That is for the PFM model snorkel, I have not seen any other snorkels that use a spring

Do u have sonnet with twist mechanism? Mine sonnet twist is loose which is not causing it to pop the nib out. Do u know how to fix it?

Shellac will soften with the use of heat from a hair dryer or heat gun etc, so you can take apart the pieces later, whereas glues normally are not a reversible proposition and trying to take apart pieces without breaking them is nearly impossible. Also shellac on a sac will not come loose from the water present in ink and will therefore stay attached to the sac nipple.

@@Parker51Guy Thanks for the reply. Appreciate the knowledge.

I have the Pilot Custom in amber, I wish I had gone with a F nib instead of the M I chose, besides that it’s a great pen with a unique filler in this day with a huge ink capacity. I can’t think of any specific things to guide you in your choice of a restoration purchase, but if you have any questions when you get it about getting it back in shape I’ll try my best to help if you post again. Good luck!

You’re very welcome! Appreciate the comment :)

Be very specific what type of filler you want. A button filler is what would be on most old Duofolds, this actuates a pressure bar to depress a rubber sac in the barrel for an ink reservoir. Fillers like this pen are Vacumatic fillers, and I point this out because you’re using a term not related to the pen in this video. Which are you referring to? For a button filler, you might try Anderson Pens, they sell the bars, but not the actual buttons under the blind cap.

The cap jewels are actually some type of plastic. I don’t know if it’s celluloid or Lucite but at any rate, it will definitely only require the use of either a jewelers cloth or if you want a high luster, you could use plastic polishing compound. I use Simichrome for my pen polishing. But there are other brands.

@@Parker51Guy 👍🏻thank you so much for the reply. I had a feeling they were composites. Thank you.

I would not use the vac lube, actually talc powder (pure, non-perfumed) is what most use, but I don’t have that so I use powdered graphite.

No arguments here, I love mine!

I’m sorry to say I don’t know. I ordered them from an online supplier that specializes in Sheaffer restoration parts. I don’t have one to measure with my calipers or I’d check.

Glad to hear it!

Its silicon grease or some call dielectric grease.

21/64-36

Caroline, Cross will not have parts for older pens, Google vintage fountain pen parts, you will find numerous suppliers for all manner of pens.

Parker51Guy is there anyone in particular you use, as so far I have only found a company called "Dragonpens" in England and with the exchange it is coming on $30 for sac, o-ring, point seal and shipping!!!

There are US located sources but the price will probably only be marginally less, discounting the exchange rate for the dollar to pound.

I doubt it, at least not without major modifications, I don’t think they designed them with any other filler in mind.

@@Parker51Guy Thanks!!!

Yes actually! I was just able to fit a pilot falcon converter on my Sheaffer Touchdown Feathertouch( I think that's what it is ). The inner diameter of the converter snugly fits over the nipple/post the sac is attached to. And the length of the pilot converter can be trimmed down slightly to fit if needed. Looks like mine won't need that though. I'm pretty sure there would be other converters that would fit as well. I'm going to attach mine with a little shellac although it fits snugly enough to where I may not need to do that.

I’m happy they helped, enjoy your restored pens.

It is food-grade vegetable glycerin, available from health/natural supplement stores.

theinkbrain There is a small plastic BB-like pellet cemented into the end of the diaphragms from the manufacturer. When the old sacs deteriorate that old pellet usually sticks in the pellet cup on the filler upon removal because the pellet end rips away from the rest of the diaphragm. The chopstick tip fits into the tight space of the diaphragm tip against the pellet and gives purchase to push the tip into the cup where it will stick in place once the rubber is no longer stretched thin when the tension is released. Essentially if you follow these steps using the parts that are manufactured for replacement there are no steps that I have left out, the sac is ready for replacement as is except for cutting to proper length, which I detail. Thanks for the questions and I hope this clears up your confusion.

@@Parker51Guy I think I am pretty close to knowing what I need to actually change the diaphragm. I don't have any of your special equipment, but I had an old plastic Gold Grip brand pair of plastic pliers with rubber grips, and I used them and a wooden chopstick to successfully remove the diaphragm/pump mechanism. I had a pair of tweezers with very sharp right-angled tines which I used to remove the pellets. The pellet in one pen was rubber and the other one was hard plastic. I discovered that my old Vacuumatic which I have had for some decades and which I had used like an eye-dropper has a working pump, so I am not going to mess with it. I had fixed it up with a spare (not Parker) feed and a Dauer Feder nib and even though it might be what I have heard called a "Frankenpen" it looks beautiful it works beautifully. This was long before I knew anything about Vacuumatics. I had an old metal cap with a lovely grey jewel and a gold, blue diamond clip. Last night I finally got the jewel out and now its on the pen I recently bought which was missing a clip. I kept the metal cap upside down for several days in a shot glass with a few drops of WD 40 and then kept it on my bathroom sink with a long pair of tweezers inside it and turned to hair dryer on it every few days. Last night the clip loosened enough to rotate. I used a piece of brown parcel tape stuck on a piece of cardboard from a pack of sour-patch candy to work the jewel and wonder of wonders it came loose. So now I know this is a technique that will work harmlessly on metal caps. I am thinking that if the seal between the barrel and section can be made to not leak that these old Vacuumatics can be used as eye droppers regardless of whether the pump and diaphragm are not working. That's how I used my old and still beautifully serviceable pen. I polished it to a high gloss with a soft cotton rag and notepaper and shined it up with just my fingers. Thanks again for sharing your knowledge. Now I know where I can come for very good and very useful information from an experienced Vacuumatic man.

Howard Austin , I am so glad to hear this. Will you be using it? I think vintage pens deserve to be used as intended.

Howard Austin, I'm happy I helped you!

@@lukeenyart1073 Hi Luke Enyart - I've been using it periodically since the early 80s when my aunt gave it to me. At that time it had been sitting unused for many years and I had to have it serviced and a new sac installed. I figured that is was time for another thorough inspection and cleaning.