Chromatography Forum

Hi,

I have a problem with my Agilent 5977E MSD.

When i pump down its waiting and after give error "VacSysFail". After that take shutdown MS.
ms menu says that:

MSD Fault Status:
Dec 384 hex 180

Hello

Can you hear turbo pump running? (or see if it starts at all with %?)
Check if analyser is closed (perhaps it is still open after column changing/maintenance).

Regards

Tomasz Kubowicz

Hello

Can you hear turbo pump running? (or see if it starts at all with %?)
Check if analyser is closed (perhaps it is still open after column changing/maintenance).

Regards

Tomasz Kubowicz

I can hear turbo pump running at first, turbo pump speed increase to %47 but after that it falls down and shutdown the ms

Hello

Are you sure there is no major leak? Large vacuum leak is preventing the turbo pump from reaching 50% of full speed.It looks like either the side plate has not sealed correctly or the vent valve is still open.
In the worst scenario pump controller is defective.

Regards

Tomasz Kubowicz

Have you had the door of the MSD open recently?

I find rubbing a lint-free cloth containing a small amount of methanol around the black rubber seal of the to ensure it is properly seated helps, as does applying slight pressure to the door whilst the MSD is pumping down.

Joe

If your interface had the white ceramic tip inside the analyzer, the spring on that can push the door open, or prevent you from closing it completely. I had this happen on my 7000QQQ once. Took me a while to figure out what was happening. Push firmly on the side plate to make sure it is closed while you turn on the instrument, you may also try to move it up and down a little as the rough vacuum begins. If you can still move it up and down after a few seconds of the rough pump running, you have a major leak somewhere.

If your interface had the white ceramic tip inside the analyzer, the spring on that can push the door open, or prevent you from closing it completely. I had this happen on my 7000QQQ once. Took me a while to figure out what was happening

I've been pulling my hair out because i couldn't get the same model to start pumping just a couple of hours ago! First time this happens. My fingers still hurt from pushing the side i'm not even kidding

This will be the first thing i do tomorrow morning, thanks!

Also before closing the side plate, push on the ceramic cone to make sure it isn't binding. If the spring inside gets a little off it can cause it to bind instead of sliding easily as it should.

Also before closing the side plate, push on the ceramic cone to make sure it isn't binding. If the spring inside gets a little off it can cause it to bind instead of sliding easily as it should.

Well i managed to get it pumping today.

I've never touched the white ceramic tip. But i noticed it does start getting a little grey here and there. Would you recommend to wipe/clean it somehow next time the source is open?

I have never cleaned mine yet, but if it is a true ceramic like the pins and washers were in the 5970 source then you could put it in a muffle furnace at 500-600C for a little while and they come out white as snow. (I need to check with Agilent to see what the material actually is) Usually it is ion burn that discolors this, and unless it is bad enough to begin to conduct current from the source to ground it should be ok.

Could also sonicate in a little DCM if you have carryover problems, but it will take a while to get it all out of the pores so you will have some background from it until it is gone.