Refill Parker Roller Ball Cartridge using syringe vacuum method V3 (silicon tube)

This method uses a flexible silicon tube (or any flexible tube) with an internal diameter of 3mm to provide a firm seal between the cartridge and syringe. Among the 3 methods described thus far, this is the easiest in terms of finding the parts needed. It is also less stressful on the hands as there is no need to use continuous finger power to provide the air tight seal.

The syringe contains 1.5ml of ink. All these years, I've never bothered to find out the maximum capacity as 1.5ml of ink writes for a very long time for me. Besides it is now very fast and clean to refill the cartridge with the methods described.

Something interesting I discovered; if you position the cartridge above and the syringe and do the pull/push action, it drains ink from the cartridge. Doesn't this remind you of the behavior of the Varsity pen with a syringe?

To date, I've been refilling this cartridge since 28 Dec 2015, it still sometimes makes squeaky sounds when I write (signs of wear?), but it is writing well. The inks used in it were Parker Quink, Pelikan 4001 and Bril (from India).

I had another cartridge which I didn't use for a very long time. After refilling it, it couldn't write. When I pulled out the nib with a pair of pliers, the plastic rod was still supplying ink properly (I could write with it) but the roller ball tip couldn't deliver the ink. Probably some super solid dried chunk of ink is blocking the ink from flowing to the ball. I tried blindly poking with a pin but to no avail.

I also came across Parker's patent for this cartridge and learnt that the cartridge was designed for fountain pen inks after all!
https://patents.google.com/patent/US4...

This is a fine piece of engineering, thank you Parker!
Pls let us know how long yours lasted when it finally stops writing.

Reuse and save our Earth!