This Information Applies To: All Agilent 1260 Infinity Binary, Quaternary, or Isocratic Pumps without the Seal Wash Option installed.
Issue:
Worn pump seals can shed small particles that can cause blockages and pressure issues downstream of the seals. Agilent recommends that pump seals are changed yearly, or if pump performance indicates seal wear. Indications of seal wear include leaks at the lower pump head side, unstable retention times, or unstable pressure ripple.
Replacement of the pump seals in the 1260 pump head may be required in the following cases:
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Always call or check with your local service representative to confirm that seal replacement is required |
Steps to follow
To change the seals you have to remove the pump head, see the following article for detailed instructions: How to remove the pump head from an Agilent 1260 Infinity Binary, Quaternary or Isocratic Pump Module
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Warning: Make sure that appropriate PPE is used for the chemicals used in this process. Nitrile gloves (or equivalent) and safety glasses are recommended.
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Caution: Make sure that the piston housing is tilted upward when removing it from the pump housing, to prevent the pistons falling out potentially causing piston damage.
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1. Unlock the lock screw and separate the piston housing from the pump housing. Keep the piston housing always tilted upwards to prevent the pistons from falling out of the piston housing. (See Figure 1)
Figure 1. Separate the piston housing from the pump housing. Take care to avoid pistons falling out of the piston housing.
2. Remove the support rings and seal holders to reveal the piston seal underneath.
3. Gently remove the pistons from the piston housing.
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Caution: Do not remove the grease from the piston face and do not place the piston face down (Grease-side down) on the bench. The grease is to lubricate the face of the piston that is in contact with the pump drive, so must be kept in place to avoid wear and damage to both.
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4. Clean each piston using isopropyl alcohol and lab wipes, then examine each piston shaft for damage or scratches (See Figure 2). If the pistons seem scratched or damaged, please immediately log a service request with your local Agilent service representative.
Figure 2. Cleaning the pistons
5. Using the steel end of the insertion tool, remove the pump seals. (See Figure 3)
6. Clean the inside the pump housing, the support rings, and the seal holders with HPLC-grade Isopropyl Alcohol (IPA) and laboratory wipes. (See Figure 3)
Figure 3. Removing old seals and cleaning pump head internal parts
7. Insert new seals into the pump housing using the plastic side of the seal insertion tool. (See Figure 4)
Figure 4. Inserting new piston seals into the pump head
8. Clean inside the pump housing, the support rings, and the seal holders with HPLC-grade isopropyl alcohol (IPA) and laboratory wipes.
9. Reinstall the seal holders and then the support rings onto the pump housing.
10. Line up the hole on the piston housing and the peg in the pump housing and connect the piston housing and the pump housing together.
11. Gently push the pistons into the housing making sure to align the shaft of the piston through the hole in the middle of each support ring and the pump seal. Also take care not to remove the grease from the face of each piston when inserting the piston down into the piston housing. (See Figure 5)
12. Tighten the lock screw the hold the two halves of the pump head together. (See Figure 5)
Figure 5. Pump head reassembly
13. The assembled pump head can now be mounted onto the pump. See Reinstalling a pump head on Agilent 1260 Infinity Binary, Quaternary or Isocratic Pump Modules for instructions on installing the pump head onto the pump module.
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Learn more on how to effectively troubleshoot your 1260 Infinity Pump Head please see a link to the following Agilent Education course: HPLC-1260-2230z - Changing Pump Seals in Agilent 1260 Binary and Quaternary and Isocratic Pumps |
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