> On Jan 7, 2017, at 3:42 AM, Pete Turnbull <p...@dunnington.plus.com> wrote: > > On 07/01/2017 04:08, Robert Armstrong w#rote: >>> Paul Koning <paulkon...@comcast.net> wrote: >>> one would think unplugging the power to the head actuator coils ... >> >> One might think that, and that plan works for an RK05, but an RL02 is >> smarter. Unless the heads go on cylinder within a few seconds of the head >> load signal, the drive logic just faults and spins down again. Not very >> useful... What's needed is a way to stall or fake out the drive startup >> state machine logic. > > I haven't done this for a while, but I think it might work if you also > disable the SK TO (Seek Timeout) signal on the main logic board, and maybe > also POS SIG (Position Signal). > > There are several setup and adjustment procedures that require one to move > the heads by hand, including right back onto the loading ramp. You'd do this > with the cover open, the logic board swung up and resting on its clip at the > back of the drive, and with the amplifier box turned to a vertical position > sitting on its right-hand supports. The procedures require the above signals > to be disabled, and the servo drive (the single inline connector under the > amplifier box) to be disconnected. However, they all start by pressing LOAD > and allowing the heads to load at least as far as the loading area at the > outside edge of the disk before disconnecting the servo drive; I can't > remember if the heads actually go beyond that into the area where the data > tracks are. > > How you disable the signals depends on the version of the main logic board - > there are three different types, all described in the pocket service guide. > > -- > Pete > Pete Turnbull
What is the best way to approach evaluating old RL02 Packs for cleaning? Does anyone have experience opening up all the little plastic tabs on the covers? I have a large stash of RL02’s that I had planned to backup. I was planning on just doing a visual inspection on each before loading. The only disassembly information I have found uses the proverbial hammer - http://williambader.com/museum/vax/43rl02topremoval.jpg <http://williambader.com/museum/vax/43rl02topremoval.jpg> Jerry
