Hi All,

I am currently working on overhauling my first Snorkel FP. The hard parts - Sac and O-ring replacement are all done. What remains is replacing the point holder gasket. I ordered some from Martin Fergusson (www.martinspens51.com) but find these too tight on the Snorkel tube. While they give a perfect seal, the extremely tight fit also results in the snorkel tube not extending and retracting properly. In extension, the tube barely extends part way, it goes till the end when pushed on the downstroke. The retraction is "extremely" tight. It seems as though you would end up pulling the snorkel tube out of the stopper if you persist.

When I compare the old Sheaffer and the new gaskets side by side, I find the the hole in the center of the new gaskets is a bit smaller than the original. I would like to know if this is a common observation with these gaskets from Martin. Will applying silicone grease help in this case? Is it recommended? any alternatives I can try?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Did ya use a small dollop of silicone grease on the tube down near the sack end? helps a lot. be sure to keep the silicone away from the nib end of the tube or the pen won't feed ink properly.

Hi Framebaer,

The gasket is such a t-i-g-h-t fit over the snorkel tube that I am very apprehensive if a daub of grease would really help things. Also as you rightly point out, I also do not like the possibility of some grease finding it's way into the feed.

I think the inner hole on the gasket needs to be a wee bit larger. When I put in the original gasket (which still retains its springiness and is not dead completely), I hear the tell-tale signs of a fairly good seal being made. The snorkel works effortlessly (extension and retraction) and this without any grease on it. For the time being I am back to the original gasket. But I figure I need to change the gasket sooner than later.

Try the silicon grease and see what happens. You need a very small amount wiped onto the area of the tube behind the feed slits. I've also applied the silicon to the point holder gasket directly and wiped off all excess. If that doesn't work then try plan B.

Martin's point holder gaskets are identical to the ones used by Sheaffer. That seal is supposed to be tight! As a matter of fact, some of the ones that I got from the Sheaffer repair department are still closed by a thin membrane that's pierced when you put the snorkel tube through it. It's also designed to flex a bit as the snorkel tube extends in and out.

You won't pull the point holder gasket out of the section when extending the snorkel tube. A VERY thin coating of silicone grease down near the sac end of the tube will take care of the resistance. Don't use much, don't get it near the open end, and especially in the slit on the top as it can prevent the ink from flowing to the feed.