Parker 51 Vacumatic Writing Dry

[coinlvr]

Hello, I recently purchased on the eBay, a Parker 51 vacumatic from 1945 American made. I soaked it, cleaned it up and it fills properly. It writes well in the beginning a nice slightly wet fine line. However, after about 3 or 4 minutes of writing the pen starts writing extremely dry. I mean the ink barley comes out. When I squeeze the filler, the ink flows normally. I need your advice on how to fix this issue. Do I need to open the hood and see what is going on? Please advise or should I send it for restoration to an expert. It feels well and does not leak. Thanks.

[mitto]

Seems the collector is still cloged with dry ink.

[coinlvr]

Thank you. I will indeed try to take the hood off this weekend. Will Rapido eze work on the collector?

[CraigR]

Sounds like it may need further cleaning.

[ac12]

Thank you. I will indeed try to take the hood off this weekend. Will Rapido eze work on the collector?

 

Unless you know what you are doing, I would not remove the hood.

It can be a pain to put back and align the nib.

 

Plain tap water will clean the collector just fine.

 

How long did you clean the pen?

I have had old 51s that took DAYS of soaking and cleaning (3x a day) to clean out the old ink.

The 51s collector is very hard to clean without disassembly, which I do NOT do unless I really have to.

 

If the 51 vac has never been serviced, I strongly recommend that you have the diaphram replaced. It may fail tomorrow or next week, or next month. And when it fails, you will have a mess in your pocket.

My SOP is, when in doubt, replace. Better safe than sorry.

 

Bring it to the next SF Pen Posse (in 2 weeks), and someone can take it in to replace the diaphram and clean the pen.

[Glenn-SC]

I have NEVER had a Vac diaphragm fail suddenly or dramatically.

I have had them fail, noticed when I tried to fill the pen, but never once filled.

 

There is no stress on the diaphragm when it is not being used to pump ink, it just sits there acting as a barrier.

 

But to each their own opinion.

[coinlvr]

Hello All, I have soaked it as recommended for 48 hours in a room temperature cool tap water. Ink has stopped coming out and the water is running clean. I filled it but again the same problem. Do you think that the problem is with potential lack of a breather tube? I will take it to the PPPC meeting this weekend in Berkeley and see where it goes. What a pity. I am in love with its patina, scratches and its wonderful yet dry nib.

[ac12]

At the PPPC, ask for Todd.

[coinlvr]

Thank you. Will be there tomorrow at Berkeley public. I know Todd. I will check with him.