Pfm Snorkel Not Fully Extending

[silverlifter]

I've had a PFM II for a while now and recently, say the last two fills so around a month or so, when I rotate the blind cap, the snorkel does not fully extend. It stops around halfway out.

 

There is sufficient snorkel protruding to gently pull it out to full extension and fill the pen. Winding it back in, it retracts fully.

 

The mechanism seems otherwise quite sound: no sense of tension or hesitancy when turning the blind cap in either direction, it feels quite smooth. Just for the last turn or so, the snorkel sits halfway out.

 

Is this indicative of imminent failure of a seal? Something else I should be concerned about?

[Honeybadgers]

when you unscrew the snorkel, once you hit the "end" and the plunger disengages from the snorkel body inside, if you push on the blind cap, does it fully extend the snorkel? is it STIFF when you pull it out? Usually the seals get hard and the snorkel doesn't get stuck. But the snorkel may just need greasing down inside, too, though my guess would be the spring is binding if it retracts properly. Might just be a little rusty. Replacement springs are cheap and plentiful.

 

If you can, try to unscrew the section (unscrew the tail first) don't try too hard, it might be sealed (if it is, send it to someone for repair) but medium pressure (not uncomfortable) should unscrew it. Take a look at the guts. It's easy to reassemble, just screw the section back on.

 

I'd put my money on it being a spring, and a restoration likely about $45 if you pay someone to do it (if they're in there, you may want to have them look at the seals and consider replacing them since they're dirt cheap,) or about $5-9 for a new spring if you can undo the section yourself

Edited November 2, 2019 by Honeybadgers

[silverlifter]

I've only just refilled it, so I won't be able to test it for a couple of weeks :/

 

It isn't stiff at all. Everything is moving reasonably smoothly, for a pen that age. I'll attempt to disassemble it in a couple of weeks when it is empty again.

 

Thanks for the tips!

[silverlifter]

when you unscrew the snorkel, once you hit the "end" and the plunger disengages from the snorkel body inside, if you push on the blind cap, does it fully extend the snorkel?

Yes, depressing the blind cap fully extends the snorkel.

 

is it STIFF when you pull it out?

No, everything moves quite fluidly, with no feel of resistance.

 

 

I'd put my money on it being a spring

 

The spring looks new and has a goodly amount of spring to it.

 

Oddly enough, just taking the back off seems to have fixed the issue, the snorkel now extends fully.

 

Thanks HB!