Hello,
i just received a beautiful PFM III set with BP pen today but i am having trouble filling it with ink. I am doing what i am supposed to be doing but there is no ink going in. I unscrew the plunger knob until the snorker is out pull the plunger out and then dip the snorkel in ink, waiting a few secs. Then i pull it out and screw the knob back.
Am i doing something wrong? the pen was sold in full working order from a reputable seller so i am wondering what is wrong

thank you
Nikolaos

Hi Nikolaos,
Filling procedure goes as follows:
1- Unsrew the filling plunger (snorkel pipe extends ) & pull the plunger fully out.
2-Imerse the snorkel tube in the ink & then push the filling plunger fully in. HOLD the pen in this position while counting to 20. (**)
3- Now remove the pen out of the ink & screw the plunger cap back in the barrel, retracting the snorkel pipe.
Doing so your pen should have filled properly.

**Note the "count to 20" phase is very important , giving the ink sac time to expand & pulling the ink in.

Wishing you succes,

Best regards, Francis

Flushing out the ink or water in a snorkel ink sac takes a little time and a gentler touch. The way I do it is to extend the snorkel tube, pull the blind cap very slowly all the way out, then push it back in slowly. Finding the right speed is key, think about what you're doing (compressing the air around a rubber sac full of liquid, and trying to force that liquid out through the feed).

Your mileage may vary.

Not really knowing much about Snorkel pens, I would suggest looking at Richard Binder's Filling System page to see how to fill it. I found it very useful when I was trying to figure out how to use a converter, for the first time.

You can test a snorkel by filling it with water, and then cycling the touchdown tube again. If it's in good working order, then it should squirt water about six feet (2m).

If the pen hasn't been restored recently, then it may have bad seals. If so, you should send it off for restoration. When I asked about this, I got the following suggestions:

Richard Binder (richardspens.com)
Ron Zorn (unsure of site)
Dennis W. Lively (virtualinfamy.penden.com)
Dillon Ang (email dillon.ang#cox.net)
and there are sure to be more.