

BTW, where does one get 10X-20X loupes?

 

Richard Binder sells a nice one. Richardspens.com. I use one made for photography that I purchased at B&H in NYC. It is made by the German company Schneider and is bigger than the gemnological one most people use.

 

I've got one of each (a Schneider I bought from B&H many years ago and a BelOMO I bought from Richard, more recently). The Schneider is lovely and $$$, while the BelOMO from Richard is plenty good enough and a bargain at 30 bucks.

[Dan P]

Micky,

I'm not following you. Does a collar need to be removed before unscrewing? Or are you saying to just unscrew the nib/feed unit and then slide the collar off the feed to allow the nib and feed to be adjusted? Is the metal collar you reference in one of the photos I attached or was it not photographed? Thanks

 

There are three principle parts to the nib unit: the feed, the collar, and the nib, itself. You can see bits of all three components in your first photo. The nib is pretty obvious. It's the big gold pointy thing. The collar is the part with a grey metal rim on one side (the right side in your photo) and plastic threads on the other. It fits around the feed. The feed is the skinny plastic (or ebonite) thing with the fins, which fits inside the collar. The nib is wedged in place (pressure fit) on the feed by the collar.

 

To disassemble a Pelikan nib unit safely, you first unscrew the nib unit from the section, then push the feed out of the collar, either with your fingers as I do or with a nib block, as many others do. Once the nib unit is disassembled, it easy to see how the nib and feed are supposed to be aligned. How deep the nib should be set on the feed is open to interpretation and adjustment, which is why I recommended that you, as a relative newbie, would probably want to get professional help.

 

I hope that clears up the mystery.

 

BTW, I'm not a pen tech or expert repairman. I am, however, willing to service some of my pens, 3 or which are Pelikans.

[Dan P]

Spot on answers; thanks Mickey.