I have decide to tackle the PFM snorkel repair. I have purchased the correct o-ring and gasket. I am having trouble determining how to remove the section gasket from the section. The nib is a typical sheaffer inlaid nib and I do not see how to remove the feed and gasket.

Also, does the o-ring go into the ridge which is mid-barrel?

Thank you.

George Sara
Arizona

You really do need a copy of Frank Dubiel's book on pen repair - you'll find the information that you need on PFM repair, and repair of other pens there.

You have to remove the black threaded piece at the back of the nib assembly to change the pointholder gasket. I use a special tool to remove the piece, but you can get away with leaving the sac protector in the section to prevent crushing the part. Slip a piece of fuel line hose over the threads, heat the section, then grip the hose and turn CCW to unscrew it.

The 0 ring goes in the backend of the pen. You have to remove the blind cap and push the tube out of the barrel to get at it.

Hi there, the section once screwed out of the pen, actually comes apart some more. The threaded end of the section that screws into the barrel actually can come out of the seciton. That is where the gasket is hidden. These can be a real bear to get out. There are some repaire persons who have made up tools which will help unscrew this using the 4 grooves in the bore of the section.

You should heat the section with a hair dryer or embossing heat gun (NOT a paint stripping type of heat gun). This will help loosen the sealant that was placed there by the factory. There are a couple of ways to unscrew this, as it is pretty hard to get purchase on the threaded collar which must be removed.

I used the plain diameter of a drill bit which fit tightly into the bore of the threaded portion of the section. This supported the collar so that it would not collapse under the pressure of unthreading it. Use some grippy rubber, like a jar opener, and try and unscrew the threaded portion of the section.

You do not have to remove the feed. Once you get the threaded portion of the section out, I think there is a small metal washer which holds the point gasket in place. Fish this out, remove the old gasket, coat the snorkel tube with silicone grease and reassemble the whole works.

The O ring goes up at the top of the barrel, but you must unscrew the blind cap from the metal tube that it is attached to. Take a straight screwdriver and remove the small screw way up in there. Take care not to lose the small rubber gasket which goes between the blind cap and the metal tube it is attached to. Push the metal tube out of the front of the barrel (pushing from the blind cap end) and the O ring should be about 1/2" from the blind cap end. It is in a groove and can be tricky to remove. I use a dental pick and slowly work it out. Do not use too much pressure here, or you can actually ventilate the barrel wall. Not a good thing!

Once the O ring is out, install a new one, I use a sharpened pencil up the barrel to keep the O ring from sliding down. Use your dental pick to work the new o ring into place. Coat the metal tube which was removed earlier in a light coating of silicon grease. Reassemble.

If the sac is good in the pen, which if you have to change the gasket and O ring it probably isn't, then once it is reassembled you have a nifty squirt gun that you can use to write with.

Cheers,
SG

edit, what Ron said

Thank you for the responses. I have Da Book and read it again after my entry. As you have noted the threaded portion is not easily removed. I have tried heat and soaking but have been concerned about injuring this piece.


Thank you for the tips and I will keep at it gently. I really appreciate the help.

George
Arizona