Hi Dr. Gomez,

I have experienced the same problem. That cross 
piece is either a VICI ZX.5 or ZX.5L (I can't 
remember which, but the difference is the bore 
size :0.25mm or 0.50mm respectively).

I have found that the only way to get the small 
piece of valcon ferrule tip out is to 
mechanically remove it. Ultrasonic treatment in a 
strong base may help loosen it a little but won't 
budge it on its own, and necessitates cleaning 
and drying the union afterwards so I avoid this  ...

I've had success be either pulling it out using 
the small ferrule remover (Supelco p/n: Z236128) 
or pushing it out from the other side of the 
union with the butt end of a drill bit (for this 
you have to determine if the bore is 0.25 or 0.5mm).

A fair bit of care and steady hands are required for both. Good luck.

Cheers,
Steve

At 12:55 AM 5/3/2007, you wrote:
>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

Stephen Taylor
Lab Manager, Isotope Science Lab,
University of Calgary, Physics & Astronomy,
2500 University Dr. N.W.
Calgary, Alberta,
Canada, T2N 1N4
(p) 403 220 8268
(f) 403 220 7773
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www.phas.ucalgary.ca/isl