I have a Waterman Carene with a medium NIB and it comes with a cartridge converter/refiller system. I use Sailor Kiwa-Guro Black ink and find that I have to unscrew the barrel so I can advance the plunger when the tip starts running dry. Is this normal operation or should the ink flow to almost empty without any user intervention?

Also, I find that when refilling the converter dipping the NIB and drawing the ink doesn't work all that well and I usually put the converter right into the well to fill it. Next, I insert the converter and advance it until a drop of ink comes out the NIB. Is that acceptable method to fill the converter?

You should be able to run the converter until dry without the manual manipulation you are describing. Is it possible you are getting air bubbles in there that are affecting the ink flow?

As to the second question, are you putting the nib all the way in to the ink bottle (i.e. actually immersing it all the way up to the pen body) when you are trying to fill it up? If you are only immersing the tip of the nib that could cause the issue you are describing.

I don't quite understand the problem except that when it's not quite empty, you have to do something to make the ink flow.

Have you tried a maintenance that I do from time to time? I get a paper cup or regular cup and fill it with water. Then I draw in and push out the water with my fountain pen several times. Then I do the draw in and push out until what comes out is clear water. Then I fill it with water, let it soak for several minutes. Then repeat the flushing until clear water comes out.

Then I let it dry out before filling it again.

I'm thinking you just have dry ink caking up the fountain pen.

You should be able to get almost all of the ink out without "pumping" it out.

Try the things Palm and Rey HRH suggest. A good cleaning may be in order. If it is really dirty, soaking the nib unit in dilute ammonia for a short time may help, but rinse it very well after. Try that only if it seems dirty after trying plain water. Don't put ammonia in the converter.

Thanks for the replies guys. I've cleaned it by running water through it until it came out clear then blowing compressed air through it. I've tried dunking the entire NIB in ink but if you've seen the Waterman Carene design it feels weird having to wipe off areas where you would hold the pen.

I'll give your suggestions a shot and see how it goes. Thanks again.