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To prevent a disruption in your workflow, replace the needle seal and seal port tubing annually during the prescribed preventive maintenance (PM) schedule or any time the seal appears dirty, contaminated, or clogged.
Replacing the needle seal and the seal port tubing involves removing the following:
Wash station assembly
Locking nut that houses the needle seal
Existing needle seal
Existing seal port tubing (holds the locking nut) and attached to the wash station assembly
Note: Replace the needle seal each time you replace the sample needle.
Warning: To avoid personal contamination with biologically hazardous or toxic compounds, wear clean, chemical-resistant, powder-free gloves when performing this procedure.
Warning: To avoid eye injury, use eye protection when performing this procedure.
Required tools and materials
Replacement parts needed:
Seal kit
Seal port tubing (Waters part name: Assy, Seat Port, SST, 0.007 ID)
Chemical-resistant, powder-free gloves
Protective eyewear
7/16-inch open-end wrench (procedure requires two wrenches)
T10 TORX driver
T20 TORX driver
To replace the needle seal:
Ensure that the system is powered-on.
Open the sample compartment door and the fluidics compartment door.
Remove any sample plates from the sample compartment.
Using the T20 TORX driver remove the captive screw that secures the access panel, and then remove the panel.
Figure 1: Captive screw on access panel
Captive screw
To lift the wash station assembly out of the wash station holder:
Note: You will not remove the wash station assembly (rather, you will temporarily detach it from the holder).
Locate the wash tubing and seal port tubing secured in the bottom three clips. Release the tubing from the three clips.
Figure 2: Wash tubing and seal port tubing location in clips
First wash tubing in clip
Second wash tubing in clip
Seal port tubing in clip
Push down on the wash station assembly, and then rotate it clockwise to temporarily remove it from the wash station holder.
Figure 3: Release the wash station assembly from the wash station holder
Wash station assembly (inside the wash station holder)
Wash station holder
Lift the wash station assembly out of the wash station holder.
Figure 4: Releasing the wash station assembly from the wash station holder
Support sleeve
Locking nut location (nut not visible)
Slot
Spring
Wash station holder
Seal port tubing in PEEK fitting (image shows tubing shorter than it actually appears)
Seal port tubing in PEEK fitting (image shows tubing shorter than it actually appears)
Requirement: Ensure that the locking nut remains seated inside the spring.
Locate the locking nut attached to the bottom of the wash station assembly that houses the needle seal. To access the needle seal, remove the locking nut using two 7/16-inch open-end wrenches to ensure proper grip.
Figure 5: Wrench placement locations to remove the locking nut
Place one 7/16-inch open-end wrench here on the support sleeve
Place the other 7/16-inch open-end wrench here near the locking nut (not visible)
Lift the outer edge (or lip) of the locking nut. Tilt the locking nut to remove the needle seal, and then discard.
Figure 6: Removing the needle seal from the locking nut
Seal
Locking nut (actual nut updated and shows no prongs)
Seal port
Waters recommends replacing the seal port tubing when you replace the needle seal. To remove the seal port tubing:
Unscrew the tool-free fitting attached to the seal port tubing, and then remove one end of the seal port tubing from port 1 in the inject valve.
Thread the seal port tubing through the locking nut, and then remove it.
Figure 7: Seal port tubing removal
Locking nut
Seal port tubing
Insert the replacement seal into the locking nut. The seal is keyed, ensuring its correct installation, as shown in the following two figures.
Note: To prevent contaminating system components, wear clean, chemical-resistant, powder-free gloves, and work on a clean surface when replacing the seal.
Note: The following image shows prongs, but the actual locking nut does not have prongs.
Figure 8: Inserting replacement seal into the locking nut
Smaller-diameter end
Seal
Notch
Locking nut
Seal port
Figure 9: Seal notch location
Seal
Notch
Seal cup
Finger-tighten the locking nut into the bottom of the wash station assembly.
Place the two 7/16-inch open-end wrenches on the washing station support sleeve, and then tighten.
Note: To avoid damaging the seal port tube, do not excessively twist the tube.
Figure 10: Wrench placement locations
Place one 7/16-inch open-end wrench here on the support sleeve
Place the other 7/16-inch open-end wrench here
Ensure that the seal port tubing remains in line with the PEEK fitting in the support sleeve.
Figure 11: Seal port tubing in PEEK fitting
Seal port tubing in top PEEK fitting
Seal port tubing in bottom PEEK fitting
Support sleeve
Slide the seal port tubing into the slot on the side of the housing.
Figure 12: Sliding seal port tubing into the slot
Support sleeve
Locking nut location (nut not visible)
Slot
Spring
Wash station holder
Seal port tubing in PEEK fitting (image shows tubing shorter than it actually appears)
Seal port tubing in PEEK fitting (image shows tubing shorter than it actually appears)
Slide the support sleeve into the housing, ensuring that the fitting hole on the support sleeve aligns with the slot on the housing.
Figure 13: Inserting support sleeve into the housing
Fitting hole
Slot
Reinsert the tubing in the clips on the side of the sample compartment. For example, route the wash tubing and seal port tubing through the clips.
Requirement: The tubing is secured to the wall and must not interfere with operation of the sample tray or the vertical motion of the wash port.
Figure 14: Replace the wash tubing and the seal port tubing in the clips on the sample compartment wall
First wash tubing in clip
Second wash tubing in clip
Seal port tubing in clip
Screw the seal port tubing end into port 1 of the injection valve, and then use the 1/4-inch open-end wrench to tighten the fitting 1/4-turn beyond finger-tight.
Figure 15: Attach the seal port tubing to the injection valve
Port 1 on injection valve
Reinstall the access panel, and then use the T20 TORX driver to tighten the single screw that secures the access panel to the front of the unit.
Requirement: Ensure that the seal port tubing and sample needle tubing are routed through the gap in the access panel and that they do not cross each other.
Close the sample compartment door and the fluidics compartment door.
Complete the needle seal readiness test to verify that the needle seal works properly.
Sample manager maintenance procedures
