Stiff Touchdown Filler

[Lou Erickson]

Maybe this belongs over in "repair"... if so, I apologize. A mod can move it and I won't be offended.

 

I picked up an extremely inexpensive user-grade Sheaffer. It's a dull brown, with someone else's name on it, the Shaeffer imprint nearly worn off, lots of little scuffs, a few teeth marks, etc. It does have a white dot, and the nib is a very smooth two-tone 14k Triumph. It writes nicely, but it'll never win any beauty contests.

 

The only possible issue with the pen is that the touchdown filler is stiff. Unscrewing the blind cap is hard, pulling the cylinder out is stiff, and pushing it down again is stiff. When it hits the bottom of the stroke, it says, "Whoosh!" and fills the pen nicely, though.

 

Does the cylinder need lubrication or is this a sign of something more sinister wrong with the pen? Would a tiny bit of silicone grease smooth this out, or should it be really looked more deeply at?

 

[OcalaFlGuy]

Yes, silicone grease on the TD tube.

 

JUST enough to be able for it to rub on. If you can see it, it's too much.

 

Bruce in Ocala, Fl

[Paul80]

A small amount on the sac guard will help as well.

 

Although it is working well it might also be a good time to replace the barrel o-ring as well, as a dry touchdown tube will have taken its toll on it and shortened its life.

 

Paul

[Ernst Bitterman]

Another possible factor is barrel shrinkage. There's little to be done for it, but if you find the action is still stiff after lubrication, you can allow yourself to put it down to age.

[Paul80]

Yes things do shrink with age, or so I'm told.

[Ernst Bitterman]

Stiffer with age. That's what we focus on.