1. Soxhlet Unit
B - 811
Maintenance
By: Shawna Brookes

2. Soxhlet Unit
Maintenance
Component
Overview
&
Tools

3. Soxhlet Unit Required Tools Screwdrivers: Phillip’s and Slotted
Channel Locks
10mm combination
Wrench
Hex Head Set
Cleaners, Rags or Kimwipes
as needed
Note: With these tools you
can repair most maintenance
issues

4. Soxhlet Unit (Front View) Condenser Assembly Controller
Thimble Assembly
N2 Blanket Lines
Upper Heating
Element
Plunger Assembly
Lower Heating Element
Heating Element Locking Mechanism

5. Soxhlet Unit (Rear View) Back Panel Panel Screws
Note: This screw need not
be removed
Water Inlet/Outlet
Ports

6. Soxhlet Unit (Rear View Opened) Locking Solenoid Circuit Boards &
Housing
Strut Assembly

7. Soxhlet Unit (Circuit Board) Upper Heating Element Leads Lower Heating
Grounding Tabs

8. (Circuit Board Connectors)
Soxhlet Unit
(Circuit Board Connectors)
Fuse
Burner Leads /
Connector Port
Spring Loaded
Port Lock

9. Soxhlet Unit (Strut Assembly) Strut Retaining Screw Strut
Strut Mounting
Nut and Bolt

10. (Lower Heating Element Assembly)
Soxhlet Unit
(Lower Heating Element Assembly)
Leads and Connectors
Heating Element
Position Sensor /
Lock-Mount Assembly

11. Soxhlet Unit (Thimble Assembly) Plunger Mount N2 blanket port
Note: Some ports have been permanently sealed
Retaining Ring & Gasket

12. Soxhlet Unit
(Latching Assembly)
Catch
Latch
Latch Solenoid

13. Back Panel Removal & Replace Necessary For: Upper Heating and Lower
Heating Element Replacement
&
Strut Replacement

14. Back Panel Removal Step 1: Close Chill Water Valve (green handle)
Step 2: De-energize unit by placing
switch in off position and unplugging
electrical cord

15. Back Panel Removal Step 3: Remove chill water inlet hose by
loosening threaded coupling
Note: It is not necessary to remove outlet
tubing

16. Back Panel Removal Step 4: Remove back panel retaining screws
Remember: One back panel screw is a grounding
screw and does not need removal
Step 5: Pull cover gently away from unit’s back
Note: Grounding cable is attached to back
panel and connects to a grounding tab
Step 6: Disconnect grounding lead from
grounding tab and move panel out of
work area

17. Simply reverse removal steps!
Back Panel Replace
Simply reverse removal steps!

18. Strut Replacement Necessary When: Condenser Assembly fails
to rise after disengaging
solenoid lock or
Access to thimbles is difficult
(due to weak strut/ improper
strut height adjustment)

19. Strut Replacement Step 1: Remove back panel
Step 2: Locate solenoid plunger above strut
and pull armature away from latch (black plastic)
Step 3: Swing latch downward to clear hitch and
manually raise/ support condenser assembly

20. Strut Replacement Step 4: Utilize 10 mm combination and hex
wrenches to remove strut retaining nut and bolt
Note: If plunger is weak, the plunger may slowly
extend and hit bottom of unit
Step 5: Use hex wrench to remove upper strut
retaining screw

21. Strut Replacement Step 6: Pull out defective strut and insert
new strut; in order to align the strut mounting
bolt holes you will need to raise the condenser
assembly manually as shown in picture
Step 7: Replace strut mounting screw, nut and bolt
Replace back panel and water line
Replace back panel

22. Circuit Board Housing Removal and Replace Necessary to:
Access a defective strut assembly that
is behind the circuit board housing or
Make access easier to bulkhead ports
(for heating element wiring)

23. Circuit Board Housing Removal Step 1: Remove back panel
Step 2: Locate and remove circuit board housing backing screws

24. Circuit Board Housing Removal Step 3: Remove controller connector
Step 4: Remove circuit board housing side screw

25. Circuit Board Housing Removal
Step 5: Gently swing circuit board housing out of work area
Note: Although not required, removing circuit board housing makes access to bulkhead ports much easier for heating element installation.

26. Simply reverse steps from removal
Circuit Board Housing
Replace
Simply reverse steps from removal
procedure

27. Upper Heating Element fails
Removal and Install
Necessary When:
Upper Heating Element fails
(Errors 30, 33, 34, 35)

28. Upper Heating Element Removal Step 1: Remove back panel
Step 2: Trace upper element leads to locate
lead ports
Step 3: With a slotted screwdriver, gently press
the orange spring loaded tabs inward; this will
allow the leads to be removed with slight tug.

29. Upper Heating Element Removal
Step 4: Trace upper element lead and remove
circuit board connector by gently pulling on
the plastic…not the wire!
Step 5: Trace upper element grounding lead
and remove from grounding tab

30. Upper Heating Element Removal Step 6: Remove pillar mounting screws
and element retaining screw
Note: Element retaining screw is self-tapping,
therefore will present greater resistance in
turning than mounting screws

31. Upper Heating Element Removal
Step 7: Gently pull upper element assembly
forward and guide the leads through the bulkhead
port.

32. Simply reverse steps from removal
Upper Heating Element
Install
Simply reverse steps from removal
procedure

33. Lower Heating Element Removal & Install Necessary If:
Heating Element fails to heat
(Errors 30, 31, 32) Or
Heating Element Position Sensor
Failure
(Error 11)

34. Lower Heating Element Removal Step 1: Remove back panel
Step 2: Locate bulkhead port and lower element
wires; disconnect wire coupling

35. Lower Heating Element Removal
Step 3: Trace lower element leads to locate
lead ports
Step 4: With a slotted screwdriver, gently press
the orange spring loaded tabs inward; this will
allow the leads to be removed with slight tug.

36. Lower Heating Element Removal
Step 5: Trace lower element lead and remove
circuit board connector by gently pulling on
the plastic…not the wire!

37. Lower Heating Element Removal
Step 6: Trace lower element grounding lead
and remove from grounding tab
Step 7: Align lower element wires together to
ease removal as you pull through bulkhead port

38. Lower Heating Element Removal
Step 8: Remove heating element locking handle
by removing two screws and black thumbscrew

39. Lower Heating Element Removal
Step 9: THE FUN PART!!! Lift element upward
and twist unit; it may be necessary to use a
screwdriver to guide the clip/sensor assembly
into an agreeable position in order to pull element
out.

40. Lower Heating Element Install
Step 10: Ensure that guide pin is in sensor slot
before attempting to install new element. Element will
not operate properly if guide pin is not in position!
Guide pin
Guide pin properly in sensor slot

41. Lower Heating Element Install
Step 11: THE FUN PART REMIX!!! Feed the element
wires through bulkhead port
Step 12: MORE FUN!!!! Drop the element slowly into
hole and twist unit; it may be necessary to use a
screwdriver to guide the clip/sensor assembly into
an agreeable position in order to pull element out;
ensure guide pin remains in slot & wires unpinched

42. Lower Heating Element Install IMPORTANT!!!
Step 13: Twist element to ensure assembly does not
rotate. If rotation occurs, guide pin is no longer in sensor
slot and element must be removed and guide pin realigned
into sensor slot.

43. Lower Heating Element Install
Step 14: Place sensor locking tabs into slots;
replace mounting screw and thumbscrew.

44. Lower Heating Element Install
Step 15: Twist bare wire into nice tight bundle
Step 16: Route all leads efficiently in unit case and
reconnect all leads, grounding tab, and quick connector
Step 17: Replace grounding wire, backing panel, connect
chill water inlet, open chill water valve checking for connector
leakage

45. Plunger Removal & Install Necessary If: Unit fails to cycle properly
causing continuous draining
and failure of cycle count
This may also be caused by a
small glass fragment lodged
in the plunger tubing
(Error 4)

46. Plunger Removal & Install
Step 1: Ensure that condenser assembly is in up
Position and remove plastic safety shield
Step 2: De-energize unit
Step 3: Remove thimble from thimble cup

47. Plunger Removal & Install
Step 4: Place a beaker under the plunger assembly
and slowly begin turn screw plunger retaining
cap; allow solvent to drain; remove cap when empty
Step 5: Remove N2 line (if not sealed)
Step 6: Unclip level sensor

48. Plunger Removal & Install Step 7: Remove Soxhlet Assembly by gently
Pulling on black retaining couplings
Note: Coupling guide grooves: proper alignment
is necessary for ease of removal and installation
of Soxhlet Assembly—never force glass Soxhlet
Assembly into place
Step 8: Unplug sensor from port

49. Plunger Removal & Install
Step 9: Inspect Plunger; check for tearing, cracking,
pitting or deformation; replace as needed
Step 10: Remove 4 retaining screws
CAUTION: Housing has internalized spring so
slowly remove housing so not to lose
spring

50. Plunger Install Step 11: Pull out defective plunger and replace
with new plunger; gently fold the rubber into
groove and rotate as you guide the plunger in;
use a little water as lubricant to ease installation
Step 12: Make final inspection of assembly; ensure
spring is in place; replace 4 retaining screws
Step 13: Inspect Plunger tube and mount for glass
fragments or particulates that may interfere with
plunger operation

51. Plunger Install Step 14: Plug in connector
Step 15: Slide sensor onto sensor port and tighten
retaining cap hand tight

52. Plunger Install
Step 16: Guide the Soxhlets back into position gently--
observe proper coupling/ groove alignment
Note: Must also align level sensing tube and upper
heating element assembly
Step 17: Clip level sensor in
Step 18: Reconnect N2 line if available

53. Thank you
for attending!!!