Cleaning Level 5's

[katia]

Hello!

 

For reasons I cannot recall, I own 2 Level 5's.

The problem is, we haven't used them for years and they are in desperate need of cleaning to flow well, not to mention I'm just really tired of the Royal Blue.

 

- Has anyone been able to rinse out the ink from these pens? How?

- Has anyone filled those level ink bottles with other ink? What ink and did it flow well?

- Does the nib twist off like other Pelikans?

 

Any comments on care and maintenance of Level 5's would be welcome. I'm really not in love with them, but I always feel guilty when I see them sitting there, no longer usable.

 

Thank you!

Katia

[Russ]

Katia,

 

Level 5's can be cleaned by filling a spare ink bottle with soapy water and flushing the system. If you need a spare bottle, I have one that is no longer used.

 

You can also remove the rear knob by depressing the grey / black retaining pins (using something softer than the plastic), then fill the pen with soapy water and let it drain out through the nib.

 

The nib cannot be threaded out. It slides off the feed. Put a piece of scotch tape on the top of the nib, grasp carefully and firmly, and pull.

 

I learned recently that while Pelikan is still selling remaining Level 5's in stock, they are not providing parts for service center repair. Instead, they are replacing pens with (in my case) Puras.

 

Best wishes. Let us know what happens.

 

R

[katia]

Russ -

 

Thank you for the very detailed instructions - unfortunately, after reading it over and over, I'm still too scared to put my hand on them until I understand your methods completely...

 

In first method completely. If i filled the Level 5 with soapy water, how do I eventually fill it with air to force the water out?

In the 2nd method - do you have suggestions on items "softer than plastic?" I would just hate to force them open or break them.

 

Thanks so much again!

Katia

 

 

Katia,

 

Level 5's can be cleaned by filling a spare ink bottle with soapy water and flushing the system. If you need a spare bottle, I have one that is no longer used.

 

You can also remove the rear knob by depressing the grey / black retaining pins (using something softer than the plastic), then fill the pen with soapy water and let it drain out through the nib.

 

The nib cannot be threaded out. It slides off the feed. Put a piece of scotch tape on the top of the nib, grasp carefully and firmly, and pull.

 

I learned recently that while Pelikan is still selling remaining Level 5's in stock, they are not providing parts for service center repair. Instead, they are replacing pens with (in my case) Puras.

 

Best wishes. Let us know what happens.

 

R

 

[runnjump]

I recently cleaned out my Level I (with an essentially identical filling system) after I used up my last reserves of Parker Penman. Despite all the controversy over Penman, it was the perfect match for my Level I with its generous flow.

 

I used a similar method to the one described above, but I used plain water instead of soapy. The tricky part is getting the feed nice and clean--because of the valves, it's not so easy to flush water thru there. If I used soap, I'm not sure I'd ever get all the soap out of the feed.

 

I basically fill the ink bottle with clean water and fill up the pen. I turn the knob to let the lower chamber fill with water as well. Then I let the bottom of the pen soak in water so that the feed has clean water both above and below it. I let the pen soak for several hours at least, then I use the bottle to suck the water out (including the water in the lower chamber). I repeat several times until I'm satisfied that most of the ink has been washed away. Make sure to do all this over a sink. All the filling and emptying creates pressure differences in the pen, and when you turn the knob, air can rush through the valves and spit out inky water. I've also used a blunt tip medical syringe in place of the ink bottle.

 

I would guess that if you remove the rear knob, you could flush water through and clean everything much more quickly. But I've never removed that knob, so i can't vouch for that method.

[Dvir]

If you are interested in finding a new home for one or both of the Level 5's, please let me know.

[icedmocha]

How-to: Pelikan Level 5 Disassembly Guide w/Photos

 

 

Note: I started this as a result of trying to clean a Pelikan Level 5 we had lying around. It was a few years old, and somehow resisted several attempts to clean it using the usual methods (e.g., soaking). Credit goes to Russ and runnjump for the majority of the instructions (above) - I added a few details that I noticed as I went along.

 

Caveats: These instructions worked for me, insofar as the disassembly went. I had a mishap re-assembling the pen, which I've shared below - hopefully that won't happen to you.

 

Suggested tools:

 

- scotch tape (1/2 inch piece will do)

- toothpick

- paper towel(s)

- glass of cool water

 

 

 

Steps:

 

Before you begin, if you've been soaking your Level 5 to no avail, dry off the pen - at least the nib.

 

Assuming you're over a sink...

 

1. Apply the scotch tape to the metal side of the nib. The nib is wedged in with the feed and the surface is really smooth, so the tape increases your grip as you perform step #2.

 

2. Grasping the nib carefully and firmly, and pull. Set aside, or just place into the glass of water.

 

3. Here's the fun part. Break the toothpick in two, and remove the rear knob by depressing the grey / black retaining pins with the wider-end of one of the toothpick pieces. You'll need to do each side separately. My pen's rear knob was a bit stiff and tricky - be careful.

 

4. To get water or the water/ammonia solution into the lower chamber, you'll need to put some water into the upper chamber and then depress the plunger that runs up the main chamber. Do this a few times and most, if not all, the air in the lower chamber will be replaced with water. You'll need something smaller than the barrel diameter to push the plunger; the toothpick helped here too.

 

 

When re-assembling, play close attention to the orientation of the plunger. From head-on, the knob looks like a cross but it's actually "keyed" - it only fits into the rear knob in 2 out of the 4 possible positions. Take a look at the attached picture carefully! I didn't realize this, and had to remove my rear knob a 2nd time. Doing so somehow compromised the knob's seal such that ink would leak out of the BACK of the pen. Not good.

[edust1958]

Icedmocha:

A question for you... on the pictures it shows the feed removed from the body of the Level 5. Do you need to disassemble the filling system in order to remove the feed? I have a Level 5 that has poor ink flow from the writing reservoir to the feed and nib. I have the nib off but can't seem to get the feed out to see if there is a problem there. How does it come out? Twist? (lefty-loosey?) or friction-fit (pull with sufficient force)?

Edited August 10, 2014 by edust1958

[TorPelikan]

I believe it's a friction-fit.

 

I hope copmlete cleaning of the nib and feed will improve the ink flow.

To clean the barrel without disassembling, see this thread.

 

 

Tor

[edust1958]

Yes. I can confirm it is a friction-fit but I managed to mis-re-assemble it and broke the feed off in the barrel. This pen was more hassle than it was worth in terms of looking interesting. Trash now...

[kernando]

No, now it's spare parts for when someone breaks a part other than the feed. Or somebody else who breaks something other than the feed has a feed for you.