Hi all,

decided to tackle my Mom's snorkel valiant to-day. A couple of issues:

1) the sac is hardened inside and stuck against the sides of the sac protector, any suggestions on its removal?

2) when it's assembled, the snorkel does not extend from the nib, rather retracts. A few years back (when I didn't understand the pen) it did extend out. Is the snorkel supposed to moe back and forth through the rubber stopper? Or other reasons why I can't extend it out of the nib?

3) the spring is stuck in the barrel, I don't see any rust, but I can't remove it, any suggestions?

Thanks, Goffredo

1) Once you've got the everything else out of the protector (including the plug that the snorkel is mounted in), soaking the protector in rubbing alcohol does a brilliant job of dissolving the sac.

2) Whuh? Perhaps there's something really wrong with the forward gasket.

But usually when this goes wrong the problem is looseness rather than tightening. The snorkel should be firmly mounted in the protector-- the whole assembly runs to and fro in the barrel.

3) Check out this thread.

Thanks Ernst! Most helpful in your reply, your web site, and the link.

I have the pen completely disassembled (exept for the snorkel and the hard rubber/plastic bit that holds it in place) and all looks in good condition. There appears to be no leaks, but will probably replace the various rubber bits.

Still have a question on the extension of the snorkel. When I reassemble it, the snorkle does not extend beyond being flush with the hole in the nib that it is supposed to extend out of. The hard rubber (plastic?) gasket/fixer that has four ridges that holds it in place inside the grip section does not move along the snorkel and it sits about 2/3rds down from the extended end. Should I be able to move it at all? Is it in the wrong position on the snorkel?

Thanks, Goffredo

The hard rubber stopper should be immobile in the sac protector. The entire sac protector/snorkel construct should travel within the section, and when run all the way forward should put the end of the snorkel well beyond the point. I'm wondering if perhaps your snorkel isn't stuck too far into the stopper-- from the stopper's face, there should be about 4cm/1.5" of snorkel, enough so that when everything is back together and the snorkel is withdrawn, it's about flush with the face of the feed (it's a Valiant, and thus a Triumph-point model, right?).

Another link to check is Richard's anatomy page for these things. There's a cutaway animation that's worth staring fixedly at.