Cross fountain pen leaks on frame

[Leam]

Hey all, my first post. I could use some help.

 

A few years ago my wife bought me a cool Cross fountain pen and a leather backed journal. I'm on the fourth or fifth journal refill, and until today the pen was going strong. For the past few days the lines have been blotchy, so yesterday I took the pen apart and soaked it in water. Note that I don't know what I'm doing, so "took apart" and "put back together" are iffy. This morning the pen wrote well, but the larger ring at the nib end of the frame leaks ink where it joins the rest of the frame. My apologies for not knowing the model name, I couldn't find it on the Cross website.

 

I'm not sure if I messed up something while trying to take it apart, or if it's just normal age wear and there's nothing I can do to fix this. Suggestions? The pen writes, but I wind up with an ink stain on my index finger.

 

Thanks!

 

Leam

[DvdRiet]

Hi Leam,

Welcome to FPN! I'm not familiar with the model of Cross either, but I've had something similar happen on other pens (for different reasons). Are you using it with a cartridge or a converter? One of the easiest to fix reasons this can happen is a leaky cartridge or converter. They don't get pushed in all the way, for instance. Or the converter lip has split from age/use and it's time to get a new one. If the ink is escaping the cartridge/converter and going down along the outside of the nipple instead of the inside, it will fill the inside of the section (the part you grip) and eventually seep down through any space it can find to the collar. And then it seeps through the seam and onto your fingers.

 

This is the easiest and quickest fix for this problem. Another one I had was on a secondhand pen where one of the metal  collars was loose and had been put on upside down after cleaning by it's previous owner. They didn't fit together properly and the tiny crack that it left allowed ink to escape the feed and onto my fingers. (Another easy fix - once you've found it!  )

 

Hope any of this helps! If the above doesn't solve the problem, then you might need to use a magnifying glass to check all the parts for cracks.

 

Good luck!

[Leam]

Thanks for the wisdom! I cleaned the pen out, put in a totally fresh cartridge, and it still leaks ink around that section. Looks like I need a new pen, or to figure out how to disassemble the one I have and fix whatever seal broke. For the record, the Cross pen has done well. The seal issue is probably my fault.

 

Addendum  I sent Cross a note, and a link to this thread since it has the picture. They may cover it as a warranty thing, but if they don't, I'm not worried. We'll see how it goes.

Edited June 17, 2022 by Leam
Added addendum

[Leam]

Follow up, the replacement Cross Pen came int today, yay! Now I have two fountain pens.

 

[Waltz For Zizi]

21 hours ago, Leam said:

Follow up, the replacement Cross Pen came int today, yay! Now I have two fountain pens.

 

Im glad to hear that. So what model is it?

[Leam]

On 11/11/2022 at 2:02 PM, Waltz For Zizi said:

Im glad to hear that. So what model is it?

Honestly, I have no idea. Probably whatever office stores sell, my wife got it for me for Christmas several years ago.

[Waltz For Zizi]

7 hours ago, Leam said:

Honestly, I have no idea. Probably whatever office stores sell, my wife got it for me for Christmas several years ago.

Thanks! I thought the replacement one might have come in a labeled box.

[doriath19]

Glad your issue was resolved! Also glad you found this site! If you ever need advice on what pens or inks or paper to buy there are plenty of enablers here ready to help 😆

[Leam]

On 11/14/2022 at 2:35 AM, Waltz For Zizi said:

Thanks! I thought the replacement one might have come in a labeled box.

Nope, in a padded mailer bag.      For the record, I'm pleased with Cross. The replacement took a while, but no hassle.