
Sorvall · Model Legend 17 and 21
High Productivity. Outstanding power and capacity with exceptional safety and convenience to support fast and efficient processing of your micro-volume samples. Fast acceleration and deceleration rates (˜12 seconds) let you process more samples in less time. Outstanding Safety and Convenience. Designed to ensure safe, easy operation for everyone in the lab. The unique ClickSeal™ bio-containment rotor lid “clicks” when a proper seal has been made, providing assurance that your samples are securely contained. Intuitive controls and bright, easy to-read displays make set-up and operation easy. Highly resistant rotor materials allow vigorous cleaning and autoclaving for years of contaminant-free operation. Sleek, lightweight design maximizes bench space and is easy to clean and maintain.
Compiled for this model from its own documentation and established engineering knowledge for this equipment class - not from a verified service record. Confirm against the manufacturer's service manual.
Symptoms: Error code, run will not begin, or aborts shortly after start.
Root cause: Set speed exceeds the rotor maximum, an imbalanced load, the lid / door not locked, an unapproved rotor, or a drive / control fault.
Symptoms: Slow spin-up, rumble, or vibration during a run.
Root cause: Load imbalance, worn drive / motor bearings, a worn drive coupling, or (older units) worn motor brushes.
Symptoms: Run ends early / late, or RPM does not match the setting.
Root cause: Tacho / speed-sensor drift or a control-board fault.
Symptoms: Lid-lock error, will not open after a run, or will not lock to start.
Root cause: Lid-lock solenoid / switch fault, or a run still winding down.
Symptoms: Visible corrosion, cracks, or a bucket that will not swing; imbalance trips.
Root cause: Rotor / bucket ageing - a safety-critical wear item with a use-life limit.
Serviceable items for this model, compiled from its documentation and engineering knowledge for this equipment class. Service class and relative cost are estimates, not manufacturer figures; no part numbers are given. Confirm intervals and pricing against the manufacturer.
Log rotor runs; retire per the manufacturer's rotor-life programme.
| Part | Service class | Relative cost | R&R difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drive / motor bearings & coupling | Major service part | $$$ | Difficult |
| Lid-lock solenoid / switch | Major service part | $$ | Moderate |
| Speed sensor / control board | Major service part | $$ | Moderate |
| Motor brushes (older units) | Periodic replacement | $ | Moderate |
| Rotor / bucket set & O-rings Log rotor runs; retire per the manufacturer's rotor-life programme. | Major service part | $$$ | Easy |
Relative cost: $ lowest · $$$$ highest service-part cost for this equipment class. Not a price.
Preventive-maintenance tasks typical of this equipment class. Perform to the manufacturer's procedure and your facility's policy - this is general reference, not a schedule for this specific unit.
A starting sequence for this model, compiled from its documentation and engineering knowledge for this equipment class. Follow the manufacturer's service documentation for the actual procedure.
Where this class of equipment is typically deployed - general reference, not this unit's own placement record.
From BioLab, for work done with this kind of equipment.
Describe a symptom or error code. Bio answers from this device's own documented error codes, failure modes, parts, and guides.
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