The Molecular Universe

Adapting a Zebra F701

A while ago I adjusted a Zebra F701 to allow it to take a wider variety of refills. I followed the instructions in the following video:

Or - using a regular link...

This is a fantastic video. It shows you how to disassemble the pen and modify it in various ways.

For my purposes, I simply followed the instructions to make the 'push and twist to lock' variant of this pen. This involves punching two bulges into the brass tube at the top of the pen and filling two flat spots on the pusher.

As you can see in the photographs below, I was not terrible careful in the way that i went about making the adjustments. They could be done much more neatly. The brass is quite soft, so it does not take much effort the file and saw the necessary changes.

After the changes are made, the pen can accommodate longer refills, which is very convenient. And, if anything, the changes improve the balance of the pen.

A modified Zebra F701 in its retracted configuration (click for a larger image - click the image again to return)

A modified Zebra F701 in its extended configuration (click for a larger image - click the image again to return)

The main components of the Zebra F701 (click for a larger image - click the image again to return)

The push button and end cap of the Zebra F701 (click for a larger image - click the image again to return)

The push button of the Zebra F701 (click for a larger image - click the image again to return)