1980s OMAS flow issues

[guyy]

I’ve had the same problem with both of my 1980s OMAS 557/f pens: ink doesn’t flow consistently to the nib even with a full load of the most benign of inks (e.g., Waterman Whatever They Call It Now Blue). I have to crank the piston down to get some ink in the feed. The pen will write ok for a while, then it will run dry again and i’ll have to repeat the process. I’ve tried repeated cleanings without improvement. I barely use the pens because they’re such a bother.

I’m looking for suggestions on how to improve the flow. My conjecture is that the wedge shaped channel in the feed isn’t sufficient to get air up and ink down.

[fountainpenkid]

This was happening with my Montblanc safety when I first received it...had Brad Torelli take a look at it and found it was a feed set issue. Try addressing it that way first; I would be surprised if the channel was improperly cut...

[guyy]

What sort of feed set issue?

[fountainpenkid]

What sort of feed set issue?

The the main feed channel was not fully contacting the nib throughout its length, as I understood it.

[fountainpenkid]

I’m looking for suggestions on how to improve the flow.

Is the feed made of ebonite? If so, try heat-setting (submerging the nib and feed into near-boiling water for a minute to make the ebonite pliable while hot, then reshape it by pressing it tightly against the underside of the nib for the entire length of the contact surface between them until it cools sufficiently) the feed.

This is one way, but it could leave the ebonite discolored. If you have it, a heat gun would be better considering the value of the pen. Both techniques might require practice.

[dneal]

I found this to be most common the closer you get to their move to Bock nibs. I've solved it by cleaning the ink channel of any cutting residue, heat-setting the nib, and adjusting the nib. Any of these things can go horribly wrong, and are better left to experts that can do it for a nominal fee.

[guyy]

Thanks for the suggestions. One of the pens was in for a nib collar replacement so presumably it was set properly, but then again, you never know.