Turbo failure frequency

[oldspecguy]

I have an Agilent 1100 Series LS/MSD G1956B Mutimode Source with the split flow turbo (Model BOC Edwards G1969-80010 Agilent).

The turbo has failed, not catastrophically, but the bearings have apparently seized. It failed ~ 1 yr 7 mos after initial installation but just over 2 mos after final sign-off on the instrument (there were software macro issues on the machine that were not functioning properly). Agilent is not willing to even cover part of the cost of the turbo. While they are willing to extend the warranty of the replacement from 90 days to 1 year, that is pretty much it. I'm not sure if that would be a rebuilt one or a new one (the latter costing me about 4k more), but the usual policy is 90 days on the replacement regardless of whether it is a new or rebuilt one. To put it bluntly, if I have to pay for a new one, I sure as @#%^ better be getting at least a year warranty. In that case, they are really not doing me any favors.

Couple of questions:
1) Have any of you had any experience with "premature" failures of turbos, specifically this split flow (proper terminology?) type or model?

( I really don't want to believe that I am going to need to budget between 10 and 15k for every 1 to 2 years) for a turbo replacement.

2) Any other suggestions for a replacement turbo or vendor that could rebuild it much more cheaply?

Thanks. [/u]

[leadazide]

I can only advise one thing.. Buy it directly from Edwards! On the pump you can proably se the edwards partnumber. You can probably save 30 to 50 % compared to Agilents prices.

Of course this mean you might have to install the pump yourself but that is really easy.. if you know how..

[Consumer Products Guy]

We've had too-frequent turbo1 and turbo2 replacements on our 1946 MSD. Apparently this piece of equipment does not match the reliability of other Agilent equipment such as GC, GCMS, HPLC. Or maybe it's just really complex.