Installing and Using your LL Dental 4-Way Syringe
The LL 4-Way Syringe is easily installed to your air, water, and vacuum supply. All lines should be purged prior to installation. The 4-Way runs on line pressure. Water and air tubing are 1/16” diameter and install onto barbs the same size as conventional 3-way syringe tubing. Vacuum connection will fit best onto a 7/16” barb but will also fit directly onto a ½” vacuum trap outlet. Tubing may be warmed to facilitate installation.
In new installations, the plumber should reduce to ¼” pipe thread and use ¼” nipple as the connector.
The LL 4-Way Syringe tubing is made of polyurethane which is superior in many ways to vinyl tubing for this application – polyurethane is stronger and more resistant to tears and pressure. However, because of thin wall dimensions it is prone to kinking at sharp bends. The installer should make sure that ample sized loops are utilized at all bends. Installer could also cover vacuum line with ¾” flex tubing to help prevent kinking.
Your 4-Way is now ready for use. There is a complete separation of water and air throughout the 4-Way. The amount of pressure on either the air or water lever determines the flow. The sliding vacuum valve controls vacuum flow. The LL 4-Way comes with disposable tips and an adaptor. A stainless steel, sterilizable tip is available by special order. To remove either type of tip, simply pull. Do NOT, under any circumstances, attempt to remove the tip nut. This action will break the intricate seal, thereby voiding the warranty. When re-inserting the tip or adaptor, be sure it is fully seated to avoid internal air-water mixture. Before re-inserting, apply a small amount of petroleum jelly to tip or adaptor to assure smooth rotation.
SERVICING YOUR LL 4-WAY SYRINGE
The LL 4-way syringe is designed for maximum performance with minimum maintenance. However, occasional service is recommended.
Changing Tip Nut O-Rings
If your 4-Way Syringe has water in the air, often the cause is worn out tip nut o-rings. Changing these is a simple procedure that can be done regularly in your office.
When you look inside the tip nut (where the tip or adaptor slides in) of your 4-Way Syringe you can see a groove with an o-ring in it in the very front, then a groove with no o-ring, then another groove with an o-ring. These are the two o-rings that you will want to change. There is another o-ring at the very back of the tip nut, but it rarely needs to be changed.
To remove the o-ring, take a pointed instrument (such as an explorer) and poke it into the o-ring, until you have the o-ring hooked on the end of the instrument. Then carefully pull the o-ring out of the groove. Be careful not to scratch the plastic edges of the groove.
To install new o-rings, first put a thin layer of petroleum jelly on the new o-ring, then push the o-ring into the tip nut until one side of it is lined up with the groove. With another instrument – not sharp – slowly work your way around the o-ring pushing it into the groove. Once it is started, it should just pop in. Be sure you put the new o-rings in the first and third grooves only.
To maintain the o-rings so that they don’t need frequent replacing, keep them lubricated with petroleum jelly. Also, put a thin layer of petroleum jelly on the stainless steel tip or adaptor where they slide into the tip nut every time before you use them. Make sure there are no sharp edges on either the adaptor or tip that might cut the o-rings, causing leakage.
If after changing the tip nut o-ring, you still have water in the air, the cartridge probably needs to be replaced. A drip from the water side of the 4-way is also usually caused by a leaky cartridge.
To change either water or air cartridge, first remove the handle from the 4-way by unscrewing it counter-clockwise. Clamp off the tubing on the side you are changing, then use a hemostat or similar instrument to unscrew the cartridge body (not chrome barb) from the 4-way head.
Screw in the new cartridge with a ¼” wrench using chrome barb.
With ¼” wrench, turn cartridge, air and water, clockwise for more volume. To reduce volume, grasp body of cartridge with a hemostat or similar instrument, and turn counter-clockwise. For best results, hold the lever of the side you are adjusting down as you make this adjustment. When you release the lever, if leakage occurs, then you have over adjusted and should turn the cartridge back until there is no leakage when lever is released.
Please note: newer 4-way syringes (manufactured in 2020 or later) can use either a ¼ in. wrench on the barb or a 9/32 in. wrench on the body – or one of our custom wrenches designed for installing or adjusting the 4-way cartridge (included with all new 4-way orders).
Change the Main Plunger, or just the o-ring, if you have leakage or the lever becomes difficult to depress.
Clamp off the air or water line of the side you will be changing.
Unscrew the cartridge from the base of the handpiece – hold the black plastic body as you turn – NOT the chrome barb.
Push the A & W lever pin out of the body of the handpiece.
Remove lever.
Grasp main plunger body with hemostat or similar tool and pull it out of the handpiece body.
Cut the o-ring to remove it from the plunger. Slide new o-ring over the plunger body (after lubricating with petroleum jelly) to replace.
Re-assemble in the opposite order, applying petroleum jelly to the main plunger body and o-ring before placing it in the handpiece.
After the cartridge is replaced, it will need to be adjusted. To adjust, turn cartridge clockwise for more volume, counter-clockwise for less volume. For best results, hold the lever of the side you are adjusting down as you are making the adjustment. When you release the lever, if leakage occurs, then you have over adjusted and should turn back the cartridge until there is no leakage when the lever is released.
Vacuum Valve
There are two o-rings inside the head at either end of the vacuum valve. They rarely need replacement, but we do recommend occasionally taking out the vacuum valve, and cleaning and lubricating it. To remove/replace the vacuum valve, first locate the tiny set screw beneath the tip nut, and using an allen wrench, loosen the set screw enough to slide out the vacuum valve. Clean and lubricate with petroleum jelly and reinsert it in the 4-way. Direction can be reversed, if desired. Line up groove in vacuum valve with the set screw, and slowly tighten screw while sliding valve back and forth until desired degree of tightness is reached. Do not over tighten – if vacuum valve does not slide, stop and adjust placement.
If you have any questions about any of these instructions, please call us at 541-689-4937, or email LL4way@gmail.com