Why Lamy Dialog 3 Nib Is Never Aligned - Buyer Beware?

[oYwipd]

I have two Lamy Dialog 3 pens, and in neither does the nib align with the clip on the cap. This means I cannot hold the pen naturally: one of my fingers is always crushed agains the clip just to get the nib to be flat on the page.

 

I think I have figured out why.

 

Attached are these images:

1. Pen #1 and its nib slightly misaligned with the cap's clip.

2. Pen #2 with the nib from pen #1: the nib is totally out of alignment.

3. A picture of two crimp marks on the nib's barrel, and my proposed explanation of how Lamy (fails to) align each nib uniquely with its cap.

 

As I write in the third image: I think Lamy's process to align a nib with a cap involves the following steps:

 

1. Insert a nib into a barrel, in which the nib can rotate freely.

2. Screw that barrel into a cap.

3. Twist the cap to extrude the nib completely.

4. Rotate the nib in it's barrel until the nib aligns with the cap's clip.

5. Crimp the nib's barrel, locking the nib into position inside its barrel forever.

6. Twist the cap to retract the nib

7. Ship the pen

 

If I'm right, it means Lamy has poor quality control in step 4: neither of my two pens is properly aligned.

It also means that every Lamy Dialog 3 has a nib that is uniquely (mis-)aligned, and that there is no way to fix the problem: you can never re-align a misaligned nib.

 

In short, buyer beware.

[sketchstack]

I am not an expert on this pen, however I did recently receive a brand new one and it has no 'kink' as shown in your pictures.

 

While only a hypothesis, I think the machined precision of this pen would mean nothing is set by hand. Especially for a pen that sells for $300. If anything I'd suspect that the faulty pen was mangled by someone trying to repair it or something along those lines. Makes sense that someone wanted to remove the feed / nib and therefore gripped it with pliers or in a vice.

 

Was the pen brand new from an authorized dealer? If so then I'd say you should return it or send to Lamy for repair.

 

One thing to keep in mind is apparently there are two generations of this model. Mine is second generation. Maybe the first generation was built differently and my experience is not applicable to yours. (I believe the first generation has no ink window in the internal mental sleeve so you can't see the ink level when the pen is disassembled. )

 

Best of luck...

[SpecTP]

interesting.. my lamy dialogue 3 also has the same crimp marks. however, my nib is aligned perfectly with the clip.

[dapprman]

Mine does not have them and aligns fine, however as I leave it in a pocket attached to e Midori Passport Journal, it does get knocked around and that does result in it occasionally unscrewing itself internally, so when I open the nib out it's misaligned as yours. Does not do this much and I normally know in advance as it's been bouncing around in my pocket/bag.

[oYwipd]

This is all really interesting feedback. Other things I've discovered:

 

1. My other Lamy also does not have the crimp marks.

2. This official announcement pdf from Lamy, http://www.lamy.com/microsites/dialog3/downloads/LAMY_dialog_3_TheNextGeneration_ENG.pdf, says:

 

The nib assembly for each and every Lamy dialog 3 is precisely hand-calibrated so that the nib and clip are in perfect alignment. This ensures that the core of every fountain pen is exactly adjusted to its body, combining individuality with the highest possible degree of technical perfection.

 

​3. I don't think I have a second generation pen, because neither of my pens has the "indicator window" of the second generation that sketchstack@ referred to. Again from the pdf:

 

One handy detail: An indicator window in the pen’s body now facilitates an easy checking of the ink level in the cartridge or converter.

 

I bought the second pen from gouletpens about a week ago. I am going to try to return it for a second generation one. I'll update if I find more info.

[oYwipd]

Oops: I _do_ have second generation pens: it's the inner sleeve that has the window, as shackstack@ (and not the Lamy pdf) say. Here's a picture I found of a first generation without the window: <<< link deleted, picture not available any more (Photobucket) >>>

Edited August 7, 2017 by RMN
link deleted.

[watch_art]

Send them back to Lamy - they'll take care of you. Excellent customer service.

You'll get two brand new pens back.

[FOUR X FOUR]

Send them back to Lamy - they'll take care of you. Excellent customer service.

You'll get two brand new pens back.

Thank you, that's good to know. I have 2 D3s and my nibs are also out of whack. They were just fine and now for some reason they don't line up properly. I'll go ahead and contact Lamy USA and get this squared away. Oddly enough, I have a similar problem with my Visconti carbon graphite.

I need to stop being lazy and send it to Coles of London.

Allan😀😀

[sketchstack]

Glad we're all sharing information as I am very impressed with my Dialog 3 and immediately began dreaming of a second one --but now I'll be a little more cautious so I don't end up with a problematic one (esp. on the used market ....)

Edited July 17, 2017 by sketchstack

[watch_art]

Even on the used market Lamy will still take care of any problems. I got mine in a trade and they gave me a new one when I sent it in.

[sketchstack]

Even on the used market Lamy will still take care of any problems. I got mine in a trade and they gave me a new one when I sent it in.

 

That's also very useful information. Now ...if only there were obliques available in the US.

Edited July 17, 2017 by sketchstack

[4lex]

I had first generation Dialog 3 and I sold it as due to design fault I couldnt see the ink level in the converter. With the second generation this was corrected with ink windows and I purchased it again as I think it is otherwise a good pen.

 

On my second generation Dialog 3 nib and feed are out of centre in relation to the nib. I too have to adjust my grip accordingly. I am a bit surprised by this as otherwise Lamy has better QC then all other European pen manufacturers.

[dapprman]

I had first generation Dialog 3 and I sold it as due to design fault I couldnt see the ink level in the converter. With the second generation this was corrected with ink windows and I purchased it again as I think it is otherwise a good pen.

 

On my second generation Dialog 3 nib and feed are out of centre in relation to the nib. I too have to adjust my grip accordingly. I am a bit surprised by this as otherwise Lamy has better QC then all other European pen manufacturers.

You've probably already done this, but try removing the inner nib section and flushing the top part in case there's some duct blocking a thread. If still a problem, contact Lamy via their website and they'll fix it for you - only cost will be a recorded delivery to the factory (between £7 and £8).

[Ron Z]

This came up several years ago, and I asked their repair guy about it. From what he told me, I would guess that the nib units are not in their original pens.

 

Because the nib assembly screws into the barrel, the nib units are aligned for the specific pen, and then "staked" to hold the nib in position, hence the marks you see. If someone changes the nib units between pens, the nib likely will not be in the proper position relative to the clip. It is possible to change the nib itself without sending it back because they will slide off of the feed. But the pen has to go to Lamy service to change the entire nib unit.

[4lex]

This came up several years ago, and I asked their repair guy about it. From what he told me, I would guess that the nib units are not in their original pens.

 

Because the nib assembly screws into the barrel, the nib units are aligned for the specific pen, and then "staked" to hold the nib in position, hence the marks you see. If someone changes the nib units between pens, the nib likely will not be in the proper position relative to the clip. It is possible to change the nib itself without sending it back becausethey will slide off of the feed. But the pen has to go to Lamy service to change the entire nib unit.

You've probably already done this, but try removing the inner nib section and flushing the top part in case there's some duct blocking a thread. If still a problem, contact Lamy via their website and they'll fix it for you - only cost will be a rtecorded delivery to the factory (between £7 and £8).

Thanks that’s a great idea. I will contact Lamy directly.

[Calabria]

I'm glad that my nib aligns perfectly and hope it stays that way. Thanks Ron Z for the input.

 

I like the pen precisely for its combination of new mechanics and old-fashioned craftsmanship. My nib is extremely well made unlike those of more "traditional" looking pens. When I unpacked it, there were also ink colored fibers caught in the tines from the person who checked it before it left the factory. The fact that every nib unit has to be hand aligned is charming, given the futuristic look.

 

Finally, the fact that Lamy fixed some earlier design flaws is reasssuring. They need to do that for the Aion and its rattling cap, too (a longer cap sleeve would probably fix the problem - Heidelberg?)