Do Pelikans leak?

[fqgouvea]

I just filled one of my Pelikans, an older one I bought from piscov. I wrote a couple of test lines, then put it in my shirt pocket. Some ten minutes later, I picked it up and found a lot of ink in the cap and on the section. (To make things worse, I posted the cap, so there was ink on the he piston knob too.

I’m very new at this game, especially when it comes to vintage pens. Where should I direct my suspicions?

[Stickler]

Is the nib assembly screwed in tightly??

[AzJon]

Maybe you should contact PiscoV and ask him directly about what your next steps are...

[AzJon]

More directly: There is a sleeve that holds the nib to the feed and allows it to screw into the section. Could be that the sleeve is cracked or possibly seated poorly. Unscrewing the unit isn't usually a big deal to check.

[fqgouvea]

Is the nib assembly screwed in tightly??

Good question. Perhaps not. I just tightened it even more.

[wingwiper]

None of my new or vintage Pelikan’s leak or have ever leaked.
Advice on tightening the nib assembly is my bet as well- you can always apply a little silicone to the threads, but if it continues to leak after tightening possibly the section has a hairline as well?
Great purchase......my favorite European FP hands down........


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[carlos.q]

Is the nib assembly screwed in tightly??

Good question. Perhaps not. I just tightened it even more.

Did it work?

[fqgouvea]

Is the nib assembly screwed in tightly??

Good question. Perhaps not. I just tightened it even more.

Did it work?

Yes, I think it did. I waited a couple of days to see if there was a leak. So far, no. I think Stickler called that one.
Thanks to all!

[fountainpenkid]

Glad to hear you've worked it out. Postwar Pelikans in my experience (with the 400 and P1 mainly) are some of the most reliable and leak/burp-resistant pens I've used.

[fqgouvea]

This 400 is generally excellent. The only downside is that it is an expert unscrewer. When I clip it on my shirt pocket it doesn’t reach the bottom of the pocket. The day wears on and as it dangles there the cap is slowly unscrewing itself. If I don’t notice, when night comes there’s this big splotch of ink on the shirt... Frustrates my wife, kills the shirt.
I hear some of these older 400s have a device meant to keep this from happening. Would be nice!


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[jar]

This 400 is generally excellent. The only downside is that it is an expert unscrewer. When I clip it on my shirt pocket it doesn’t reach the bottom of the pocket. The day wears on and as it dangles there the cap is slowly unscrewing itself. If I don’t notice, when night comes there’s this big splotch of ink on the shirt... Frustrates my wife, kills the shirt.
I hear some of these older 400s have a device meant to keep this from happening. Would be nice!


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That was a common issue with all Pelikans not just the 400. The device is a sleeve or pocket protector or buy shirts whose pockets match the length of the pen.

[fqgouvea]

This 400 is generally excellent. The only downside is that it is an expert unscrewer. When I clip it on my shirt pocket it doesn’t reach the bottom of the pocket. The day wears on and as it dangles there the cap is slowly unscrewing itself. If I don’t notice, when night comes there’s this big splotch of ink on the shirt... Frustrates my wife, kills the shirt.
I hear some of these older 400s have a device meant to keep this from happening. Would be nice!

That was a common issue with all Pelikans not just the 400. The device is a sleeve or pocket protector or buy shirts whose pockets match the length of the pen.

Or, of course, buy pens that are longer to match the shirts. I like buying pens...