Vacuum-Fil (Sheaffer Sub-Brand) Restoration Questions

[quinden]

Hi everyone, I have a couple of questions on a Vacuum-Fil that I'm working on.

 

gmberg's post here: https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php/topic/200999-early-thick-rods-from-sheaffer/

has been very helpful, but my situation is a little different; in his post, the packing unit came out of the pen - in mine, it is still inside.

 

So, here are my questions:

 

1) Would the best method for restoration be to drill out the packing unit, as I have in the Sheaffer Vac-fils that I have restored, or is there some other method I should try?

 

2) As this is one of the thick-rod pens, should I search for different o-rings to use in the packing unit, or will the o-ring be flexible enough for the larger rod? I am using the ones offered by David Nishimura.

 

I am sure there are other questions I should ask - I'll add them as I go. Here are some pictures to (hopefully) add some clarity:

 

 

The pen, disassembled.

 

 

Closeup of the packing unit