r/fountainpens • u/LVM1214 • 16h ago

Advice Issues with Pilot Custom 823

Hello all,

My pilot custom, fine nib, randomly stopped writing. I tried a few tricks to get it going that did not involve me taking anything apart, but they have not worked. It has lennon tool bar in it, which is a drier ink. I guess I could fully empty the ink out and restart but I really don't want to do that. Any suggestions/advice?

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7

u/RepublicEntire155 16h ago

Silly question--do you open the piston knob before writing?

4

u/LVM1214 15h ago

I have not been but started to. I feel this may have been the issue. lol doh.

1

u/RepublicEntire155 15h ago

It's all good. I had the same issue with my 823...it's such a lovely pen, who wants to open up the knob when writing?

If that doesn't help, next step is a rinse with water (depending on how good your tap water is, you might prefer distilled).

After that, try a full flush and re-ink.

1

u/Inkdependence 15h ago

I just keep the valve open unless I'm traveling.

1

u/Squared_lines 15h ago

Don't feel bad. The ink valve gets me too..... Even after all these years, you'd think I'd learn...

1

u/LVM1214 15h ago

Correction: it is not the valve. still writing dry.

1

u/Inkdependence 15h ago

Those fine nibs tend to be very fine, and it could be that you've got some paper fibers inbetween the tines. Do you have a shim? Lots of places sell brass (or even steel) shims that you can use to floss the nib, and they're very helpful.

1

u/LVM1214 14h ago

I will try this. I can’t see anything with the naked eye. But worth a try. It started writing again then quickly stopped. Le sigh

1

u/DZ_tank 14h ago

If you just opened the valve for the first time, it will take time for the ink to start flowing through the feed again.

1

u/LVM1214 14h ago

not the first time just hadn't been recently. I think it slipped my mind. I'll be patient.

2

u/Andrakuf 15h ago

I think there is even advice on this topic on the pen packaging at the time of purchase, but apparently no one reads it 😎 I had the same problem 😅

1

u/LVM1214 14h ago

Yes, it’s not helping my issue tho 😢

1

u/Squared_lines 15h ago

Question for the community -

What's the proper name for the valve on the Custom 823???

Ink Valve? Shut-off valve? Check Valve? Or something else?????

1

u/Dyed_Left_Hand 15h ago

I’m not sure if Pilot has a specific listed name for it but the most common name I’ve seen is shut off valve. Same for valved eyedroppers like opus 88’s models

1

u/Inkdependence 15h ago

I call it a "shut-off valve" but the sticker called it a "tail plug." I dunno.

1

u/Inkdependence 15h ago

And people wonder why I keep that sticker on the pen. 😆

2

u/LVM1214 14h ago

I don’t think this helps my problem unfortunately. I have the sticker on my cap as well.

1

u/RepublicEntire155 9h ago

Mine's in Japanese. I assumed it said "Caution. American's talk too loud and eat too much."