One of my goals this year is to learn how to restore a Sheaffer Touchdown and Snorkel, and I thought I'd get started a little bit today.

I started taking apart a Snorkel that isn't working, and I've reached a stopping point. How do I get to the sac from here? Have I already screwed something up? If so, no big deal - this is my education pen

Thanks!

First, make a tiny scratch on the outside surface of the sac guard in line with the top of the Snorkel tube so that when you reassemble the thing you can put it back together the same way it came apart.

Use a sharp hook-shaped implement to poke through the back end of the sac and pull it out the back of the sac guard. If it doesn't want to come loose, at least get enough that you can make a hole for a coat hanger wire.

Now look at the other end of the sac guard. The four "rails" that slide in the gripping section's grooves are bent inward at their ends to keep the black rubber sac section from pulling out. With a very small needle-nosed plier, bend just the ends, half a millimeter or so, outward until they no longer block the sac section. Don't bend them wa-a-ay out; the less bend the better.

Now take a piece of coat hanger wire a little bit longer than the sac guard. Make sure its ends are straight, without burrs. Slip the wire into the back of the sac guard, and slide it up along the inside wall of the sac guard until it stops at the sac section. Now rest the wire on the workbench with the sac guard pointing straight up. Being careful to hold the coat hangert wire against the inside wall of the sac guard so that it won't push on the back end of the Snorkel tube, push down on the sac guard to drive the sac section and Snorkel tube out. If it's tight, you may need to relocate the wire to the other side of the sac section to push it out evenly.

Note that this is not the way Sheaffer instructed its service people to do this. The Sheaffer manual says to remove the Snorkel tube and then use a screw hook, like an ordinary cup hook. Screw it into the sac section and pull. DO NOT DO THIS! Taking out the Snorkel tube can damage it, and even if you don't damage it you have to reinsert it to the right depth, aligned correctly to the nib, and pray it'll stay despite the fact that you've torn up the bore of the sac section. My way is more work, but it's better for the pen.

Thanks Richard! I got it out with no problem - after fashioning a few tools from paper clips and coat hangers.

Woo - 2006 Mission #1 accomplished.

While on the topic of Sheaffer Snorkels I just got one back from restoration. The restorer has given up, it's not pulling ink in like it should. So I am out about $45 and still have a pen that doesn't work.

If I take the barrel off and pull the end cap it does not create a vacum. When I push it in it doesn't hold pressure, leading me to believe the "O" ring around the touchdown tube is leaking air.

So how do you get the blind cap off the touchdown tube?

What else might be wrong?

Thanks for the help.

Jim

The restorer gave up?
There are three seals to check and possibly change: the "O" ring, the point holder gasket and the rubber washer between the plunger tube and the filler knob. (to answer your question, the filler knob/blind cap unscrews from within the plunger tube. You need a very slender screwdriver).
If the restorer gave up, you may have a crack in the plastic somewhere. Maybe the barrel or the rather fragile plastic section. Cracks can be fixed, by the way... Or perhaps you have a deformed plunger tube. If there's no crack or deformed tube, maybe the restorer is not really a top notch restorer? I have yet to see a structurally sound Snorkel that could not be made to work.

What color is your Snorkel? I have a spare burgundy or red one around here that is yours if you need it. I also have the point gasket and orings if need be.

If your Vac ever shows up for a cleaning, and you can use a red barrel, I will send the parts back when I am done with the Vac.

Cheers,
SG

Sorry all, my last post was in answer to ipse dixit's post above. Still not used to posting here.