How Is It Supposed To Fill?

[R.D. Herring]

I recently bought a Sheaffer Balance with a vacuum fill mechanism. When I went to clean it, I realized that there was ink caked on the feed and set about cleaning it. During that process, I noticed that the only way the pen would fill was in the up-stroke.

 

This is my first vac fill fountain pen, so I am not well acquainted with how they're supposed to work. But, from what I know of modern vac fillers, they fill by the release of the vacuum made while pushing the plunger down. Is this a common problem with these pens? If so, is there a simple fix?

[jar]

It fills on the downstroke not the upstroke. But the Sheaffer plunger fill is not one I recommend as a DIY project. I'd contact Gerry Berg, Ron Zorn or Sherryl Tyree.

[ANM]

Your pen may have filled on the up-stroke because the plunger seal was intact. If the seal at the back end of the pen is not working, there won't be a vacuum to fill the pen after the end of the down stroke.

[Garageboy]

Did you buy it restored? If not, chances are slim it's working

It's a vac fill, because it generates a vacuum on the downstroke, which at the end of the stroke is released, sucking in ink