The dial has stuck
Four causes, in order of likelihood: the cartridge is empty, the cartridge is not seated properly, you are trying to dial past the pen's maximum, or liquid has got into the mechanism. The first three take seconds to check and cover almost every case.
Work through it in this order
Is the cartridge empty?
Most pens will not dial a dose bigger than the liquid remaining. Hold it up to the light. If the plunger is at the far end, that is your answer and the pen is working exactly as designed.
Is the cartridge seated?
Unscrew the holder, reseat the cartridge, screw it back on until firm. A cartridge sitting slightly proud jams the rod against the plunger and everything locks up.
Are you over the maximum?
Sixty units on the V2, eighty on the V1. The dial stops dead at the limit. That is a hard stop, not a fault.
Has liquid got inside?
If the clicks feel gritty rather than blocked, residue has dried in the thread. You cannot fix this one at home.
What not to do
- Do not force it. The internal thread is fine and will strip.
- Do not use pliers on the dial.
- Do not spray anything into the mechanism to free it.
- Do not dismantle it. It does not go back together.
A pen that stops dead is usually protecting you: it is refusing to promise a dose it cannot deliver. Empty cartridge and bad seating together account for the overwhelming majority of stuck dials.
If it really is faulty
A mechanism that is gritty or skipping with a fresh, properly seated cartridge is a fault. Tell us within thirty days and you can have a refund or a replacement. After that, and up to six months, we repair or replace it. Email your order number and a line on what the dial is doing.
Questions
- The dial turns but nothing comes out.
- Air in the needle or the cartridge. Point it upward and prime two clicks at a time until a bead appears at the tip.
- It clicks but the numbers do not change.
- The dial is disengaged from the counter, which is a genuine fault rather than something to adjust. Get in touch.
Duihao V3 Reusable Pen
Reusable metal pen with a closed cap and pocket clip.