Problem On Sheaffer Taranis

[Marcel Hanardi]

Hello from Jakarta,

 

It's great that I could find this great forum for fountain pen where I could learn so much form many people. I just have this hobby recently and really interested in fountain pen (Actually, I've already liked fountain pen for quite a long time but only considering to start collecting it recently). So I've bought my first fountain pen, the Sheaffer Taranis. It came with the converter but I decided to buy the cartridges also. First I tried to use the cartridges because it was more practical than filling up the converter, considering I've never use one. After a few days I started to like the pen and found it worked well. Then a few days ago I tried to use the converter for the first time, it was unique for me. The first time I tried to fill up the converter I found a problem right away, it won't suck the ink from the bottle! I thought there might be some air inside, so I tried to do it many times to push the air out, yet still nothing happened. Then I tried a different way which I dipped the converter directly to bottle to fill it, and it worked. I put it to the pen and started using it. For some time it worked well then it stopped writing. I thought I was running out of ink (which is impossible because I just inked it up). I opened the barrel and saw it still had a lot of ink inside, so I turned the piston a little bit just to push the ink down, then the pen started to write again. But after using it for some writing, the same thing happened again. I don't know what's wrong with it.

 

So my questions are:
1. Is it normal for a converter to behave so or it's just me being picky?

2. Do I have to push the piston each time to draw the ink out? it's really a bother for me because I have pushed the piston about 2-3x in 30 minutes of writing (not 30 minutes of non-stop writing).

3. Shouldn't I be able to draw the ink from the bottle with the converter attached to the grip section? or is there some type of converter which I have to put the converter directly to the bottle if I want to draw the ink out of it?

 

Thanks!

[sexauerw]

Brand new converters are frequently balky. Empty it, rinse it out, then fill it with water that has a little dish detergent in it. Empty it and refill it with the detergent solution three or four times, then empty and refill with plain water or distilled water three or four times. This will clean out the converter and remove any oils left over from the manufacturing process. Now you can fill it with ink and try again. You should have much better luck this time.

 

Cheers,

Bill

[pulsar150_dtsi]

I think there is some problem in the feed.......as I have also encountered same problem in some pens that I own.

You should contact a nibmeister ..........who will fix the problem.

[Marcel Hanardi]

To sexauerw: Thanks for the info!

 

To pulsar150_dtsi: Well there is no nibmeister, I guess, in place where I live or even in my country hahaha but I've noticed that the feed is not align properly. It looks like it's turned a little bit to the left. Could I disassemble the feed on this pen?

[RMN]

I'm not sure what a nibmeister can do with the tiny nib on the Taranis.

 

 

What I find strange is that the cartridge fits, and works, and the converter does not.

 

Apparently even does not take in ink.

 

So the question is: are you using the proper (Sheaffer) converter, and has it been placed properly? Sometimes with a new pen converters need a good push, after using it a while the fit becomes more loose.

 

The problems Bill is talking about should only occur after writing for about half a page, and are possible with most hardplastic converters.

 

D.ick

[perth]

I had this problem with my Sheaffer Targa. I left the nib section and converter in some water and soap overnight and the problem was fixed.

[Ernst Bitterman]

It sounds to me like one of three possibilities:

 

1) unwilling converter, as Bill suggests. I don't find Sheaffer converters to be regular offenders in this way. This leads to...

2) wrong converter-- if this isn't the converter that came with the pen, and it's not made for the proprietary Sheaffer set-up, it's unlikely to feed properly, and that takes us to...

3) converter not seated properly. Even if it is a Sheaffer converter, if it's not settled properly on its nipple, it won't deliver ink to the pen. Apart from being the wrong brand of converter, this can also happen if there's a deformity in the pen (unlikely, if cartridges are seating properly) or in the converter, or to the user not using quite enough force to shove it home (and I'll never fault someone for NOT using force on a pen!). With the converter in its collar but not on the nipple, working down the piston would fill the space around the piston and fill up the feed. That would give enough ink to write a few pages, but once that little space was emptied of ink again the force-filling would have to be repeated.

 

Also:

 

3. Shouldn't I be able to draw the ink from the bottle with the converter attached to the grip section? or is there some type of converter which I have to put the converter directly to the bottle if I want to draw the ink out of it?

 

 

You should be able to draw ink through the section. If that's not working, I take it as a grain of evidence for possibility #3.

Edited January 31, 2014 by Ernst Bitterman

[Marcel Hanardi]

Thank you very much for all the replies! Really appreciate it

 

I don't think I have the wrong converter since it came with the pen. I also don't think that I didn't put the converter properly because I have pushed it quite securely (I guess. I'll try to give more push later!). I also notice that the nipple on the pen has a very narrow opening, it looks like it's been cloaked by black hard plastic from the cartridge (?) is it possible or it is normal? I don't know if this could happen, but the ink flow is just fine so I think the nipple is okay.

[specimen]

I buy the same one as you and face the same problem. When I check I found that the converter and cartridge cannot tit to the pen. I can loose when you invert the pen.

I return to the shop and they replace the new pen and new converter to me. It's defect.

 

I still face the problem with converter with Sheaffer Intensity. It cannot aspirate the ink in to converter. They replace the converter for me.

 

Today I go to the same department store, they tell me that they already report my issue to the company.

 

I have the issue from 2 of 3 converter I buy within one week.

[kpyeoman]

Hmm...I know the sample size has been rather low, but I have yet to hear a positive review about the Tanaris outside of its looks...

[RMN]

Well, my first try was positive. As I had several new pens at the time I only used it for one cartridge, so I don't know how the pen will hold up in the daily office battles, but first impression was good.

 

D.ick

[Gareth2300]

I've had exactly the same problems with my Taranis, which is a shame as its a great writer when its working. Does anyone know how to remove the nib?

[Steven]

Return the pen for a new one. You should not be haveing these problems.

[OcalaFlGuy]

I agree.

 

It sounds like a potential systemic issue.

 

The best quickest way IMO to get Sheaffer's attention is for their vendors to start returning returned pens. I would insist on a properly operating pen

vs a refund, I think that impacts the bottom line more and is more likely to get Sheaffer's attention faster.

 

Bruce in Ocala, Fl

[Lyander0012]

The Taranis, which I devoted quite a lot of my time to getting to write well, is the problem child of my collection (vintage pens that have been neglected for years aside). Initially, it was a great daily workhorse, but now I can't get the bloody thing to even write without using excessive force.

 

I get the feeling that a lot of these problems could be bypassed if the nib and section unit could be dismantled, but from the looks of things, they're practically soldered together. Has anyone yet managed to take this area apart? If so, please share with everyone how you managed to do so (and run the risk of receiving effusive thanks).

 

Cheers!

Kevin

[snewman]

I know this is an old post but I can across it when I was having issues with my Taranis and wanted to leave what helped me somewhere.

 

I was having a similar ink flow issue with my Taranis (Another Stormy Night, such an apt name). In the words of Lyander0012 it was the problem child of my collection but when it would write the fine I have is practically an extra fine and exactly what I was looking for. To sum up my issue, it would write for about half a page and then I would need to re-prime by twisting the converter a few turns. At which point it would write flawlessly for about half a page and then ink flow would die off.

 

I had tried flushing it (as I do with all my new pens) as well as trying to floss the tines and nothing seemed to work. After a few disparaging remarks from another enthusiast regarding the calibre/worthiness of this pen I had had enough. I flushed it with a bulb syringe and soapy water to within an inch of its life and then replaced the converter that came with it with a converter from one of my older (relatively speaking lets say a 5 year old converter?) Scheaffers. I filled it up with J. Herbin Perle Noire (I had been using Waterman Black) and low and behold it works flawlessly.

 

That was all about a week (about half a converter worth of ink) ago and it is still writing wonderfully with perfect ink flow.

 

Unfortunately I was not very scientific, changing too many variables at once, so I cannot say with certainty what exactly fixed the problem. That being said based on other responses here and elsewhere regarding the newer Scheaffer converters that is my first suspect.

 

I hope this helps someone else fighting to fix their Taranis.

[HBlaine]

Totally off the immediate subject,and of no help with the problem at all, but...

 

Why, every time I see the name "Taranis", do I expect to see the word "Darth" preceding it?

 

(Ducking for cover now...)

[mitto]

(Ducking for cover now...)

Why? You afraid of the 'Dark' or what? Lol.

[snewman]

Totally off the immediate subject,and of no help with the problem at all, but...

 

Why, every time I see the name "Taranis", do I expect to see the word "Darth" preceding it?

 

(Ducking for cover now...)

I am not entirely sure if you are being sarcastic but I will bite. It may be because Count Dooku in the latest Star Wars movies is Darth Tyranus.

[HBlaine]

Why? You afraid of the 'Dark' or what? Lol

 

Me???

 

Edited March 27, 2016 by HBlaine