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I was browsing FPGeeks and saw the rendering of the Vac Mini TWSBI is currently developing. I love the look of the red O-rings and am wondering if it would be possible to replace the O-rings on existing TWSBI pens with colored ones. I googled around a bit and it seems they come in all sorts of colors, but also many different sizes. Does anyone know what size is appropriate for their pens? And has anyone tried to replace the O-rings? If so how did you fare?

Hi, is there supposed to be some kind of o-ring or soft plastic/rubber skirt that sits at the bottom of the feed on a pilot custom 74? If so I think I lost mine, or at any rate it's missing. Does anyone know how I can replace it? The feed is somewhat stable but can easily be diveven off center even though the nib is firmly in the feed slot. Basically the feed is a little lose. Not terrible but bad enough. I've seen some pictures that suggest that there may be a soft plastic transparent skirt that sits at the bottom of feed. I'm not taking about the hard collar that sits inside the section. Anyway I need a replacement if it is missing. If anyone knows where I can get one or some other solution i would be most greatfull. Thanks. Albert.

Hi Everyone, I've been trying to find a straight answer on this but have been unsuccessful. I need to replace the damaged hoods on a couple of my 1950s aerometric Parker 51s, but don't know whether to get the "recessed" hoods which have space inside for an o-ring or the non-recessed ones which simply have threading. Does it matter which kind? Do you have to replace a hood with the same type that was originally on the pen? I'm hoping it doesn't matter, because I'd rather not take the pen apart to find out what kind it has. Thanks for your help!

Hello all, I have a TWSBI Mini with a Medium nib and, some time ago, lost the o-ring on the piston knob that prevents over-tightening of the cap upon posting. Does anybody know where I can buy a replacement o-ring, or am I just SOL? On the attached image, I marked where the o-ring is normally located in red. - J

while flushing my pilot heritage 91 with the blue bulb supplied by pilot i found a broken tiny o-ring in the sink (refer to attached). would anyone have encountered same issue? do i need to worry? any recommendations on what to do about it? i have contacted pilot japan, so far my email has been to no avail. all your inputs are highly appreciated many thanx!! marco. switzerland

I bought my Vac700 in late March 2015 (i.e. just over a year ago) and it has seen moderate use. The large ink capacity makes it ideally-suited for use at conferences or on longer trips, and I enjoy writing with it. The pen has probably been fully inked-up and subsequently cleaned out about half-a-dozen times, perhaps as many as ten times since I got it. There is now a specific problem with the pen, and I have a few questions for you: 1) Have you experienced a similar problem? 2) Is my diagnosis correct (could there be something else causing it, and if so, what?) 3) Any suggestions on how best to proceed? Here's my problem: When I last tried to fill the pen, it would not fill - it somehow failed to make the necessary vacuum, and couldn't get more than a dribble of ink into the barrel. I disassembled the pen for the first time, made sure everything was properly clean and lubricated and properly reassembled. Of course, the problem persisted. So I took it apart again and looked at everything under a loupe. I discovered that there are actually two O-Rings on the end of the barrel (the part that screws in). The larger O-Ring is the more obvious, and the smaller O-Ring is easier to overlook. The problem seems to be with the smaller O-Ring. It actually seems a little flimsy, and it has become a little 'floppy' or stretched over time. That is, it no longer makes the necessary tight fit with the thread. See picture. (Image: end-of-barrel unit, with O-Rings highlighted) I was surprised to see this part failing so quickly, particularly if it is crucial for the pen's operation. I don't know why a problem with that O-Ring should cause the vacuum to fail - the larger O-Ring is fine, and should be sufficient by itself. But in the absence of any other obvious cause, I'm assuming that the perished smaller O-Ring is indeed the problem. I am therefore looking to replace it. It's only a small part, and I can probably find it cheaply at my local DIY/hardware store, but that's a hassle (the store is not all that local). Also, I'm wondering whether this is a potential issue for others, and whether I should approach the company I bought my pen from. Any thoughts in response to my questions? Have I missed something? Thanks!

As I understand it there are the following 51 aero connectors (for full size Mark I pens): 1) Threaded shroud, no O-ring groove. 2) Slip fit shroud, no O-ring groove, no shoulder for barrel recess. 3) Slip fit shroud, O-ring groove, no shoulder for barrel recess. 4) Slip fit shroud, O-ring groove, shoulder for barrel recess. Did I miss any? Is it correct that I can: - Use an o-ring hood on a non-o-ring connector (without an o-ring of course)? - Use a recessed barrel on a non-recessed connector? If so, can I use Connector #2 to replace #2, #3, and #4 ? How about using #2 to replace #1? Can I press fit a threaded shroud onto connector #2? Maybe sand down the diameter of the connector a little first? Thanks, Brian

My brand-new Ahab did what I have been reading about: the outer O-ring either came broken or broke as soon as I screwed the top back on the pen. I replace it with a ¼ inch ring (3/8x1/4x1/16) which fit in place, but was too thick for the top to screw back on the body. In looking at the pen, it seems to me that this outer O-ring, the one that goes around the top of the wider section of body threads, is really unnecessary unless you use this pen as an eyedropper. I'm going to use the piston fill, so I wonder: do I really need that o-ring at all? If I do, does anyone know what size I need? Even the supplier seems to carry only the ring for inside the piston, and does not know the size of the outer ring. Calling the number on the Noodler's web site always gets an answering machine. While we are on the topic, is there a significant difference between 90% and 100% silicon grease? Thanks so much for your help. Ben