Chromatography Forum

I have a 6890 GC hooked up to a 5973 MS (Both Agilent). The transfer line (EI/CI) needed replacement. The replacement Agilent sent (appeared used) snapped when I attempted to install the siltite ferrule. The line snapped right under the threads that the nut attaches to. I assumed a faulty transfer line weldment (or perhaps that I inherited super human strength overnight).

Agilent immediately sent out a new EI/CI transfer line and the SAME thing happened. Same breakage, same spot.

Does anybody know if Agilent's transfer line manufacturing process has undergone some change that would make this connection more susceptible to breakage? I willingly admit I have BENT transfer lines in the past but I have never actually snapped the threads off.

I wrecked a transferline trying to get my quickswap to make a seal on the transferline with the restriction capillary. After dozens of attempts a nut got stuck on the transferline and it snapped when I took it off. We bought a new transferline weldment and Agilent finally sent a new quickswap insert after going crazy for two weeks and I finally got it to seal after grabing a pair of heat gloves and cranking down on the sucker. The manual says just a smidge ~15 deg past the point you start to feel resistance but when I did that it leaked badly.

I am afraid to ever touch that thing to separate the MSD though I really need the change the lubricant resivour in my pfieffer turbo pump.

I snapped mine a month ago and the Agilent 5975C MS was only bought in Jan 2013!

Luckily, it was under warranty, otherwise that would have been a fun conversation with my boss!

I have never had one snap before (bend -yes!) - I also think the manufacturing process is poorer than before.

The new line I had sent also appeared used - the packaging was open which even the Agilent engineer thought was strange.

Would you believe I just broke a THIRD MS transfer line this week??? What the heck??? Fortunately our instruments are under service contract but Agilent is quite baffled.
I have sent in a complaint to the quality department because this is getting ridiculous.

All they can come up with is a solution of not using siltite ferrules/nuts anymore.

They are sending me a trial version of another kind.

And yes the packaging on all the replacement lines I have received looked as if they were used/refurbished.

They replaced the siltites with the new utilmetal ferrules. I've been using them for a while and they seem pretty good.

We had one break on a 5975 that we bought used, but none of the others I have have ever had any problems. We normally just use the graphite/vespel ferrules from Restek, they seem to seal easily. If you place a few in a beaker and keep them in the oven until you need them, the oven cycles will pre-shrink them and you usually don't have to come back and re-tighten them after installation. If you don't pre-shrink them then you have to tweak them a little after a couple days, but after that I have never had them leak.