Rafael,

You can use a deactivated glass press fit in place of the X piece.  I did this with my system anyway to reduce potential active sites and a large thermal mass that the X piece poses.

Mine has been through 100s of oven cycles and still does not leak.

Cheers, Ben

-----Original Message-----
From: Stable Isotope Geochemistry [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Rafael Núñez Gómez
Sent: Thursday, May 03, 2007 5:38 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [ISOGEOCHEM] Valco piece blocked

Hi Charlotte
It is not possible because is inside the path between the holes, I do not 
see any ferrule or part of it inside, just I am able to see light between 2 
holes in one arm of the "cross" but nothing in the other. Neither compress 
air nor ultrasonication have effect.
Rafa
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Charlotte Lehmann" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Thursday, May 03, 2007 2:24 PM
Subject: Re: [ISOGEOCHEM] Valco piece blocked


Is it not possible to extract it with a ferrule removal tool?
-- 
Charlotte Lehmann
Research Technician
Bates College
Department of Geology
206A Carnegie Science Building
44 Campus Avenue
Lewiston, ME 04240
Phone: 207-786-6485
FAX: 207-786-8334


Quoting Rafael Núñez Gómez <[log in to unmask]>:

> Dear GC-IRMS users
> Changing ferrules on my GC-C-IRMS Delta plus XP, exactly on the metal
> Valco piece, that one receiving the flux from GC and distributing it to
> 3 out ports (a split to a Cuadrupole DSQ, a second split to the
> oxidation column, and of course the exit to the Backflush, so it is a
> "Cross" and not a "T" as usual) I have realized that there is a deep
> blockage on it, probably with the rest of a ferrule. I am not able to
> get ride of it. Could anyone out there give me a clue to clean this
> piece. What about using a glass/quartz "X" instead?
> Thanks
> Rafa
>
> Dr. Rafael Núñez Gómez
> Colaborador I+D+I
> Servicio de Isótopos Estables
> Estación Experimental del Zaidín CSIC
> Profesor Albareda 1, 18008 Granada, Spain
> Tf +34958181600 Ext 228
> fax +34958129600