Ahab Outer O-Ring

December 17, 2013

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

December 20, 2013

I've read your post over and over, and it does confuse me a bit. There should be an o-ring at the head if the narrower threads where the filler screws onto the section. This one is squeezed when you screw on the filler. That same o-ring can me moved up to the larger set if threads if one is filling the body as an eye dropper fill. There is no need for a ring between the section and body when using the piston filler. It is just overkill.

December 20, 2013

I've read your post over and over, and it does confuse me a bit. There should be an o-ring at the head if the narrower threads where the filler screws onto the section. This one is squeezed when you screw on the filler. That same o-ring can me moved up to the larger set if threads if one is filling the body as an eye dropper fill. There is no need for a ring between the section and body when using the piston filler. It is just overkill.

I must have been unclear. I am referring to the same ring you are describing. Sorry if it came across otherwise.

Thank you for putting so much effort into trying to understand and help me.

December 20, 2013

I'm not 100% positive, but I believe that the rings that Gouletpens sells for the conversion of the Platinum Preppy are the right size. Most of the o-rings you will find in the plumbing section are going to be too thick. One really needs a hardware store that carries a good selection of o-rings for other applications. I wish I knew what size to tell you. I never unscrewed my piston, I just pulled out the nib and feed when I did the initial cleaning of my new pen.

December 20, 2013

I'm not 100% positive, but I believe that the rings that Gouletpens sells for the conversion of the Platinum Preppy are the right size. Most of the o-rings you will find in the plumbing section are going to be too thick. One really needs a hardware store that carries a good selection of o-rings for other applications. I wish I knew what size to tell you. I never unscrewed my piston, I just pulled out the nib and feed when I did the initial cleaning of my new pen.

Since posting the question, I learned that you are correct. The PP o-rings, according to Goulet's, are not identical but close enough to work. Goulet's is sending me a packet of those now.

Thanks again.

Edited December 20, 2013 by iRabb

December 20, 2013

I hope your pen is soon working as well as my Ahab. It is a wonderful pen to write with. Smooth and effortless even on cheap government supplied paper.

December 20, 2013

Thanks! It's good to know the government is not overspending on something!

December 22, 2013

FYI, for interested parties, the PP rings from Goulet arrived the same day as an envelope from Pen Boutique. PB sent me two of the exact o-ring used on the Ahab. The PP rings are much larger, however Goulet says they do work, and they probably do. I imagine they simply require less stretching to install. I was afraid of tearing the correct size o-ring from stretching it so much to install it.

Bottom line is it did go on fine, and now I have one more plus 4 PP o-rings as back-ups (and my daughter loves PP's). If you need an o-ring for your Ahab (NOT the one in the filler piston), it seems as there are two options available.

Hope this helps someone.

December 31, 2013

Thanks! It's good to know the government is not overspending on something!

Given the vast amount of paper that the Navy uses they have to buy the cheap stuff. This is funny since all I heard when I joined over 17 years ago was nonsense about the "Paperless Navy". I swear we use more paper now than ever.